JUDO TWIST
Mara Markovic-Siladi, a sixth-degree black belt, once coached her son, but as she competes for world titles it's now David's turn to play the adviser
January 29, 2008 RICHARD O'BRIENRECORD STAFF
KITCHENER
Shouldn't things be the reverse of what they are?
There's Mara Markovic-Siladi, the 57-year-old world masters judoka whose spirit and aggression have helped her become a masters champion. The masters category is for competitors who are over 30 years of age.
Then, there's her 26-year-old son David Siladi, a tactician who advises her. She says he has a photographic memory for the bouts he watches when he's scouting her future opponents.
The mother, a sixth-degree black belt, used to coach the son. But David, a first-degree black belt, has ligament problems with both knees.
Mara will someday have to address a knee problem of her own. But for now, she removes a brace each time she competes.
So, in competition, the mother is the heart and the son is the head.
"Between the two of us, we have it covered pretty well," said David Siladi.
David has been in Mara's corner from the time she went back to competing in judo four years ago.
Four years ago. That was also when she set up M & D Siladi Judo Club, which is now in the former Lang Tanning building on Charles Street.
The first world masters championships she attended was in Vienna and she won her first match in less than 30 seconds. Her most recent world championship was in the summer in Sao Paolo, Brazil.
"Every time is harder and harder," she said. "Everybody is taping you and you must be ready to do something different."
Everybody tapes Mara. But David moves around the room observing everyone she's likely to meet on the mat.
He looks for a fighter's strongest move and the way the fighter sets up a throw.
"I can replay in my head what I see on the mat," he said. "I can see where the hands are and how the body moves."
Mara arrived in Canada in 1993 when she brought the women's team from the former Yugoslavia to the world judo championships in Hamilton.
She never returned to the City of Novi Sad, about 100 kilometres from Belgrade, and a year later the rest of her family arrived from the wartorn country.
Her husband, Miklos, came over and worked for Linamar in Guelph until he retired.
David and his sister, Anamarija, arrived with their father. But Anamarija died in 1997 in a crash on the way to classes at McMaster University in Hamilton.
The next world championships is in Belgium in June and Mara will be saving money and booking vacation time to attend.
And David, who is studying for a master's degree in public health at University of Waterloo, is sure to accompany her.
"I guess she passed on her love the sport to me and I'm glad we have a common interest," he said.
robrien@therecord.com
January 29, 2008 RICHARD O'BRIENRECORD STAFF
KITCHENER
Shouldn't things be the reverse of what they are?
There's Mara Markovic-Siladi, the 57-year-old world masters judoka whose spirit and aggression have helped her become a masters champion. The masters category is for competitors who are over 30 years of age.
Then, there's her 26-year-old son David Siladi, a tactician who advises her. She says he has a photographic memory for the bouts he watches when he's scouting her future opponents.
The mother, a sixth-degree black belt, used to coach the son. But David, a first-degree black belt, has ligament problems with both knees.
Mara will someday have to address a knee problem of her own. But for now, she removes a brace each time she competes.
So, in competition, the mother is the heart and the son is the head.
"Between the two of us, we have it covered pretty well," said David Siladi.
David has been in Mara's corner from the time she went back to competing in judo four years ago.
Four years ago. That was also when she set up M & D Siladi Judo Club, which is now in the former Lang Tanning building on Charles Street.
The first world masters championships she attended was in Vienna and she won her first match in less than 30 seconds. Her most recent world championship was in the summer in Sao Paolo, Brazil.
"Every time is harder and harder," she said. "Everybody is taping you and you must be ready to do something different."
Everybody tapes Mara. But David moves around the room observing everyone she's likely to meet on the mat.
He looks for a fighter's strongest move and the way the fighter sets up a throw.
"I can replay in my head what I see on the mat," he said. "I can see where the hands are and how the body moves."
Mara arrived in Canada in 1993 when she brought the women's team from the former Yugoslavia to the world judo championships in Hamilton.
She never returned to the City of Novi Sad, about 100 kilometres from Belgrade, and a year later the rest of her family arrived from the wartorn country.
Her husband, Miklos, came over and worked for Linamar in Guelph until he retired.
David and his sister, Anamarija, arrived with their father. But Anamarija died in 1997 in a crash on the way to classes at McMaster University in Hamilton.
The next world championships is in Belgium in June and Mara will be saving money and booking vacation time to attend.
And David, who is studying for a master's degree in public health at University of Waterloo, is sure to accompany her.
"I guess she passed on her love the sport to me and I'm glad we have a common interest," he said.
robrien@therecord.com
FONTE: Waterloo Record - Waterloo,Ontario,Canada
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