FOR nearly two decades, Md Nashriq Md Nasir has journeyed over 40km from Teluk Ayer Tawar to Penang island daily driven by his passion for teaching judo, an ancient martial art.
Formerly a national judo exponent, Md Nashriq has experienced a string of successes. He competed in the SEA Games in 2005 before retiring due to a serious knee injury.
Taking up coaching later, he remains enthusiastic about imparting his knowledge to others. This endeavour is made possible through the generous support of the Penang government and the state Sports Council.
Md Nashriq is a no-nonsense individual who believes perseverance, grit and discipline are the cornerstones of success in training the younger generation at Budo Academy in Seri Tanjung Pinang.
In an interview with Buletin Mutiara, his passion for martial arts shines through: he is attentive and continuously motivates the young exponents to strive for improvement every day.
“They must be willing to sacrifice to achieve their goals. There are no shortcuts to success; every drop of sweat during training sessions counts.
“For parents who have concerns about their children’s training, I encourage them to come forward. I am prepared to explain the training process to them thoroughly.
“I am keen to witness their remarkable achievements on the world stage one day.”
Following his illustrious judo career, Md Nashriq is enthusiastic about guiding his own athletes to the pinnacle of success.
One of his well-trained athletes was national judo exponent Amir Daniel Abdul Majeed, who made history by becoming the first Malaysian to win a judo medal at the Commonwealth Games. He secured a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
“I have been training him since he was five. Now he is 21 years old. Amir Daniel aims to compete in the Olympic Games in 2028.
Md Nashriq, a 39-year-old Penangite, said he would strive to train Amir Daniel and other aspiring judo athletes to help them achieve their goals.
“This is not a short-term class; it requires persistence, and effective time management is crucial in reaching the top. Success does not come easily, but through our collective hard work,” emphasised Md Nashriq.
Throughout his coaching at Budo Academy, Md Nashriq would dedicate about eight hours each day to guiding his students.
“I start the class at 3.30pm and usually finish at around 10pm, from Monday to Saturday, reserving Sunday for rest. I have been doing this for the past 18 years,” he quipped
Despite the lengthy coaching sessions at the academy, Md Nashriq expresses gratitude for his understanding family members.
“This is my sacrifice to ensure they (students) reach their goals,” he added, pointing out the importance of maintaining physical and mental fitness when competing.
On the state judo team’s preparations for the upcoming Sukma in Sarawak in August this year, Md Nashriq said everything was progressing smoothly.
Meanwhile, Md Nashriq’s contribution has been recognised by the Penang State Sports Council and he was awarded a Distinguished Coach Certificate by the state government in 2021.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Siew Chia En