Viktorija Ragauskaitė’s Latvia Silver Highlights a Ne-waza Tradition

Viktorija Ragauskaitė secured second place in the cadet women’s -70 kg category at the championships in Latvia, giving Lithuania a silver medal through its only athlete at the event. For coach Kestas Vitkauskas, the result followed a strong recent period for the young judoka.

Ragauskaitė had recently competed at the World Championships in Ecuador, where she finished seventh. Her silver in Latvia marked another important step, this time in what Vitkauskas described as a new experience and a new discipline.

Vitkauskas said he enjoyed the challenge despite its unfamiliar format. While the discipline may have been new, he made clear that the core of his club’s judo preparation was not.

At the Lithuanian club, Ne-waza is trained with the same importance as standing judo. Vitkauskas said the club is regarded as one of Lithuania’s strongest for groundwork, and that athletes spend extensive time developing their skills on the mat.

According to the coach, around 40% of the club’s contests are won on the ground. That statistic reflects a deliberate focus on Ne-waza rather than treating it as a secondary part of judo.

For Ragauskaitė, the silver medal in Latvia adds to a campaign that has already included a World Championships appearance in Ecuador. For Vitkauskas and his team, it was also a chance to see their groundwork-based approach represented on the championship stage.

Lithuania’s lone athlete in Latvia left with a cadet -70 kg silver medal.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union