Olympic judo coach holds workshops

Judo is called "the gentle way", but it looks far from it watching Daniel Rusitovic as he pins down and then throttles his opponent.

The Australian Olympic judo coach took time while in Broome for workshops with martial arts students.

Rusitovic was an Olympic judo competitor at the 2000 Sydney games, where he lost in the second round.

"I had a bad day, a bad draw, and I never stop thinking about it," he said.

He retired from competition after the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, where he won a bronze medal.

This was no mean feat as he competed in the world's second-biggest sport by numbers.

"Judo is all about getting people to the ground, and keeping them helpless," Rusitovic said.

"It's all about throws, hold-downs and strangles, and it's crucial in mixed martial arts."

Rusitovic said mixed martial arts was becoming much bigger.

"People use different disciplines in cages or what have you … you need three or four styles or martial arts such as boxing, kick boxing, ground fighting, and judo."

Rusitovic was on holidays in Broome when he looked up the Red Earth Martial Arts Academy.

"You can't beat having a national coach helping out," Red Earth's Tony Familari said.

"If you're out a fraction of an inch, or a fraction of an angle, he'll notice."

Rusitovic started practising judo aged seven in Croatia, where it was part of the school curriculum.

"Anything you can bring to the kids is great," he said.

When asked what was needed for success in the sport, he said practice makes perfect.

"There are no short cuts to practice," he said.