The one sure way to get Charné Griesel excited is to talk about judo.

She believes wholeheartedly that judo changes lives by teaching a moral code rooted in eight core values: courtesy, courage, honesty, honour, modesty, respect, self-control, and friendship. For Griesel, judo is more than a sport—it’s a way of life that shapes character.

On her LinkedIn profile, Griesel describes herself as a "juggler" for her remarkable ability to manage multiple roles with precision and efficiency.

"I love what I do, whether training children, coaching adults, or studying for my degree. I take pride in it as I know how hard it is to push myself to achieve my desired results," explained the Tuks law student. 

So, it is no surprise that she was appointed the new TuksJudo head coach. Griesel has no illusion that she has some big shoes to fill. Under the guidance of the Bulgarian Olympian Nicola Filipov, Tuks has established a unique tradition of qualifying judokas for the Olympic Games since 2008. Tuks judokas have also won gold medals at the African Championships and the Commonwealth Games. 

Griesel has medalled at the African Champs. Filipov described her tactically and technically as one of the best he has coached. Predicting that she would compete at the Paris Olympic Games. Griesel was so committed to doing so that she would put her studies on hold for six months. Unfortunately, it was a case of the mind being willing but the body failing. She broke a finger, injured her vertebra, and tore her meniscus. To top it all, she broke her hand. 

But that was not going to keep her away from the judo mats. As a qualified coach, she guided Tamsyn-Lee Stead to win a silver in August at the African Junior Championships in Cameroon. Griesel was also instrumental in getting a judo club in Eersterust, which started two years ago to create awareness for a healthy lifestyle amongst youngsters. Drug abuse in Eersterust is a big problem.

As the Tuks head coach, Griesel, said, "As everyone knows, you can't have only one generation of greats and not think about the future. As someone who has been there, done that and got the T-shirt to prove it, I have made my fair share of mistakes. I want to use my mistakes to guide judokas in the right direction. They must be in a better place than I was as a player. 

"One of the challenges our judokas face is a need for more international competition. So, it is easy to get overwhelmed when competing at an African Champs. For example, in Cameroon, the crowd tends to get rowdy. Which can be intimidating if you are not used to it. At times, it is challenging to hear what the referee says. As a coach, you must ensure your judokas are calm and relaxed. 

"Mental preparation is as necessary as physical preparation. It can be nerve-wracking to stand and wait to fight nearly next to your opponent in the tunnel. So, in Cameroon, I had my judokas doing specific breathing exercises to calm them down. Sometimes I slap them a bit. Not slap, slap. It is more of a pat on the back to remind them to stay focused. You can be the best, but if your head is not screwed on properly, you are going to lose."