The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

COACH Joshua White said he was delighted to be back in The Bahamas to share his expertise with members of the Eastwood Judo Club.

White, a fifth-degree black belt, multiple time national/international champion and BJJ black belt who is also one of the coaches for Bahamian rising judo star Xavion Johnson, participated in the Night of Grappling where free lessons were held for judo, wrestling and BJJ.

"It's always amazing whenever I get to come back home. The people, we are always coming here. This is my home away from home," said White, who is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

"I needed a break because I've been travelling from different countries for the past five months. I just got back from the Cadets World Championships where I was a part of the US coaching staff and we brought back a gold medal."

Having completed that mission, White said he felt it was a good time to pop over to The Bahamas and give back to the people he loved. He was joined by US Ambassador Herschel Walker.

The event was organised jointly by the host Eastwood Judo Club, Black Ice Judo and Xavion Johnson Judo. 

"This is the kind of movement that we want to get going here," White said. "The US ambassador showed a lot of love to the people. It's the kind of movement that we are trying to get going here, trying to get more people involved in judo."

Sensei Neville “Mickey” Munnigs, who heads the Eastwood Judo Club, said it was an event that was in the making for a while and they are glad that it finally came off.

"It was a very successful programme. The students learned a lot," Munnings said. "The students were enthused to hear from a coach who helped to develop our top Bahamian athlete."

Munnings said his club has a lot of young competitors looking forward to competing on the international scene and White has been working with one of them, Keilesha Saunders, who is heading off in a couple of weeks to compete.

Over the past 12 years, White has been working with Johnson, the 20-year-old -73 kilogram class competitor, who is competing on both the international junior and senior circuit.

"He's making leaps and bounds," said White of Johnson. "We're talking each and every day making sure that when he gets back to me to continue training, we're on the same page.

"He's done what many people will probably not do in their full career. Right now I'm super happy with it, but not satisfied. The end goal is to get where he wants to be at the Olympics. He is already the most decorated male judoka, but we always make the joke that we want to get him on the Wall of Fame at the (Lynden Pindling International) airport."

As one of two representatives for The Bahamas in judo, Johnson came off a seventh place finish at both the Central American and Caribbean Games in the Dominican Republic and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, in July.

It should be noted that the other Bahamian competing at both games, Karra Hanna, did win a bronze at the Commonwealth Games in the women's +73 kg or heavyweight class. She was also coached at some point by White, sensei Onysi Pons and her long-time coach Willard McKenzie.

"I think he did well at both. I think it was a big growth time in his life," said White of Johnson. "It was one of the few major events that he went to without me, but we tried to navigate that as best as we could.

"I think he did a good job of trying to figure out how to handle himself when he gets to travel, but we definitely understand how important it is to have the people in your corner like your coach and your support group."

Johnson is scheduled to compete at the Florida Pan American Open 2026 from October 31 to November 1, the Montreal Pan American Open 2026 from November 5-8 and the Taskerr World Championships Juniors November 19-21.

"As long as he's progressing the way he's going, he's making great jumps each and every competition," White said. "So if he can keep progressing the way he is, we will have an Olympian on our hands, if not this go around in 2028, it will definitely be the next one.

"He will definitely have to pull off some big wins to make this Olympics. But he's already ahead of his schedule. If he makes this one, he will be way ahead of schedule."

While most people are talking about competing at the Olympics at age 25, Johnson has already put himself in the conversation at 20, fighting in arguably the toughest division in the world.

"As long as Xavion continues to raise the bar, he will keep making waves for Bahamians to use judo as a way out of whatever situation they are in like Karra (Hanna) and Keilesha (Saunders)," White said. 

"And he can't lose with a mom like he has in Ordain Moss. I think with a coach like me who loves him like a son, who acknowledges him as a son and a mom who will not take no for an answer, this kid is destined to be great."