It can be tough juggling school, training, competitions and friends and family, but Cristyn Jones has it down pat.
The 16-year-old Orewa College student has set her priorities straight and is now a national judo champion.
Cristyn has been practicing judo at home, at the Auckland Judo Association, and Nippon Judo Club for the past two years and has made it into the New Zealand Judo team..
After being selected for the team last year and again in January, Cristyn is off to Tonga to compete in the cadets and juniors under 63kg events.
This month Cristyn competed in the Queensland International Open Judo Competition and won gold in both categories.
She says she feels quite nervous as these events will be her first serious fights.
"I felt good winning the gold medals in the Gold Coast, but I do feel pretty nervous to be representing New Zealand in the Oceania champs in Tonga, these will be my first serious fights," she says.
Cristyn says she went from a background in netball to judo.
"I found netball was to hard to advance in as there was so much competition, and when I started judo I completely fell in love with it."
Cristyn often watches Mixed Martial Arts and Ultimate Fighting Championship with her father and is hugely inspired by Ronda Rousey.
"I am inspired by Ronda as she is a strong woman. I knew I wanted to do some kind of fighting after watching her. I tried boxing and then moved on to judo, judo really ticked all the boxes for me, I fell in love with it."
"I love how it is an individual sport, and how I am always surrounded by good people who are friendly and helpful. I love the strategic side of it even though it is a hard road."
Cristyn wants to go to Japan at the end of the year for a few weeks to train and watch a couple of competitions.
Her ultimate goal is to one day compete in the Commonwealth Games and then the Olympic Games.
"If I keep going I know I can do it," she says.
Cristyn's mum, Debbie Jones says she is very proud of Cristyn and how dedicated she is.
"We have set up a Givealittle page for Cristyn as this is all self-funded, and of course because we would love to send her to all competitions."
Photo: Jay Boreham (National judo champion Cristyn Jones performs an arm lock on Nippon Judo head coach Johan Boshoff).