My judo journey… so far

On the 9th July this year my judo journey began, when I headed round to my local club for what I optimistically thought of as ‘mums’ judo’. Some background: my son started judo on Friday evenings at the club a few months before. It is a fabulous club – friendly and family orientated with outstanding teaching and emphasis on safety, discipline and etiquette but without forgetting that the whole thing is meant to be enjoyable. With no previous experience of any kind of martial arts I came along to Ben’s first evening training session and was surprised at how quiet it all was – all the instructions were spoken and there was no shouting or yelling.

So, after a few months a newsletter was sent round which mentioned a new adult club starting on Thursday nights and an invitation to ‘any mums and dads that would like to have a go to come along and see if they can keep up’. Well, that sounded like a challenge to me, and I like a challenge. My enthusiasm to try this new sport was unfaltering, until the time it came to walk around for my first training session… and the short walk gave me every opportunity for self-doubt, worry, anxiety and frankly, a fear of making a complete fool of myself. The warm ups range from simple forward rolls to some fancy right- and left-side breakfalls (striking the mat with the free arm to absorb the impact of the fall), and it had been decades since I’d attempted anything along the lines of a roly-poly. Added to that the opportunity to engage in hand to hand fighting with someone whose sole purpose is to throw you to the ground and hold you there, and I was ready to turn around and head for home.

But I made it round and – to my great relief – the doors were locked and there was no-one there. Phew. I could return to the safety of home with my head held high having had the *intention* of taking part. But then Paul Hepburn appeared, a black belt member of the club, with keys, and opened up. So no turning back!

I was incredibly lucky that there were only four people at my first training session: Steve Chappell, sensei of the club who has been learning judo from his father, the club’s founder, since he was 3; together with Paul and his son Lewis, a teenager and blue belt. So I had one-to-one training alternating with Paul and Steve throughout the evening covering all the basics without too many people to watch my pitiful attempts. My rolls were a bit square-wheel like; I felt like a sack of potatoes and couldn’t do sit ups (stomach muscles ravaged by four lots of childbirth and not enough exercise), but Steve and Paul humoured my attempts with words of encouragement, and I went back for week 2.

5 months later I walked round with the same anxiety and nerves but this time on my way to my first ever grading. The judo exam at my beginner level is straightforward enough, requiring demonstration of a syllabus of throws, hold-downs, strangles and arm locks, and a little light contest. I was delighted to come away being awarded my 5th Kyu – so I can now wear a yellow belt, and start learning and think about working towards the next: orange. So thanks to my instructors Steve, Paul, Judy and all the judoka who’ve helped me along the way.

The judo people I’ve met have been generous in spirit, keen to share their knowledge and surprisingly gentle. The word judo means ‘the gentle way’ and I am still astonished to watch two black belts grappling with all their skill, technique and strength when necessary, ending in a hold down, arm lock or strangle – but even during a fight will exchange friendly words and tips on techniques. It’s a fantastic sport and I wish I’d discovered it years ago!

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Tags: grading, Judo, Tora Judo Kai, yellow belt

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