Judo

In The Spotlight

"Judo, eh? I'll have to watch you,"

Be careful of him! He's a judo expert."

Remarks like these imply that because the person referred to practises Judo he is to be feared or at least thought a little odd. "After all, judo is something alien.'" This attitude is unfortunate because pure Kodokan judo could do a lot for many people who reject the activity because of its supposed thuggish, mystic, or Japanese associations.

"Judo" means the art of gentleness, and implies the use of efficiency rather than strength. This is seen in the case of Mifune, tenth dan, who was accosted one evening in a restaurant. He was unable to pacify his assailant so he picked up an egg, squashed it into the man's face and pushed him down the stairs. Little effort, and maximum efficiency !

To achieve the aim of Judo, the mind must be trained to control the body, and then to control the emotions, so necessary when fighting. This training and discipline develops self confidence and a healthy body which can stand up effectively to the vigours of normal living. Judo develops also a celerity of mind, and in its more advanced stages an appreciation of the values of a balanced mind.

The benefits it confers include confidence, fitness for the whole year round, fast and controlled reflexes, suppleness, a useful knowledge of attack and defence, and the natural pleasure embodied in physical activity. The muscles are toned to an instinctive alertness and the quickness needed to throw an opponent neatly and successfully also adapts the mind into high tension study programmes, and also, at the end of the year when the "I Hate Profs" Blues really sets in, it proves to be a good relaxer of mind and body and soul.

A comparison of judo with other skills is difficult. Judo performers in japan have consistently beaten ju-Jitsu performers, but with other skills such as karate, boxing, wrestling, etc., the type of attack is so different that no real comparison is possible.

Our club here at Varsity is open to all those who are interested in learning the art of Judo. The reasons of members for doing judo vary widely from those who are interested in a general keep fit programme all year round to those who delve into the philosophy of Judo and its aesthetic values. We have our own Japanese Tatami—the mat on which judo is practised—which is permanently laid in the basement of the gymnasium and is available for practice any time of the day.

Men beginners have tuition on Monday and Tuesday nights—women beginners on. Wednesday nights—all under tuition of higher graded members (of which we have several). Thursday night is graded members practice and Saturday morning is a Genera) Throw for all. Our highest men's grading is a Blue Belt and our highest women's grading is a Brown Belt.

Apart from this being culturally and sports minded, we are also very active socially. The club has run several very successful dances during the Varsity Year, which we do like skiting about as our advertising was good, These plus the odd parties here and there—mostly there—brings the club members together on a friendly social basis and so helps constitute a well-knit club. This is important in a club such as this, which having several different training nights means members training on a Monday and Tuesday never see members training on Wednesday!

We feel that it leads to good relations all round if the club meets on a social level occasionally.

Some people are under the misunderstanding that Judo is dangerous Rest assured—it is nothing of the sort. We now have a telephone in the Gym. for on-the-spot ambulance ringing, so no delay is lost in being transported to the hospital if the need arises—which it doesn't.

If, alter reading this, you feel as though you would like to join a really active club at Varsity, do come along to one of the training sessions and begin learning how to take a fall. It does a body the world of good—physically and mentally. Some members have even been inspired to write poetry. We don't know if it is the result of a few extra bangs on the head or what, but anyway come and see the effects for yourself and on yourself. You might get a big surprise, so might we!

He was hefty, she was frail.

His tomoe-nage did not fail.

The door was open to the gym;

The salt air from the sea blew in.

He was strong as well as stout—

The air blew in and she flew out. With her judo suit to garb her—

A perfect breakfall in the Harbour.

There was a young lady O'Riley.

In groundwork was rated quite highly,

When she sat on her mate

With full twenty stone weight, poor Uke submitted entirely.