|
JUDO is a great sport for all ages, males or females. Confidence and self-esteem are enhanced as a player progresses through the ranks and the very nature of the grading system ensures the next goal is always realistic and achievable.
 Former Uwic student Craig Ewers is one of Britain's best judo exponents. Last year 25-year-old Ewers from Rogerstone, Newport, represented Britain at the World Judo Championships in Egypt and the European Championships in Rotterdam.
Ranked No 1 by the British Judo Association in the 73kg class, Ewers finished in ninth place in Cairo and was runner-up at the Great Britain Judo Open Championships, a world ranked competition held in London and attended by many top players, in December.
Drawn in a tough group in London that included a Spaniard, the Dutch champion and the recently crowned pan-American champion Ryan Reser, a player ranked above Ewers, the Welshman was in scintillating form throughout. Ewers met Reser in the quarter-finals and dominated the American, scoring early on with a five-point score and then in the last minute throwing him for "ippon" (the maximum score).
Judo training is an ideal form of physical exercise and serves as a great cardiovascular workout, which improves stamina, general health and overall fitness.
Physical strength is also improved as a direct result of trying to control and dictate the movement of the opponent. For the same reasons the balance and posture of a player will also be enhanced. Physical co-ordination can be seen to develop dramatically and reflexes are also improved together with mental reaction time.
But because of the potentially dangerous nature of the sport, strict discipline is essential and great importance is placed on safety, hygiene and etiquette. Naturally players are taught to fall in such a manner that they land safely, great emphasis is placed on mastering the several methods of breakfalling since this gives players the confidence to participate fully.
It is also possible to score ippon by pinning the opponent to the mat for a period of 25 seconds. In addition to the sought after ippon, smaller scores are given for less successful throws and hold-downs broken before the time limit.
There are even benefits in defeat though as the sport lays great emphasis on discipline and self-control - it is rare to see a player ungracious in defeat at any level from club training to international competition. A handshake almost always follows the traditional courteous rei (bow) at the end of a contest and the defeated player, though perhaps disappointed, remains respectful of the winner.
The sport draws people from all walks of life and social backgrounds. More than one hundred years after Dr Jigoro Kano the founder of judo said “judo is a teaching for life itself and with it we learn to overcome the pitfalls and obstacles of everyday living” his words still ring true.
|