
Sensei Darren Hawney warmed us up with some sprints, crunches and carrying your partner across the room before doing squats with them still over your shoulder. We were kindly taught by our experienced Judo partners Patrick and Andy (green belts) on the basics of Judo and how to fall correctly to avoid any impact to the back and neck. We then practiced the technique of Osotogari, one of the 40 original throws - there are now 67 throws.
The second throw we completed was Tai Otoshi, where you launch your opponent over your back and on to the floor in front of you. It was quite amazing to realise that with the right techniques - footwork, hand rotations, grip and hip movements - we were able to throw someone larger than us. Repetition is definitely the Japanese way and an essential part of every sport. After a great deal of practice, the combined leg and arm motions started to feel quite natural and became easier.
And to follow on from a successful throw, we then went in to some floor-based holding techniques, osaekomi-waza: "the scarf" where you wrap your arms around your oponents neck, pinning them down on their back in a hold that is very difficult to get free from. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and the welcoming feeling at EB Phoenix Judo Club.

Did you know:
- Judo became an Olympic sport for men in the 1964 Games in Tokyo.
- Paralympic judo has been a Paralympic sport (for the visually impaired) since 1988.
- The worldwide spread of judo has led to the development of a number of offshoots such as Sambo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.