judo: our encounter with a modern martial art

So for a first time encounter with a modern martial art, we attended the EB Phoenix Judo Club training sessions held at the fantastic facilities of the Ernest Bevin College. Judo means "the gentle way" and was created in Japan in 1882, following the principles of seiryoku zen'yō (maximum efficiency, minimum effort) and jita kyōei (mutual welfare and benefit). We dressed the part in the modern jūdōgi that consists of white or blue cotton drawstring pants and a matching white or blue quilted cotton jacket, fastened by an obi (belt), coloured to indicate rank. The jacket is intended to withstand the stresses of grappling.

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.

Competition overview: All scores and penalties are given by the referee. The judges can make a decision that changes the score or penalty given by the referee. A throw that places the opponent on his back with impetus and control scores ippon, winning the contest. A lesser throw, where the opponent is thrown onto his back, but with insufficient force to merit an ippon, scores waza-ari. Two scores of waza-ari equal ippon. A throw that places the opponent onto his side scores yuko. No amount of yukos equal a waza-ari, they are only considered in the event of an otherwise tied contest. Ippon is scored for pinning an opponent on his back for 25 seconds or by forcing a submission through shime-waza (strangulation techniques). A submission is signalled by tapping the mat or the opponent at least twice with the hand or foot, or by saying maitta (I surrender).

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.

round 1: boxing! ding, ding, ding!!!

Our challenge begins in the week that marks the "1 year to go" till the world's finest athletes and their loyal fans flock to London. And so we begin with sport #1... boxing!

3 x 1 hour sessions booked in at Balham Boxing Club. Making our way down to the boxing club after work is not what we would usually be doing on a splendid summer's evening... We had no idea what to expect as we approached the graffiti walled club house. We were greeted by the marvelous Winston Fuller (club owner) and his dedicated team: Natasha, Declan and Marvin. The club was buzzing with activity and was almost like a scene out of a movie.

So after a 10 minute warm up, we got started with the basics... footwork. Feet apart, right heel up, legs slightly bent, eyes looking forward, stance ready and step. Shuffle forwards, backwards, left, right and repeat. After a while, our legs started getting sore and we were told that we looked like "scrambled eggs" as our group lost shape and shuffled out of sync around the club house. So we did it again and again until it became more natural to us.

Next up, punching bags... Yay, we get to put gloves on now. Straight punching, under cutting and low to high jabbing for 8 x 3 minute sessions, all while jogging on the spot. And then, as if we hadn't had enough yet, we were taken outside on to the football pitch to do some sprints, jumping, squat thrusts, burpies and other intense leg burning exercises. We walked out of there with jelly legs and arms and with a lot to still learn. 

Week 2 involved some more foot work, learning the punching techniques for left and right and then incorporating the footwork in with the left, right, left, right punching. After relieving all our stresses on the punching bags, we did some sparring sessions with our coaches, one on one. This was loads of fun and after our fitness session, which included sprinting while carrying 12kg medicine balls, we dragged our tired bodies home.

Week 3 got tougher as we put together all the techniques we had learnt and did some serious core exercises. What a great work out and it definitely can't be compared to a boxing class at your local gym! Thanks to the team from Maggie's for coming down to support us - August newsletter.

Did you know:

1. Professional boxers train with 18 oz. gloves and fight with 8 oz. gloves.
2. Boxing was introduced as an Olympic sport at the 23rd Olympiad in 688 B.C. where opponents fought with strips of leather wrapped around their fists.
3. Ever wonder why they call them boxing "rings", even though they are square? In Ancient Rome, boxing rules were introduced and competitors were required to remain within a circular ring drawn on the arena floor. They have been known as "rings" ever since.
4. At the London 2012 Games, the ever-popular men’s Boxing events will be joined on the Olympic programme by a women’s competition for the first time.
5. The London 2012 venue for boxing is at the Excel centre (in London's Docklands) where 286 athletes will be competing in 10 men’s weight categories and 3 women's weight categories.

the chance, the challenge, the charity

The Chance

The Gold Challenge initiative is the brainchild of Dan Thompson and his passion for the Olympics and Paralympics. It has two main objectives: to inspire people of all ages and physical ability to play sport, and to raise substantial sums of money for charity. Launched in November 2010, the Gold Challenge is a charity challenge in which people take on Olympic and Paralympic sports to raise money for their chosen charity.

Gold Challenge works in partnership with the British Olympic Association, ParalympicsGB and Sport England, and forms part of the official mass participation legacy programme for London 2012.

Wimbledon Winners is a team of enthusiastic hockey club members from the Wimbledon Club embracing the exciting build up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Challenge

Learn Olympic or Paralympic sports by taking on a 5, 10, 20 or 30 sport challenge. Sports are completed by doing at least three hours of coaching in that sport or taking part in a competitive event.

The Charity

Choosing a charity is no easy task given the amount of choice available but we decided to support a cancer charity and one that was less well known to us - Maggies.

So why Maggies? "Maggie's is about empowering people to live with, through and beyond cancer by bringing together professional help, communities of support and building design to create exceptional centres for cancer care." Enough said.

We chose the 30 sport challenge - go big or go home!