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.