ART OF JUDO

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 81, 17 January 1936, Page 8

ART OF JUDO

ENGLISHWOMAN WINS HONOURS AWARDED FAMOUS BLACK BELT Going to see Mrs Sarah Mayer today I made it quite clear from the start that my call was purely for a friendly chat and, please, she wasn't to be up to any of her tricks, writes a * correspondent of the "Evening News," London.

. Mrs Mayer happens to be the world's finest woman exponent of Judo—the modern name for Ju Jitsu, She is very keen, and I was determined that her enthusiasm should not run away with me. So dainty and so very feminine, she doesn't look at all as if she could throw strong men about like feathers in a breeze, but she can.

Should you doubt it, then look in vt the Stadium Club at any demonstration of the Budokwai. The Budokwai in case you don't know, is the London Judo Society. So persuasive she is, too. "Just let me hold your arm, then I could show you how it is done." Maybe she could, and the carpet in her flat in Chelsea Court was soft indeed, but she couldn't catch me like that.

Mrs Mayer is the only Englishwoman to whom Japan has awarded the black belt. Progression in Judo goes by belts first the white of the tyro, then orange, green, blue and brown, until is met the stiffest hurdle of all, the black belt.

"It all began when I was a very small girl," she said. "As long as I can remember, I have been interested in Japan. First I fell in love with fairy tales, then, as I grew older, studied the history and traditions. "I learnt Judo and determined to try it for myself. For ten years I studied in London with the Budokwai, and have just had one year with the master in Japan. "I am the only woman to he awarded the black belt, and it is an exceptionally high honour. The women in Japan have their own belt, but I was awarded the black belt in the men's championship. "Judo is so fascinating. I don't like ordinary games. A bit of golf and riding, that's all. But Judo .... "It is a great sport and the perfect exercise for every muscle. In addition, there is a philosophical and ethical side which js extremely valuable. "You can't throw down your clubs in temper, as in golf. To be successful, perfect self-control is necessary, politely and rarely practise with men. I, being so enthusiastic, was admitted to studies and classes where no woman had ever been before.

"In all the world, I am the only woman member of the Judo section of Budokwai—that great society for pieserving the old marital arts of the Samurai. They practise Judo and fencing, sword-fighting and so on. "Swimming is admitted, but as a martial art men must swim in full armour. The society has 20,000,000 members. The Judo section alone has 1,000,000. "I can't be too enthusiastic about Judo. It is the only possible self-de-fence for women. There is nothing brutalising about it. Brains are pitted against brawn, and brains win every time.

"After Japan, England leads the world in Judo, and I know that the cult will spread enormously."