University Tournament Now Includes Judo

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28992, 5 September 1959, Page 5

University Tournament Now Includes Judo

QINCE the Second World War, judo has become so popular in the universities that it has now been included in the programme for the annual winter tournament. There are clubs at the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago Universities and there is a great deal of interest m iudo at Massey Agricultural College. An unofficial university judo contest was held in Dunedin this year in conjunction with the winter tournament. Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago entered teams which fought well. Auckland was a little overawed by so many coloured belts from Canterbury and Otago, but the team performed creditably. Otago avenged its defeat by Canterbury in the South Island championships by winning 7-3.

The Canterbury University Judo Club was formed years ago, and is developing into one of the strongest clubs at the university. There are more than 50 members, 30 of whom are graded, ranging from a blue belt holder down to a white belt. The club has more women members than any of the other university judo clubs. As yet the club does not own mats, but practices at the Can-Am-Ju dojo. Japanese Mats Members are saving hard, however, and hope to buy the Japanese composition mats early next year. The practices are run according to Japanese custom. The judoka (contestants) bow before starting, an act signifying that all animosity is forgotten when going to the mat. A number of

exercises are then performed to warm the main muscles in the body. Rolls and break-falls then follow to teach the judoka how to fall when thrown. Break-falls seem frightening to the beginner. As the body is thrown in the air, the hand comes down to slap the mat hard, a split second before the rest of the body. When the hand and arm strike the mat they force the body up slightly, lessening the impact. When a judoka is thrown and forgets to breakfall he realises the necessity of the arm action. Free practice, or randori, follows, or a new throw is demonstrated and practised. Often the judoka are divided into two teams for a red and white contest. The women members of the club seem particularly keen; there

is one green belt holder, one orange, and five white. It is a sport which appeals to women—for once in the sporting world they can compete equally with men. If judo is performed correctly with a minimum of strength, a woman should be a match for the strongest man. Self Defence The women members consider it useful to know something about self-defence. The main advantage it has from a woman’s point of view is that it is a pleasant way of keeping her figure in trim. The rapid growth of the Canterbury University Judo Club in the last four years is an indication of the growth of judo in New Zealand. Its acceptance in the tournament as an official sport is a significant phase in its development.