PWilliamson

Published at 01:00, Friday, 16 July 2004

CUMBRIA hosted a number of high ranking dan grades at a prestigious judo event at the weekend.

Instructors from across Scotland and the north of England descended on Watanabe Kwai judo club at Warwick Bridge to spend three days learning from Akinora Hosaka Sensei. Akinora is the only 8th dan in the country whose grade has been awarded to him by the Kodokan in Japan, which is the home of judo.

Joining John Barton, Derek Gove and Ian Little, who all coach in Cumbria, were David Revely and Dale Fenwick, who both picked up gold medals in the world masters championships in Vienna earlier this month.

The event also attracted Eddie Kenny, 6th dan and George Temperton, 5th dan.

Over the gruelling weekend, those attending worked to improve 36 different judo techniques, including throws, hold-downs, strangles and armlocks – and then had to master counter moves and combinations to every attack.

David Hammond, the editor of Judoka! magazine, trav elled from Dundee for the event. He said: “Sensei teaches a very traditional style of judo. No movement is wasted, and a contest is like a chess – for every move, there is a counter move.”

Anyone interested in judo should contact Derek Gove on 01228 562514.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk