VIDEO: Feast of judo from novices to black belts

The week-long family event at Arun Leisure Centre which finishes tomorrow (Friday, August 22), has been organised and run by top judo coaches.

Open to judo players of all abilities, the summer school, which has been held in Bognor for the last 28 years, teaches participants the skills of the Japanese martial art, a form of one-to-one wrestling.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the British Judo Council (BJC).

Special guests from the judo world have been invited to Bognor to attend the summer school and celebrate the occasion, including the BJC chief technical officer Mr Hosaka and Mr Konno and Mr Yamamoto, who are both widely respected in the judo world.

Paul Laskey, one of the summer school organisers, said: "The week is going very well. We've had a good turnout and people are enjoying themselves.

"From the beginners to the experts, participants have had the chance to learn a range of judo moves and skills from the world's top judo experts."

Mr Laskey said it is important the participants are taught the correct etiquette of the sport.

"As soon as they step onto the dojo, or training mat, we expect them to respect the sport. Safety is of paramount importance. We teach them the correct way to fall, expect them to be dressed appropriately and show them how to bow correctly."

During the final day of the summer school, judo players will be tested to see if they can achieve their next grade.

Arun Leisure Centre's Andrew Smith said the event provides a real boost for the centre.

"The summer school is a fantastic way of getting the leisure centre's hall filled in August, which is traditionally a quiet time for indoor sports."

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