 Visit Haverfordwest Judo Club if you like fast action, fun and high skill levels!
Regular visitors to the STP School on a Monday evening will see lots of excited youngsters going into the gymnasium there in readiness for their weekly session as members of Haverfordwest Judo Club.
Dressed in the customary white judoka suits, they chatter amongst themselves and love to chase each other around on the mats until their coaches are ready – and then there is a respectful silence because judo certainly encourages that self-discipline from them from the outset.
Junior classes start at 7pm and usually go on until 8.15pm, with the emphasis on fun as well as learning basic skills and moves, with laughter aplenty encouraged by 2nd Dan John Cooper and 1st Dan Paul Absalom. There is understandably a more serious element when the seniors take over at that time and work hard until 9.30pm, but there is a clear camaraderie amongst those taking part.
Paul and John work tirelessly
The club itself has been in existence for over 40 years and Paul Absalom has been a member for 15 years after starting out as an eager youngster, like those in his charge now. He quickly moved through the early grading sessions, which are held on a regular basis to allow youngsters to progress through the different belt colours. Paul is rightly proud of his Black Belt 1st Dan and is working towards his 2nd Dan, as well as teaching his protégées the holds and moves that make a good judo competitor.
John Cooper has been with the club for the past two years after moving here from England but has been involved in the sport for 34 years after starting out, like Paul, as a 12 year old. Again, he is rightly proud of his Black Belt and both are ideal role models for their young charges because they have that seemingly inner calm that their sport seems to produce.
The club also has Brown Belts in Peter Phillips, Simon Hughes and Neil Hermitage, and it is hoped that all three will eventually achieve Black Belts to further boost the strength of Haverfordwest Judo Club.
Warm-up games and techniques taught
One of the nice things about attending the club for an evening is to see the way that parents are encouraged to stay and watch if they want to, and that early session with the juniors is full of bustle. They warm up with fun games that encourage participation before getting down to learning the skills and techniques of judo, with demonstrations of holds by senior judoka and then paired work to implement what they have seen, always with the emphasis on care, and respect for one’s partner.
It is something implicit to the sport – a belief in self-discipline where they are taught from the outset that using their learned techniques for aggression is absolutely forbidden. Again the young participants warm down with games situations and it is clear that they have had a rattling good evening. There are approaching 40 regular junior members and about ten senior members at the club, and they are now planning to compete against other clubs. They have already travelled to Maesteg and are intent on being part of the clubs which intend holding a tournament in Pembrokeshire later in the year.
It is an exciting time to be a member of Haverfordwest Judo Club and anyone who wants to take up judo, provided they are prepared to show a measure of commitment, is guaranteed a warm welcome from John, Paul and their helpers!
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