Copyright Peter Morton Academy of Judo Jujitsu Karate
Kaleen junior seminar 2003
22 March 2003
This article appeared in the 2003 newsletter.
"Where's Eddie, where's Dave, they're coming, aren't they?", "Yes, they said that they would be here", "It's nine o'clock, we'll have to start soon". "Rowls has probably got lost again," joked Frog.
No sooner had these phrases left mouths when the two lost souls wandered into the dojo, the Principal and Deputy Principal of the academy.
Before the duo could take an extra breath "around the mat" was called and with it came the ritual bobbing up and down of bodies as the opening ceremony lumbered into action.
The hoard of forty-three junior masochists was then mixed up and colour-banded for group identification, just in case one of them tried to escape or so that at the end of the day one group could be chosen as the best performer.
Next, bodies were rudely awakened with some vigorous warm up and stretching exercises. These were inflicted by a well-known Queanbeyan CI. He likes to experiment with someone else's body just to see what is possible in movement and balance.
Left leg, 1, 2, 3, right leg, 1, 2, 3, lift those knees higher, keep your legs bent, kick with the bottom of your foot. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, keep your thumb back, arm straight, hit with the knuckles. After the warm up and stretching, the basics of punching, kicking and breakfalls were a piece of cake.
The Basic Steps competition got under way. "Enemy left, slide, slide..." the caller was from Batemans Bay, not very tall and came with a loud voice. For one so young, Alannah did a very good job of directing the team through the basic steps. The judges were impressed.
As usual, branch teams were at their best. Movements left, movements right, movements all as one. "And the winner is...Isabella Plains". Kaleen branch would have to give up the trophy that they had held since last year.
"Go on, get him" was the chant as another victim contested the Two Man Attack trophy. One after one they came on to the mat, a glint in their eye, this was a chance to get some real action and bring down a black belt or two. But, as with all contests, there can be only one victor and this time it was the Kaleen branch that took the trophy.
Amazed students were shown how to fold up and tie a judogi with a belt, how to actually tie their belt correctly around themselves and, after morning tea, some etiquette.
The noise level had elevated as excited teams competed against each other. The games had begun. Balls were rolling through tunnels of legs, bodies were running from one end of the tunnels to the other and everybody was out to beat the team that had two black belts on it - which they did.
Other games followed and then, to change the pace and calm everyone down, several techniques were put through their paces and practised.
During a demonstration of the correct way to do a hip throw the instructor asked "Why does the thrower hold the arm after a throw?" To which a green belt replied "So you can hit him again!" "Yeees, can anyone else give me another reason?" was the instructor's reply. A slight pause, then another voice was heard to say, "When can we do it? When can we do it?" He was keen to slam someone into the mat for the first time. He would have to wait for a while though, as it was time to eat.
After lunch the hip throw and other techniques were tried out. The most enjoyment for students came from rolling around on the mat trying to outdo each other in a hold down. The mat came alive to the wriggling of bodies and the sounds of fun.
During a lull the Principal of the academy got everyone's attention and announced that he had been asked, "How come the black belts can sit on the steps when we are not allowed to sit down or lean on anything". This was a valid question, the black belts had been sprung and they quickly regained their feet.
Another change of pace as a vigorous game of "stop the instructors from getting to the other end of the mat" erupted. A bit one-sided, as there were three instructors against about twenty students and all of this performed on all-fours. The initial charge was something to be seen. There were a few flat instructors and some all-of-body impressions left in the mat, especially when one instructor had about forty students pile on top of him.
After a few bouts of trying to break balance, the learning and activities drew to a close.
Presentations were made - the Red Team coming out as top team of the day - the last bow was performed, the mat was separated and goodbyes were exchanged until next time.