My lads first Judo lesson last night

**Munkymagic** · 03-16-2007 04:50 PM

Yep, my 5 year old boy had his first Judo lesson last night, well officially. He's only just turned 5 (its the minimum age they have to be). Took him to my club that also run a Kano club for kids between 5-8 before they go onto the juniors to compete.
He was a bit nervous at first until kevin one of the coaches coaxed him onto the matt. They found him a small jacket and a white belt. They start out playing a few gamaes to warm up...all the other kids there are 6 and over, my boy was the youngest. So they start doing kesa-gatames (scarf holds..pinning an opponent). My lad gets in position and starts putting his arms in all the right places...puts his head into the shoulder, spreads his legs to distribute weight and make it harder to overturn. The coach tells this older lad to try and get out...lol.. he's going feckin NOWHERE. Coach asks my lad "been practising with daddy have you" as he turns round and smiles at me.
Think the game was given away 10 mins later when they are lining up for tai otoshi body drop throws onto crash mats. My boy lines up, pivots and throws the other lad flat onto his back on the crash matt. Kevin "yeah...i think daddy has definitely shown you a couple of things"...well of course i would, he's my lad, i want him to have a head start.

In short he loved it. He got thrown and i knew from the moment he started throwing and being thrown (onto very soft crashmats) the smile on his face was a picture. The wrestling me and him do at home has paid off. I will draw the line at shwoing him armbars and chokes though...that can wait til he's 6

After one lesson i think he's hooked.