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BEGINNERS JUDO LESSONS
The Sobell Judo Club London runs comprehensive beginners induction sessions to ensure that each and every newcomer to judo gets off to the best possible start. The sessions run once a month at our London dojo, and take place over two consecutive Wednesdays in conjunction to the regular class. If you have never practiced judo then you are required to take part in an induction before you join the main class. To book a session please visit our induction course time table.
PLEASE NOTE: All students are required to complete their full induction (2x Wednesdays) in order to join the main class.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
What is an Induction?
As judo is a high contact martial art, it is vital that every person who practises it has a solid foundation to prevent themselves, or others getting injured. Our induction teaches each newcomer to judo fundamental skills that will ensure they can engage in judo in the safest possible way.
What will I learn?
At our beginners judo lessons you will learn a handful of basic skills to give you the best possible start in judo. You will learn:
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How to break-fall (Ukemi)
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How to take hold (Kumi Kata)
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Principles of breaking the balance (Kuzushi)
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A basic throw (Tachi Waza)
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A basic hold down (Ne Waza)
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The etiquette of judo (Do)
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The rules & regulations of the club
What shall I wear?
Please come in a long sleeve tracksuit top and long tracksuit bottoms. Ensure there are no zips on your clothing as these may damage the mats we practice on (tatami). Please wear clothes that you do not mind getting stretched or damaged as there is a small possibility that this may happen during the session. Please do not wear any piercings, please wear minimal makeup and we encourage all women to wear sports bras.
What happens afterwards?
How do I book an induction?
To book an induction, please select a date below and follow the instructions. You will be required to pay a non-refundable fee in order to secure your place.
Are there any age restrictions on joining?
We take on new students from the age of 7 years old. From our experience this is the best age to bring children into the world of judo as any younger they struggle to focus and engage in the class effectively.
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If a person does not have any experience in combat martial arts, or has not trained in combat martial arts since their childhood then we advise that after the age of 55 judo at the Sobell is not for them. This is because of the extremely high impact nature of judo which is very hard on the body. We have found that untrained older students often have an extremely hard time keeping up with the training and often withdraw from the class after a short period due to the stress it causes on the body. This is heightened by the fact that we have a very young and competitive senior class. In these cases, we advise that martial arts such as Karate or BJJ might be better suited as they require less impact on the body, or finding a judo club with a higher age demographic where things can be taken more slowly.
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If an older student has previous experience in Judo, Wrestling, Sambo or something similar and has trained this martial art throughout their adult life then we are happy to bring them in to the class.
Get a head start and watch our head instructors videos which show how to break fall and how to break someones balance. These are the two key skills you will learn at the induction before you begin throwing!
Please note: Training is currently suspended due to Covid-19. We will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.