4 February 2013
|
Former British Champion judoka Tom Reed encouraged BU students to take up the sport |
A member of the Great Britain judo team was at Bournemouth University to inspire more students and staff to take up the sport.
Tom Reed, who is training to compete in the Rio 2016 Olympics, joined representatives from British Judo in The Atrium to encourage students to start going to judo sessions, which have recently started at BU.
Tom, who was British Champion in 2012, said: "It is a complex sport, but it is good fun and there are lots of ways to do throws and lots of different moves.
"It's completely different every time so you can't really get bored of it."
He added: "It's a really safe sport - the first thing you learn is how to land safely and things like that - which helps you in everyday life as well, and it helps in other sports with things like balance, coordination and footwork."
Active Dorset have given BU £4,000 for new judo mats and the weekly judo sessions are part of the Free Your Fitness project, funded by Sport England to increase student and staff participation in sport.
The judo sessions take place every Sunday in Talbot House from 11.30am to 1.30pm and cost £2 per person.
Chris Payne, Sport Activator for the Free Your Fitness Project at Bournemouth University, said: "British Judo approached us and we are always looking to put new sports and activities on. We thought it would be great to get a couple of new things going.
"Since the Olympics, there has been a lot more interest in Judo, and the aim is to raise awareness.
"It definitely helps to have Tom and British Judo here - it's great to have that Judo knowledge.
"It is just offering students and staff more opportunities really - you can make friends, have fun and get fit."
Roxanne Blanks, who is in her first year of a Biological Anthropology degree at BU, has been doing judo for the past four years.
She said: "I love it - it's such a good way to get fit and it's fun. It's cool to know that you can look after yourself."
Find out more about Free Your Fitness at BU
Return to News Menu page