SSgt Lewis Hannington REME and Lt Col Jim Crompton AGC (ETS) travelled to Berlin for 4 days of Judo Kata training delivered by world-leading experts from the Kodokan Institute in Japan.
Four very long and intense training days were led by senior Kodokan trainers Motonari Sameshima 8th Dan and Suji Ohshima 7th Dan, covering:
Nage-no-Kata (forms of throwing)
Goshin-Jutsu (forms of self-defence)
Katame-no-Kata (forms of grappling)
Jun-no-Kata (forms of flexibility)
This year, SSgt Hannington and Lt Col Crompton broke onto the international judo kata scene competing in events across Europe, including the European Championships in Slovenia in Jun, after which they went on to win the British Kata Championships in September in Nage-no-Kata and Katame-no-Kata. Organised by the German Judo Federation, the pair were accompanied by three other British judo kata specialists and marked a significant moment in the development of judo Kata in the UK.
Commenting on the training, Lt Col Crompton said:
“The Kodokan training in Berlin surpassed all our expectations. Being trained by world-leading experts and having the opportunity to present our techniques to them has provided us with feedback that we can use to take our training to the next level. We also got to know some very knowledgeable athletes and coaches from Austria and Germany with whom I hope we can share knowledge and build long term relations. The key for us now is really putting all the points we learned into practice and passing them on to others across the UK to improve our national standard of kata.”
Reflecting on the excellent training, SSgt Hannington said:
“Firstly, what an opportunity this was – this is what retention looks like! It has taken a lot of training amongst busy work schedules to get to where we are, so when this is recognised and rewarded with financial support and flexibility in my schedule it makes me feel that my efforts are appreciated. I cannot imagine another employer that would not only afford these opportunities to their employees, but support and encourage it.”
“At the moment this level of coaching is not available in the UK, so when it comes to performing on the European and World circuit this is the difference between just qualifying and turning up or whether you are in with a shot at the medals. I believe our rapid progression due to international coaching opportunities and building our network of world-renowned athletes and coaches is paving the way for British Judo as a whole. I am proud to be at the forefront of this movement which is a great way of advertising the opportunities that the Army Provides.”
The pair are already in training again for UK competitions later this year and the beginning of a busy 2024 across Europe, aiming to achieve selection for the World Championships in Las Vegas.
