The Malta Judo Foundation has taken over the refurbishment of the Sergeants’ mess and the Band’s Room in Pembroke. The Sergeants’ Mess required extensive repairs in the roof after a large stone from the chimney of a neighbouring Enemalta Substation, fell through the roof damaging some of the old building roof slabs.

The Malta Judo Foundation has stepped up its activities in order to prepare for the building of the long awaited International Judo Centre. The foundation decided to set up the Malta Judo Academy as its operational branch to promote Judo nationally.

Several projects have been studied and the first project is the roving judo classes for all Maltese secondary schools.

Most of the schools had found problems in starting judo lessons because of space and instructors, therefore the judo academy will provide professional coaches to go round schools with transportable judo mats and provide lessons directly in the school.

This is a very popular system in Great Britain and one of the top schools specialising in primary school age has accepted to offer their services in Malta in Primary Schools and the Malta Judo Academy will give this service in Secondary schools and Sixth Forms.

Thus in this scholastic year all Maltese Judo Schools will have the opportunity to organise judo lessons, a sport which gives the opportunity to the young students, coordination, self esteem and discipline.

For those students who want to practice judo more than once a week, the Malta Judo Foundation will offer all those who register in this scheme, extra free judo lessons in the evening at the foundation’s head quarters in Pembroke.

The lessons being offered have been specially designed to offer the young judoka the opportunity to progress and grade to higher belts. It is also planned to start organising inter school competitions and training camps and participation in international activities with children involved in similar schemes abroad.

An innovation which the foundation is introducing is a special kindergarten class for three to four-year-olds. The judo federation has been asked to introduce these classes for quite a long time and this season those parents who want their children to start judo at such an early age, will be pleased to find that these classes are available. In Pembroke the foundation will also be offering a variety of activities such as classes for beginners, advanced beginners, technical and competitive including coach education, judo for fitness, judo for self defence and judo as an integral corporate fitness.

As Wushu will be affiliated to the Malta judo federation at the next AGM, the Malta Judo Foundation will also start organising Ti Chi lessons being provided by specialised expert Chinese instructors, thanks to the collaboration with the international Wushu federation to which the MJF has been affiliated, the Chinese Embassy and the Chinese Cultural Centre.

It is hoped that this project will lead to the formation of an International Cadet Centre offering the services of the professional preparation of a new national team in the very near future to continue the success and awards which the sports of Judo has brought to Malta over the past years

Judo sessions will start in Pembroke on 20 October and anybody interested may call the Malta Judo Foundation offices tel. 2131-0463 or tel. 2131-9944 during office hours.