| Khairil Hassan |
JAPANESE Judo students from Osaka Kyoiku University and Setsunan University held a Judo practice session, showcasing local students some of the fundamental Judo movements and techniques at the Sports School yesterday.
The students along with three instructors – Takayuki Yokoyama, Yoshihisa Ishikawa and Yasuharu Mizuno – are in Brunei Darussalam as part of the ‘Judo Exchange’ under the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) programme from January 22-29.
Judo, which means ‘gentle way’, is a Japanese martial art that was created as a method for physical, intellectual and moral education. Judo became an Olympic sport at the Tokyo 1964 Games and is one of the Olympic sports at the Tokyo 2020 Games. In Brunei, the Brunei Darussalam National Judo Federation (BDNJF) was established in March 2018 and its official launch ceremony was held in April 2018 which was attended by President of the Kodokan Judo Institute Haruki Uemura. Kodokan Judo Institute is the oldest independent Judo organisation in the world.
In addition to promote Judo in Brunei, the visit also aims to promote mutual trust and understanding for further friendship between Japanese and Bruneian youth. They will engage in a school exchange programme at the Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College (Maktab Sains) and Sports School, and will experience homestay with Bruneian families to have a better understanding of the local culture.
