Rei
Line up and bow in. Respect for the mat, the teacher and your partners.
Keiko
Start training
You need no fitness, no flexibility and no experience. Turn up in a t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms; a club will lend you a judogi until you buy one.
A typical session
Taiso
Warm-up: rolls, bridges, gripping drills. Ten minutes of ukemi every session.
Uchi-komi
Repetition of entries without throwing. Hundreds of reps build the pattern.
Nage-komi
Full throws with a willing partner and a soft landing area.
Randori
Free practice. Not a fight — an exchange where both people try things.
Rei — closing
Bow out, fold the gi, sweep the mats.
Dojo etiquette
- Bow when stepping on and off the tatami.
- Nails short, no jewellery, clean gi, clean feet.
- Never walk on the mat in shoes.
- Tap twice and clearly — early, not late.
- Look after your partner; you need them tomorrow.
Find a club
Look for a club affiliated to your national federation — coaches are insured, graded and safeguarding-trained. Most offer a free first session, and beginners' courses usually start in September and January.
National federations