British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

WAY OF GENTLENESS

Series

Series Name
Mining Review 15th Year

Issue

Issue No.
12
Date Released
Aug 1962
Stories in this Issue:
  1. 1PIPING HEAT
  2. 2WAY OF GENTLENESS
  3. 3IN SPITE OF THE WEATHER

Story

Story No. within this Issue
2 / 3
Summary
BFI synopsis: A judo match between Port Talbot and Porth proves the skill of Gerald Thomas, a surveyor from South Wales
NCB Commentary - This is the story of a belt and the man who owns it. His name is Gerald Thomas, and he’s a surveyor in the South-Western Division. Judo is his sport and he’s just been awarded the belt - it’s black - the most coveted of all.
He still finds time to be a family man, although being Secretary of the Welsh Area of the British Judo Association keeps him pretty busy.
His wife, Maureen, is a keen follower of Judo - she has to be. Often his training activities make the household chores a bit tricky in his little house at Ynysir, near Forth. This is repetitive movement or, in the right language, Oochikomy.
But it was all worth it to win the belt, and twice a week he puts it on when he goes to Porth Y.M.C.A. to teach others the courtesies and techniques of the art. Here, he demonstrates the footwork leading up to a throw. He’s been a coach since 1961.
Quite a crowd turned up to see him receive the certificate which goes with the belt from Mr. Edmonds, a Welsh national coach and for four years the British Police champion. Judo is becoming a popular sport in Wales.
The ceremony preceded a match between Port Talbot and Porth - here’s the first contest.
Gerald met J. Workman - a blue belt - in the decider, and won, but not without a struggle. Incidentally, one throw in which the opponent is airborne, a lock or a hold-down, decide the winner.
Gerry Blackmore, Area General Manager, presented the trophies to the winning team. He played rugger, football - Judo might have come in useful!
Then, by way of an exhibition, Thomas disposed of six opponents in double quick time.
While watching, you may like to ponder on the fact that the literal translation of the name Judo - is "way of gentleness"!
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
The last of the six - it was a good night for the founder of the Porth Y.M.C.A. Judo Club - a night well-worthy of the belt he wears.
Researcher Comments
Commentary recorded at Kays Carlton Hill Studios on 9th July 1962.
Keywords
Sport; Competitions; Domestic life; Ceremonies
Written sources
British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
The National Archives COAL 32   /13 Scripts for Mining Review, 1960-1963
Credits:
Production Co.
Documentary Technicians Alliance
Sponsor
National Coal Board

Record Stats

This record has been viewed 180 times.