WAY OF GENTLENESS
Series
- Series Name
- Mining Review 15th Year
Issue
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"!
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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
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