A year after the Olympics a judo coach has hailed the influence of London 2012 on young people’s enthusiasm for the sport.

Great Britain’s Gemma Gibbons wowed millions of people across the UK as she battled to claim silver in the women’s judo competition at last summer’s Olympic Games.

And nearly 12 months on, Equinox Judo Club head coach Roger Woods said the 26-year-old’s success has given more exposure to the sport than he thought possible.

Mr Woods, 37, has spent 32 years learning the sport, and said part of Gemma’s legacy is that judo clubs have been given more exposure than ever before.

The international competition medallist said: “We’re really grateful for what the Olympics have done, and she really played a part in that. People see it as a sport now and not a martial art.

“I’ve been here eight years and we’ve got more promotion than we ever had before. It really benefitted grass roots clubs like ours.”

The former soldier decided to take over running the Highams Park club when he left the army after a decade serving in war-torn countries such as Bosnia and Kosovo, representing the combined services in the sport in competitions in Spain, Gibraltar and America.

And he hopes he can help hundreds of children aged from four to 16 to practice judo to gain confidence as they go through the trials of adolescence.

Mr Woods, whose two sons are in his class along with around 50 others, said: “It helps you gain self-belief. One of the girls who was in my class had a terrible time at school getting bullied badly.

“But she really focused on her training and it gave her so much confidence. Now she’s training to become a coach. I’m very proud of her.”

And he believes young people also benefit because, unlike other more instinctive sports and fighting techniques, judo requires participants to use their brain as well as their body.

He said: “It’s amazing. It’s the chess of the combat games, really. It’s a clever man’s fight. It’s all about controlling your aggression and reading your opponent, you have to stay in charge of the fight.”

Equinox meets twice weekly – on Fridays for four to eight-year-olds in Waltham Abbey and on Wednesdays for four to 16-year-olds above The County Arms in Handsworth Avenue, Highams Park.

To take part please contact Mr Woods on 8531 2991 or 07891100952.

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