| With the advent of a new Judo club being formed in Edenbridge more than 40 years ago by David Mansi, I wanted to learn this art of self- defence, I was just 18 in 1968 and worked at Warmafoam, in Lingfield Road, and realised this could be good to learn and defend myself, so I joined.
My recollections was when I went upstairs behind the Crown Inn for my first initiation into the world of self-defence, there were very few of us there but all of us were ready to put our words into actions and learn this sport of great repute from the far east.
All was well chatting to the other few who were ready to join, but when I saw Dave approaching me I was met with great trepidation as I eyed him up across the dojo, he was big, broad, and looked mean, and I only weighed 7 stone!!!
Serious questions crossed my mind as to “how on earth can I throw this man mountain over my shoulder, let alone grab his tunic and get into some weird position with legs and arms all over the place with the expected hoped eventuality of throwing him to the ground”?
Well it wasn’t so bad as I expected and Dave was determined to get us all into shape, he was very understanding to us all – we all stood shaking as he bellowed out his instructions - “This is how you fall, watch me and don’t forget, slap your arms out as you fall backwards on the floor, this will break and strengthen your fall”.
He gave us a simple demonstration of his agility with the famous Judo fall, he fell backwards, screamed out, as he neared the mat slapped his arms in a frantic style against the floor making a terrific sound, which to us onlookers each thinking “That must have hurt?”
Dave stood erect and bowed to us all, and accomplished it without injury, and re-marked “that is how it should be done, now all of you practise it”.
We all started this strange form of falling backwards and slapping our arms out as he had instructed...well the first few times hurt our arms, shoulders, and hands, but as we progressed it became less painful, it started to feel good that we could actually fall like this and not sustain any serious injury, a good start to our self-defence regime.
After a few weeks of instruction, and many painful falls and throws with each other we were all ready to face the Master...Dave Mansi...!
He was a very good teacher, patient, understanding, and I’m sure he frightened us all, or maybe it was fear that we listened attentively to him, as none of us were certain which one of us he would pick to practise some Judo throws on, but sooner or later each one of our turns would come.
By the time I had bought my first tunic, which in fact nearly went around my body twice as I was so thin, I tightened the belt and prepared, I was ready.
It wasn’t long before he called me onto the mat, and I wasn’t sure at all how this was going to end up...maybe a broken arm, shoulder, hand, neck...I was filled with fear...but quite determined to try.
My trying didn’t take long, we faced each other...the mountain and me the midget, we bowed to each other as the Judo custom requires, then both in a semi squat faced each other, suddenly Dave sprung forward grabbed my tunic at the lapels, looked real mad into my eyes, as I feebly grabbed his tunic trying to hold on for dear life, then in a frenzy of the Judo technique we tried to kick each others feet away, but he was far too strong, powerful, and experienced for me, I felt myself being lifted up, twisted violently sideways and thrown to the floor with Dave holding me down looking at me in triumph.
Yes I had lost that battle but other times would come, and I remember at one session I actually threw Dave to the floor and (tried) to hold him down. Well I’m sure he let me win that one just to give me some confidence. That was my last and only chance as Dave never allowed me to do it again..!
After some months learning Judo from Dave, I went into work one night at Warmafoam and was confronted by the night manager who with some other workers around him decided to intimidate me regarding the Judo lessons I was learning, they all stood and watched as Bill laughed at me, so I replied that I could throw him to the floor with what I had learned, well it turned out that he was defiant and blatantly said “go on then if you think you can...Ha Ha Ha..”
Within a couple of swift moves he was lying on the concrete floor in agony as I delivered him an effective and deadly Judo throw, which caused him considerable pain...he never tried that again...!
I carried on with Judo for a while, but as time went by I decided to try Karate, which I did.
I started training with the youngest Black Belt in England, Gary Duttfield, at Wallington, Surrey. He was a Master at Wu Su Kwan (Korean) Karate School, I gained a few belts, diplomas and good grades after months with him.
Later I joined the Shotokan (Japanese) Karate School in Kensington, London, under another Black Belt Master, Charles Mack. It was very good, but hard, and for every move made there was a Japanese word for it, which I could never remember. I eventually got some good grades and moved up some belts.
Then as time passed decided to carry on with bodybuilding, I started this when I was 15 years old, as I only weighed 5 stone when I left school and stood 4 feet 11 inches tall, what with the continued bullying at school that I suffered for years I decided I had had enough, and would show all the bullies I was ready for them.
My cousin David Bridle gave me every encouragement and wrote out a training plan for me with weights, accompanied by a high protein and carbohydrate eating schedule, that I had to eat every day.
He trained me very well, as time passed I added 3 stone to my weight and eventually reached an all time top weight of 10 stone 8 pounds...and did I have to eat to reach that weight, and take full protein drinks x3 times a day. I wont list the food I had to eat...you wont believe it...!!!
My very good friend and trainer in later years was Tony Kippen from Woodpecker Close, Edenbridge, he was an exceptionally kind man and a first class trainer.
After having my picture on the front of the Edenbridge Courier in 1971, I entered my first bodybuilding contest in the Isle of Sheppey, at Iwade village hall...The Mr Kent Title.
The outcome was that I came 4th, not so good but I had achieved a placing and won a cup.
They were good days, in Judo the training was hard but effective, in Karate the training was far more painful but deadly in action, and as for body building...the long hours of training with all the assortments of exercises, eating, strain, sweat, and pushing your body beyond the pain barrier...hopefully paid off with a good shaped athletic body.
I still have all the great memories of Dave Mansi, David Bridle, Gary Duttfield, Charles Mack, Tony Kippen, and those friends that I trained with who gave me the inner strength to carry on and the endurance to take the pain...Great Days...Long Time Gone...Thanks to You All.
Ian R. Bridle...21/3/2009.
|
