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Sisters who make an art out of fighting
WHEN Bethany and Amy Pickett get into one of their frequent squabbles, it's probably best to stay well out of the way.
You'd understand why if you saw the two, who are both members of the Tekigou Ryu Ju-jitsu Club based at Perth Green Community Association, Jarrow, chuck each other about.
Having both studied the centuries-old Japanese martial art for six years, Bethany, 14, has just gained her black belt while Amy, 12, will take hers in July.
The elder of the two, a Year 10 student at St Joseph's RC Comprehensive in Hebburn said: "I'm quiet at school and people are quite surprised.
"I used to get picked on and my mum wanted us to do something where we could defend ourselves. It has given me a lot more confidence."
Hardly surprising when you see her in action.
Amy too.
A random attacker would be in for a rude shock if they were to grab either of them, as they have an armoury of hundreds of moves with which to defend themselves.
The girls gladly showed us one of them, called the 'rice bale'.
As Amy went to punch Bethany, she blocked the shots, got her sibling in a headlock before pulling her onto her back and landing on top of her.
It's so fast you can hardly see what just took place.
That's where chief coach fifth-dan ju jistu black belt, Fred Mimms, 60, came in to be the fall guy in an action replay.
Though, ahem, considerably heavier than his younger opponent, she had no trouble in flipping him over onto his back too.
However, this time, a little slower.
Dusting himself off, Fred, who has been studying the sport for 23 years, and teaching it at Perth Green for seven, said: "I was very proud of Beth getting her black belt. She did very well. It's brilliant we have two girls from one family.
"I've been teaching them since they were knee high."
Having formerly studied kung fu for more than five years, he had no doubt which one he now preferred.
"I love ju-jitsu. It's the mother of all the other martial arts."
"This has got everything; kicks, punches, locks, even breakages – if you want them. It's pure self-defence."
Both girls had no doubt that were they to be attacked in the street, knowing ju-jitsu would give them a fighting chance against any aggressor.
"It would definitely help," said Bethany.
Fred though, wanted to stress that before juniors got onto all these elaborate head locks and arm bars they first had to learn ju-jitsu's most important manoeuvre – how to land properly.
To illustrate this, the padded hall was filled with smaller children falling on to, and then shuffling round on their backs.
It looked like they were just larking about, but this was far from the case as second dan black belt, and assistant coach Ronnie Bell, explained.
"The first thing they do is learn how to fall without hurting themselves.
"They learn all the different break-falls from different throws."
Like Fred, he thought it the best martial art any young person or child could learn.
"Ju-jitsu teaches them how to defend themselves in any situation and against any aggressor."
To highlight this, the juniors then all sat on the edge of the mats while the half-dozen or so adults sat in the middle awaiting them.
This was British Bulldogs played ju-jitsu style.
In it, the children had to try to scramble across the length of the hall on all fours while the adults tried to stop them.
Minus biting and eye-gouging, the juniors could use any means necessary to try to extricate themselves from the adults' clutches.
The squeals of delight showed how much fun it was, but there was a serious reason for doing this, as Fred explained.
"It teaches them not to just stand still if someone grabs them. They learn how to struggle and fight to escape."
Once they'd done this a couple of times, it was time to swap round and the adults had to run the gauntlet of 20 pumped-up kids, each determined, Gandalf-style, that 'thou shalt not pass'.
When it kicked off, it was a pile-on of an epic scale.
Red belt Dylan Hogg, eight, a pupil at Bedeburn Primary School, was certainly not going to take it easy on the adults.
There with his sister Emma Hogg, five, they were both enjoying jumping up and down on Fred's back. Dylan said: "I like it because you get to learn all the different punches."
"It's nice to come with my sister."
Speaking of sisters, the Pickett girls were soon tying each other in knots again on the mats. Taking a quick breather between grapples, Amy said: "I really enjoy getting Bethany in a headlock."
Did they fight like this at home?
"Nahh," Bethany said. "We just pull each other's hair."
However, it's not just the Pickett family which has an outstanding pair of child proteges within its midst.
Julie Conder, from Houghton-le-Spring has two sons, Niall, 14 and Nathan, 10 who are both black belts at the club.
Sadly both were flirting that night with the other love of their lives, football.
"I'm very proud of them," said Julie, who was just getting her breath back after the Bulldogs melee.
"Nathan got his black belt when he was nine. That's why I'm here. I got sick of just watching them doing it," she explained.
In fact, so dedicated has she become, that in July, she too will take her black belt, at senior level.
"It's a fantastic sport. It's something for us to do together and it's a great way to keep fit."
Come the end of the session, the children ran back to their guardians sat waiting at the back of the hall.
There to meet Emma and Dylan were their parents, Daniel, 32, and Julie, 30.
The Hoggs, too, had made their training sessions something of a family affair.
Daniel said: "It's great, it keeps them fit and off the computers. They also get to meet other kids."
Julie continued: "We all enjoy coming here together. I think it's essential kids learn to defend themselves."
As I prepared to take my leave, I thanked the Pickett girls for allowing me to interview them.
It was then I learnt Bethany loathes being called Beth, as I'd been calling her all along.
Ooops!
I could sense her mind working out the best move to give me maximum pain, but then she smiled sweetly.
It seems she's already on the way to acquiring a true ju-jitsu master's mindset – 'fight only when it can't be avoided'.
"I'll let you off."
Phew!
Junior lessons are on Mondays and Thursday, 5.30pm to 7pm.
Adults classes follow at 7pm till 9pm.
For information, call Fred on 0795 7936611 or Perth Green CA on 489 3743.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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