ST ALBANS Judo Club hosts an invitation-only course this weekend on the techniques of judo.

More than 60 sportsman will take part but the main attraction is certainly going to be Sato Sensei, the national judo coach of Spain and a fifth Dan , who is flying over especially for the event.

He is expected to bring with him about five of his country's current or former national judo champions.

"There's usually some Olympiads in the group, as well," said Pete Wortley, chairman of the St Albans Judo Club.

"The quality of the judo is so high that everybody benefits. There are hundreds of ways to throw a punch and Sato Sensei will go through the techniques of some of his variations - that's the only way most of these guys can improve."

St Albans member, and junior national champion, Adam Breed, will certainly regard this tuition as invaluable, while fellow club member Lisa Paveley, the U/21 Ladies champion, is also expected to take part.

Members of judo clubs in Manchester, Liverpool and the locality will also attend a course whose tradition goes back ten years and is largely a result of the respect Sato Sensei has for St Albans' life-member, Alf Hopkins, who was graded in Japan and, like Sato Sensei, is a fifth Dan.

October 10, 2001 19:38