By Sport Nova Scotia Communications
The women and girls’ judo class at Nova United Martial Arts (NUMA) is not only giving lessons on throwing and grappling techniques, it’s also creating a meaningful community.
From high school students trying judo for the first time to those who stepped away from the sport and are ready to return, the program has created an inclusive and supportive environment for women and girls. NUMA received support through Sport Nova Scotia’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) Funding to create the women’s only classes.
“The students often stay after class and chat,” says Sensei Barbara Stary-Brown, who oversees the program. “They love that woman connection and support. They feel like everyone is creating the class together, growing together and having fun. They feel super comfortable being themselves.”
Sensei Barbara started judo at seven years old in mixed classes and never attended a women’s only class, but as she developed a love for the sport and teaching, she wanted to make sure to include everyone. Some women feel most comfortable training with other women and some use it to gain confidence before trying mixed classes.
But she has also seen first-hand how women help keep each other in sport.
“I have a daughter who is 18 years old and she still is quite competitive in judo. When she started there were quite a few girls that decided to stay in it together and they built that sense of girl community. Witnessing that connection inspired me to want to do this class. I just want to encourage more women to be in the sport.”
Additionally, Sensei Jason Scott, the owner of NUMA, gave Sensei Barbara guidance having previously started a woman’s judo class at a previous NUMA location.
The women and girls’ judo class at NUMA meets weekly on Friday nights for an hour, and, with the class being on the smaller side, Sensei Barbara ensures everyone gets the most out of each lesson. This is especially important as the class has a large skill range, including those who compete at high-level events.
Some of the participants are also moms, so their children are always welcome too. “Sometimes the kids join us on the mats, and I sometimes carry them when the moms are working on something. There’s also a mom and daughter that come on a regular basis. It’s very sweet,” says Sensei Barbara.
Lydia Hood has been taking the class since last fall. Having grown up doing judo she was drawn back to the sport in part because of the caring community that judo fosters.
“I thought a women’s class would be a nice way to ease myself back into the judo life. It’s calm, the girls are really friendly and it has provided the encouragement that I needed to get back into judo,” says Lydia.
To learn more about all Sport Nova Scotia funding opportunities, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) Funding, visit the Sport Nova Scotia website.
