Kodokan: Near-religious experience for foreign judo pilgrims

For judo lovers all over the world who make the pilgrimage to Tokyo's Kodokan, it's an emotional experience to tread the hallowed mats -- a unique chance to train at the sport's Mecca.

It would be like a club tennis player knocking up at Wimbledon, a village cricketer striding out to bat at Lord's or a Sunday League footballer doing keepy-uppies at Wembley, but in judo, the "home of the game" welcomes all comers.

Many spend small fortunes just to experience the thrill of throwing opponents where judo began and others have been known to break down in tears when they realise a life's dream.

"It's everything that is judo," said Emyr Rees, a 29-year-old from Llanelli in South Wales, who said he has been dreaming of coming to the Kodokan since he started the sport 16 years ago.

"Just the chance to be on the mat here, training with all these great instructors, learning from them. People from all over the world coming together, learning from each other, which is exactly one of the maxims of judo," Rees told AFP.

The pinnacle for any judoka is to train at the iconic "Kangeiko", or Winter Training, 10 consecutive days of judo starting at 5:30 am sharp that is not for the faint-hearted.

But despite its global fame in the world of judo, the training is open to all -- no matter where they come from -- and anyone can train with anyone else regardless of age or standard.

Head coach at the Kodokan, Motonari Sameshima, said many foreigners are overcome with emotion when they step onto the tatami for the first time, bowing to the statue of the sport's founder Jigoro Kano, before they do so.

"One French woman even cried at the entrance. She said 'Finally, I have got here after saving up. She stood there at the entrance weeping. I myself became emotional watching her. That's what this place does," the 70-year-old told AFP.

- 'We feel pain' -
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