KC: In a similar vein which Judoka would say was the most technically skilful out of all you have met and why? And which Judoka (male or female) inspired you the most over the years?

NF: A close call but it would have to be Catherine Arnaud. Her judo was very instinctive and she would set you up for the big throw with tiny feints, small sharp movements that got you over reacting in all directions under she came in for the big attack. She could throw for Ippon with several techniques including her famous Ippon Seoi Nage.

I was inspired when I watched Ingrid Berghmans win in Belgrade at the 1989 World Championships. I had gone to watch the championships and it was incredible to see Berghmans in action winning her own weight and the open. It was pretty inspiring just wandering around British national squad training at that time too. As a 19 year old, I could practise with and watch the likes of Karen Briggs, Sharon Rendle, Ann Hughes, Diane Bell, and Loretta Cusack – all World Champions!

KC: I think I am correct in thinking that the 1992 Barcelona Olympics were the first summer games that women’s Judo was part of the schedule (1988 saw Tae Kwon Do and women’s judo shown as demonstration sports). It must have been a great feeling knowing that you were part of the first ‘crop’ of female Judoka to grace the Olympic stage. How much do you think women’s Judo has moved on from then in terms of popularity?

NF: Women’s Judo is now global. The inclusion in the 1992 Games meant that countries like Japan, China, Cuba, and North Korea all began to train their women judoka as they saw a chance to win Olympic medals.

KC: Personally I prefer to watch the female fighters compete in much the same way as I enjoy watching the lighter men’s categories due to the energy and constant movement. Reading some of the literature coming out of British Judo it seems there has been an overt directive to advertise Judo as both an Olympic sport [with the build up to 2012] and also as a recreational pursuit, however, most of the dojo I know and train at don’t seem to have many female Judoka on the mat. What would you say would be a good way for any club to actively encourage women to take up the sport of Judo?

NF: It is a problem a lot of women face in Great Britain. They go to the dojo and the majority of judoka on there are male – bigger and stronger than them. It’s hard to get a real practise, without getting injured or the strength factor becoming too great. Eventually the women get despondent and stop going and so then there are less and less women and the problem gets worse. Somehow this cycle has to be reversed.

There are some new initiatives starting with Women Only sessions, being held at dojo around the country. I think this a great idea, once the women know they can get a few practises with women their own size and level, they will keep going, word will get about and numbers will keep growing. I was lucky, at my club in Pinewood, Berkshire; there were a group of women there plus a constant stream of talented, 15/16 year old lads. There technical skills were high enough to give you a really good randori, but the strength difference hadn’t kicked in yet – so it worked well.

KC: Are there any female Judoka coming through that you feel could leave a legacy such as yours and that of say Ryoko Tani née Tamura , Masae Ueno, Karen Briggs, Ingrid Berghmans and Kate Howey?

NF: Karina Bryant has had an absolutely incredible record over the last decade and half, with major medals at every Worlds and Europeans – including I think 5 European gold medals. She has got to go down as our best heavyweight fighter ever. The only medal she is missing is the Olympic one.

KC: I am glad you mentioned Karina (current world silver medallist) as along with Sarah Clark (GB World Cup 2009 winner) they both have had a great couple of years in terms of consistency. Indeed Karina narrowly missed out on gold at this years World’s due to Osaekomi by current Olympic champion Wen Tong (CHN). As a former Olympian and although retired do you have any capacity as a ‘mentor’ for members of team GB leading up to events much in the same way as say Lord Sebastian Coe, Sir Steve Redgrave and Dame Kelly Holmes has had with other athletes over past Olympics?

NF: No, at the moment I’m not working directly with any Judoka.

KC: Do you think it would be a good idea to implement something along these lines considering the BJA now has Dartford as its centralised training facility and especially with the pedigree that team GB once had? (E.g. Brian Jacks, Dave Starbrook, Ray Stevens, Neil Adams, Kate Howey, Nicola Fairbrother, Sharon Rendle, Karen Briggs, etc.)

NF: I have thought for a time, that we have wasted our top players as they retire. Once they retire, they should be kept on and paid to attend squad trainings and keep training with the up and coming fighters. This would probably only work for a few years, but they could act as hands on player-coaches, doing randori, acting as training role models, mentors etc. I know I learnt so much from having Judoka like Karen, Loretta, Sharon, Diane, Ann to train with. You see what they do, how they do it and you copy.

KC: Have you been down to Dartford to visit the new centralised training centre and are you impressed by the way the BJA are moving under Patrick Roux and his team of performance coaches or are there areas you think team GB could improve and achieve its potential goal of three medals at the Olympic and Paralympic Games?

NF: I haven’t yet been down to Dartford although it’s in my plans to do so next month. It’s really too early to say any system needs time to be effective. Confidence is an important part to team success, and I think the GB team have been losing confidence over the last few years, as the results haven’t been coming in. One feeds off the other and it’s a downward spiral. Hopefully we are turning the corner and on the way up but like I say we will have to wait to see if this new system produces results.

KC: I understand that you are involved with the Koka Kids magazine here in the UK. Would you care to explain a little about the idea behind the magazine and what clubs and subscribers can expect?

NF: The Koka Kids magazine was something I created when I retired. A lot of times we concentrate on the elite end, but of course the juniors are the foundation of the pyramid and the future. I noticed there wasn’t much out there for kids so I set about developing a magazine that I hope teaches juniors about the basics, and inspires them to carry on and perhaps one day become a champion or a black belt themselves. I sell the magazine directly to the clubs, who can then give or sell it on to their members. I try to support the clubs who subscribe with features about their events and members and also supply the coaches with some resources to help them promote judo in their area and gain membership. At the moment all subscribing clubs will also get a bundle of promotional posters, stickers and Judoka of the Month certificates, plus a Judo DVD.

KC: And how is the project going? Is there much of a take up from Judo clubs and individuals for the magazine?

NF: It’s going really well. I have around 300 clubs subscribing to the magazine. And Judo Scotland (the national governing body) sends a magazine out to all their U12´s. If any club reading this is interested in subscribing they can do so by getting in touch with me directly at kokakidsphotos@gmail.com.

KC: I believe you announced your retirement from competitive Judo in 1999/2000. After being a consistently successful Judoka for more than 10 years and being around the competition circuit since a young Mon grade this must have been a hard decision to make, was it a decision that you have ever regretted?

NF: It was a tough one, but one that once made I knew heart and soul I had done the right thing. I think you know when it is time. It is quite simply when you stop enjoying and loving what you are doing.

KC: Are you still actively involved with coaching Judo and do you get much time to practice yourself?

NF: After a few years off, I started judo again on a Wednesday night at my club, the Pinewood Judo Club. This is a great session ran by our coach Don Werner, 7 th Dan. It is supposed to be for adult beginners, but there are normally about 15 black belts on the mat plus some of the up and coming youngsters who want to get a bit of extra training. It’s nice and relaxed, with a good social afterwards!

KC: Over the last few Olympics it seems our female Judoka have faired rather better than the men when it come to collecting top three places. Indeed, four of the five last GBR medallists have been women (1992: Ray Stevens, Nicola Fairbrother, Sharon Rendle & Kate Howey and 2000: Kate Howey). Looking ahead to the 2012 London Olympic Games have you high hopes for British Judo? We have already mentioned the likes of Karina Bryant and Sarah Clark as having had a pretty consistent few years and Kimberley Renicks, Sally Conway and Sarah Adlington follow them closely. Do you think this could be their Olympic year and do you think we can realistically bring home our first Olympic Judo gold?

NF: On paper it looks tough – but he very nature of judo makes it possible for any of these to win the Olympic gold even if they do not go in as favourites. Sally Conway and Sarah Adlington are coming up nicely. I rate Sally Conway’s judo and her training attitude looks spot on. Karina will have to overcome the Chinese, whether it’s Tong or not, the Chinese seem to have an awesome string of huge women fighters.

KC: This is a pretty sore point amongst many Judoka the world over but what is our take on the most recent rule changes brought in by the IJF? In particular the ‘no leg grabbing’ rules?

NF: The aim is to try and get judo back to being more upright and less like wrestling, but I don’t think this is the way to do it. Firstly, It’s a shame to ban techniques that have been around for years and I’m sure those fighters who fight “negatively or tactically” will continue to find a way around the rules. I think the referee has to look at the intention of the fighter. It is easy to see whether a fighter is trying to con the referee or genuinely trying to throw. I’m sure the referee must know if everyone in the stadium watching knows? But a lot of times the referee’s hands are tied by the rules and so they end up penalising the wrong fighter. It’s not a black and white sport and the referees should be allowed to judge a fight more subjectively.

KC: Nicola, thank you for your time in giving us this interview before we wrap up are there any individuals you would like to acknowledge that you have worked with over the years and have you any message for any aspiring junior female Judoka that may be reading this interview?

NF: My sensei, Don Werner has been my guiding force since I was 8 years old and I would like to thank him for all he has given me over the years.

Message: Believe in yourself. Nothing is impossible if you want it badly enough.

Possible links:
Koka Kids Magazine
The British Judo Association
Pinewood Judo Club