Editor's note: this is part of a series of features being published on the various sports which make up the 2007 Canada Winter Games, and the athletes who will be representing the Yukon in them.

With the 2007 Canada Winter Games fast approaching, six young Yukoners are preparing themselves for combat.

Competing in a martial art developed in 1882 Japan by Dr. Jigoro Kano, the territory's Judo team is preparing to take on competitors in one-on-one action.

Team coach Penny Prysnuk said her team has been working on speed, strategy and tactics in an event she compares to a physical version of one of the oldest strategy games in the world.

'You can relate it to chess. You make a move to make your opponent make a move so that you can make a move.

'You use their momentum against them,' Penny said of Judo, a martial art which does not allow punching, kicking or striking your opponent in any way.

Judo, which literally translates from Japanese as 'the gentle way,' is listed by the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles as one of the four main forms of competitive wrestling.

The others being Greco-Roman, Freestyle and Sambo.

The 'gentle way' sees opponents face off in two stages of combat, the standing phase, or tachi-waza, and the ground phase known as ne-waza.

'It's not a sport for fighting, it's a sport for defence. It involves a lot of holds,' Penny said of Judo.

Her team hasn't been focusing on a list of competitors but is aware that two eastern Canadian provinces are known to be the Judo powerhouses.

'The two strong provinces are Ontario and Quebec.'

Penny has had her team going to Outside tournaments and she and her team have high hopes for the Games.

'We'd really like to do well. If they win a few matches that would be great. If we win a medal, that would be wonderful.'

Eighteen-year-old Games veteran and brown belt Montana Prysnuk said she's excited for the event and has her eye on a medal.

'I'm hoping to get a medal and to do my best and to know that I tried my best,' Montana said.

Seventeen-year-old veteran Games competitor and blue belt Amber Saunders said she's also excited about the upcoming matches.

'I'm feeling excitement, I'm so excited.

'It's a good way to learn about yourself and about your sport,' she said of the Canada Games

Delaney Prysnuk, a 15-year-old blue belt, said she's ready for the event but is conscious that they'll be some big names on the roster.

'Quebec and Ontario, they're pretty much the powerhouses ...'

Nineteen-year-old green belt, soon to be blue, Justin Saunders said he's looking forward to another Canada Games.

He said fighting at home is an added bonus.

'It can't get any better than being in your own home city,' he said.

'This year I don't want to go down without a strong fight,' he said in the case of fighting someone from one of the well known provinces.

'I'm just going to go out there and try to last, to try and fight hard.'

Also on the roster is 18-year old blue belt Gillian Farnell and 16-year-old blue belt Kyle Vibe.

Judo starts at the Canada Games Centre on Feb. 24.