It's sign-up time for elementary school judo lessons, and at Friday afternoon's registration at Golden Horn Elementary, parents were racing in to get their kids in the class with judo teacher Michael Bellon.

Judo is a form of self defense that uses opponents' aggression against them. There is no striking, but students learn to control their partners despite their size.

It was developed in Japan in 1882 by Jigora Kano based on jiu-jutsu. Judo means "the gentle way” and is based on maximum efficiency and mutual welfare.

Students earn coloured belts for each level they progress from white to the coveted black belt.

Judo was included in the Olympics for the first time in 1964 for men and 1988 for women.

Bellon will accept ages six to 15 in his class that takes place Fridays right after school at Golden Horn.

He will focus on teaching his young students, or judokas, strengthening exercises, how to fall and how to have fun while exercising.

"I think kids naturally want to wrestle and rough-house,” said Bellon. "This way they're in a safe environment on the mats,” he said. Students are required to keep their nails short, so their fellow judokas are not at risk of being scratched or injured.

Bellon has been teaching judo at Golden Horn for 10 years now.

"With kids there's this whole mystique with martial arts,” he said. The sensei sees many of his newcomers show up due to word of mouth. "A lot of kids, their friends are doing it and then they want to too.”

In Whitehorse, there is judo practice on every week night, from beginner to advanced.

At Monday night's Shiroumakai Judo practice at Vanier, the lessons started out with the beginners under Sensei Aaron Jensen, where they practiced ground work and breakfalls. Later in the evening the higher ranked students did more complicated maneuvers, tossing their partners onto crash mats.

Jensen says that many of his students just enjoy the exercise, and don't compete; however for those interested there is an opportunity to face an opponent in a judged format.

Judo teaches students respect, concentration and co-operation. Before and after a lesson students must bow in and out.

For judokas, it is a life long process.

"I've been doing it since I was nine years old,” said Bellon. "It's a constant learning process.”

At Bellon's class, parents are more than welcome to come out at the end of the practice to see what their kids are learning.

While registration is closed, Bellon will accept late registration after class on Friday, Oct. 16, his first elementary practice this year.

Ecole Emilie Tremblay and Holy Family Elementary have their own judo clubs as well.

For more information on Judo in Whitehorse, and to get your child involved, see the Judo Yukon website at www.judoyukon.whitehorse.ca