20 RED LABEL KITS DONATED TO AFGHANISTAN

With the support of Fighting Films a world-class RAF judo champion has been teaching young Afghans how to become rising stars in one of the few sports to survive years of repression by the Taliban regime.

Smithson in Uchikomi training

Flt Lt Sam Smithson, 30, is serving with the British detachment in Kandahar, Southern Afghanistan, and has conducted a three-day coaching programme in Kabul, where she taught young Afghan women the sport of judo and trained Afghan men as instructors.

Smithson teaching groundwork to the girls Fighting Films donated 20 Red Label judogis to an all girls school on the first day of the course, while the RAF Judo Association donated 20 tatami.

"After we held a meeting about ideas for regeneration within communities around us," said Smithson, "it occurred to me that I could use my skills to help rebuild judo into the national sport that it had been in Afghanistan before years of deprivation spoiled it.

"Then I saw an article in an edition of 'The World of Judo' magazine appealing for instructors - especially women - to help train the next generation of Afghans in the sport and I thought – there must be something I can do."

The programme had the support of Zakaria Addassi, President of Afghan Judo, and concluded with the first judo tournament held on Afghan soil in many years.

With no female instructors in Afghanistan at present, women and girls have been hardest hit by the oppressive regime of the past. Under religious law men and women are not permitted to train together so nobody can teach them.

Smithson teaching the boys Smithson, a British Judo Association coach, said: "What is surprising with this project is that despite the male/female divide I have been asked to coach the men, which must be a first for such a devout nation.

"The Afghan military, government and our forces see the value of sport in breaking down barriers and bringing people closer and after I complete my tour here I hope to return a couple of times a year to continue coaching."

Fighting Films, meanwhile, are only too pleased to be involved with such a remarkable and ambitious project.

Simon Hicks, FF Director, said: "This fantastic idea is not just invigorating Afghan judo, it’s helping regenerate an entire nation. And Fighting Films is very proud to be a small part of that."

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