GIRLS-ONLY judo clubs are being launched for the first time in Scotland in a bid to encourage teenagers to pursue the martial art.
While four Scottish women took home gold medals for judo from the Commonwealth Games last year - it is thought the prospect of engaging in close combat with boys may deter some girls from taking up the sport.
Now, with funding from the Scottish Government and Comic Relief, JudoScotland has launched their first girls-only judo programme in Glasgow.
A pilot six week course in the city was fully-subscribed with 22 girls signing-up. Some loved it so much they have gone on to pursue the prized belts (coloured to show the level of your ability) and train as coaches themselves.
Building on this, around 100 places are being offered across four clubs for a 20 week course.
Official research shows girls lagging behind boys when it comes to exercise, with just 41% of 13 to 15-year-old girls in Scotland meeting recommended physical activity levels.
JudoScotland hope their girl's-only project, which is part of the drive to build a lasting legacy from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, will help address this problem.
Rosanna Fairholm, marketing and communications executive for JudoScotland, said: "We are not discriminating against girls doing judo. All our (mainstream) clubs offer judo for both females and males of both ages. This is for those who feel there is a barrier there. If they say they want to do mainstream judo they can."
The content of the girls-only courses, which are being promoted in schools, is different from the standard judo class.
Ms Fairholm said: "It is more about physical movement rather than the throwing and fighting aspects that puts some girls off taking up judo. They see it as a masculine sport that is not very girl-friendly. But it is based on physical movement. It is all about balance. It has some similarities to things like gymnastic and being aware of your body and movement. If you look at judo as a sport it is not about using force, it is about your opponent's balance and your strength."
Workshops about leading a healthy lifestyle, covering topics such as cooking and internet safety, are also included in the programme.
Scotland won a total of 13 medals for judo in the 2014 games - making it one of the nation's biggest success stories at the event.
Dougi Bryce, chief executive officer at JudoScotland, said: “It is important to utilise the opportunities bestowed to us following the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Projects such as the West of Scotland Girl’s programme is just one way JudoScotland can harness that legacy and implement real change.”
The programme brings together other legacy projects such as Active East which has trained young volunteers to help deliver activities in the East end of Glasgow.
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