After returning from a Pensacola, Fla., judo tournament in October, two Fort Benning Soldiers, Kevin Schaumleffle and Isaac Henderson, came up with the idea to start a judo club at Fort Benning.

“A judo club would be popular at Fort Benning — it’s a military installation and people like competing,” Schaumleffle said.

Right now, they are working on getting the word out about the club, said Henderson, new commander of 2nd Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment. Henderson, who has been involved with judo for three years, said he would love to see the sport grow at Fort Benning.

“We want to see how many people would be interested in being in the club,” he said.

It would be open to military ID cardholders and the group would meet at least once a week and compete in tournaments, but Henderson said he would like to expand that to two or three days a week if there is enough interest in the sport.

Schaumleffle, who has a black belt in judo and teaches the sport in Phenix City at the Chattahoochee Valley Judo Club, said judo is a mix of throwing, joint locking, chokes and hold-down techniques.

He said some beginners shy away from the sport because of the body throws, but prospective participants shouldn’t feel intimidated because they will learn the proper ways to fall and other techniques so they won’t be injured.

Tohonn Nicholson, who is assigned to the combatives school, is new to the sport. He began judo in October, but said he has learned a lot from it.

“I normally do a counter-takedown (in other fighting styles), so if a person wants to throw me, I will hit the ground and roll and become the top person, but for judo, you aren’t allowed to do that — it’s more standup fighting,” he said. “Once you fall, the fight is over. For me, that’s not to my advantage. I am better at ground fighting than stand-up fighting.”

Joshua Thorner, an instructor assigned to the combatives school, said judo is faster-paced than other fighting styles.

“A match could last thirty seconds to a minute and five minutes later, you are fighting another match,” Thorner said.

In order to be a good instructor, you have to have a well-rounded understanding of all martial arts, he said. Thorner said he plans on taking what he learns from judo and incorporating it into his teaching style.

Schaumleffle said he is looking for 20 to 30 people for the club. For more information about the club, call Schaumleffle at 971-533-6681 or Henderson at 352-949-0071.