Special needs students took to the dojo to display their martial arts prowess in a mini judo competition.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Special needs pupils 16-19 years from Trinity school in Dagenham are taking part in a judo tournament at dojo in St Edward's School. Romford.Special needs pupils 16-19 years from Trinity school in Dagenham are taking part in a judo tournament at dojo in St Edward's School. Romford. (Image: Archant)

Young warriors from Trinity School, Dagenham, have been training for nearly two hours a week for six weeks as part of their “leisure” programme at the Further Education Centre in Heathway.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Judo practitioners Orjeta Xhafa and Charley-Ann BaileyJudo practitioners Orjeta Xhafa and Charley-Ann Bailey (Image: Archant)

All that training clearly paid off when they put their skills to the test in a showdown between PE teachers Luke Hammat and Maggie Northedge’s classes last Wednesday at St Edwards School in Chadwell Heath.

“Seeing the enjoyment in the kids’ faces and seeing that they can achieve just as much as mainstream students do – it’s fantastic,” said Luke, who also praised judo instructor Bill Taylor for his work with the teenagers.

The children, and their parents, are now keen to start an after-school judo club at Trinity.

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