HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah — Hill Judo recently held a free interactive training session at Hess Fitness Center in honor of World Judo Day.

Hill Judo is a club affiliated with USA Judo, the governing judo body in the United States. USA Judo encouraged clubs to present the National Try Judo for Free Day as a way to celebrate this year’s theme of friendship and to show their love for the sport.

Don Chesmer, who works with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, has coached at Hill since 2007 and is a certified continental coach with USA Judo.

Chesmer said judo, which translates to “the way of gentleness”, is termed as a life sport because of its technical and physical challenges. “Judo is the pursuit of excellence to improve and succeed as a person. Its values run parallel to how we work here at Hill Air Force Base,” he said.

Classes are held at Hess Monday at 5:15 p.m. and Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. for beginner youth, Wednesdays at 6:15 p.m. for advanced youth; and Fridays at 5 p.m. for adults and advanced youth. Anyone interested can observe any of the classes.

Training with Hill Judo requires USA Judo club membership which is $70 per year. Sessions at Hill can either be paid for as a monthly fee of $40, a 10-class pass for $50 or four classes for $25. For more information, call 801-499-6955.