By Pieter Thomassen

The sweaty smell stops Axel from breathing through his nose. Mummy ties with her empty hand a knot in his white belt, and makes him stay behind in the small, dark dressing room of the judo school. Axel studies the big, angular shoulder blades belonging to Huib Hoensbroek, who he, undoubtedly, won’t work into the tatami in a trice.
      On the blue mat, he bows before sensei Starmans, who musters his pupils attentively. His bald head and cauliflower ears rise high above his disciples. ‘Well, guys, don’t forget that judo works softly, softly. We’re not here to pull off someone’s arm. When getting pushed by your opponent, don’t push back, but pull. Follow his strength like a reed stalk swaying in the wind. Be like water.’
      Axel would rather join a football club than heave through the dojo like a reed stalk, but first he has to show his mother his will-power, and crown the year with a yellow belt.   
      When one of the bigger boys sets out to strangle him by pressing his lower arm onto his carotid artery, he manages to tap the mat just in time. In the meantime, on the icy, narrow, pavement in front of the judo school, Zeus has spotted a bitch on heat, and subsequently pulls along his owner. Axel’s final judo lesson becomes a fact when his mother fails to follow the beast’s movements, and has to be cut out of her duffel coat because of a complicated arm fracture.

© Pieter Thomassen
© Translation Holland Park Press

Axel 28 – Axel 27 – Axel 26 – Axel 25 – Axel 24 – Axel 23 – Axel 22 – Axel 21 – Axel 20 – Axel 19 – Axel 18 – Axel 17 – Axel 16 – Axel 15 – Axel 14 – Axel 13 – Axel 12 – Axel 11 – Axel 10 – Axel 9 – Axel 8 – Axel 7 – Axel 6 – Axel 5 – Axel 4 – Axel 3 – Axel 2 – Axel 1