Vicar's wife's judo tales

"I'm a black belt in Judo" is not what most people would expect to hear about from a vicar's wife. But the sport is the subject of the latest book from Catherine Fox, wife of Lichfield Cathedral Chancellor Rev Peter Wilcox.

She tells of her six-year passion for the Judo. It might be considered an unusual hobby and it is one which she fell into almost by accident.

Six years ago when she first took her two sons to sign up for classes in the martial art, the instructor asked her if she would be joining them on the mat.

She said: "I didn't have any intention of joining in before then but I just said get me a kit and I'll give it a go.That was six years ago and I have outlasted both of my sons," she added.

Catherine then set herself a challenge of becoming a black belt by the time she reached 45. But you will have to read the book to find out whether she achieved her goal.

She said: "I think I wanted to set myself a challenge really, as a middle-aged mother-of-two. The book is mostly just personal experience, some of which is very funny because of the nature of the beast, as it is not something that clergy wives do that often, roll around on the floor with sweaty men," she explained.

Catherine is still incredibly committed to the sport, training three times a week including classes every Monday at King Edward VI School Leisure Centre, as well as travelling to Walsall Wood and Wolverhampton.

The book, Fight the Good Fight, also includes her judo experiences in places much further afield, such as New Zealand, something which proved something of an eye-opener in terms of different approaches to the sport.

"I spent some time in New Zealand as my husband had study leave while he was a vicar in Walsall. We had three months in Wellington and I did not want to stop training, so joined a local club and that was interesting to say the least."

Catherine says it is often a shock to people who did not know she was involved in martial arts – no more so than when she turned up to church with a black eye.

l Fight the Good Fight – From Vicar's Wife to Killing Machine, by Catherine Fox, is available at Cathedral bookshop and other shops.