As a Chief Instructor of a "Traditional" Judo Club, I have been following the UKCC saga with interest. The recent U turn by the BJC regarding first Contest and now apparently Kata seems to be filtering down to the local club level and I have just read in the local paper the following:-


"It totally vindicates what we try to achieve as a club, spending Monday evenings practicing the ancient art of judo, based on ju-jitsu - focusing on technique rather than competition fighting, which is more the focus of other clubs and more suited to the national centres of excellence like Camberley and Dartford".


I wonder if this an isolated case or an indication that the BJA have decided that it would be more fun as “pirates, outlaws and renegades.”

What do you think ?


(webmaster)

Promotions for Petersfield and Bognor Zen Judo Clubs

The following successfully graded at Petersfield on Sunday 16th November 2008.


Martin Robertson  3rd Dan Black Belt  (Bognor Regis Zen Judo Club)

Sharna Robertson  2nd Dan Black Belt  (Bognor Regis Zen Judo Club)

William Johnson  2nd Dan Black Belt  (Petersfield Zen Judo Club)

Sarah Gorvin   3rd Kyu Green Belt  (Petersfield Zen Judo Club)

(from left to right)
Martin Robertson 3rd Dan, Sharna Robertson 2nd Dan, William Johnson 2nd Dan
With Shihan Phil Watts 6th Dan ZJF who presented them with there grades and certificates.


Sarah with her grader Sensei Tracy Collins 4th Dan and uke Chris who stepped in to help at short notice.

Congratulations to everyone.
 

 

Congratulations to Chris and Andy Lambourn of the St. Dominic Judo Club, Woodley, Reading (UK). On 22nd October they made the long trip up to the Radcliffe Judo Club in Nottingham, to be graded by Shihan Gordon Lawson. Both Instructors gained 3rd Dan Black Belts in the British Zen Judo Family Association (BZJFA).

Check out the revised Club details on the Clubs Page.

 

I have just returned from one of my wife's "getting away from it all" long weekends. This traditionally involves a stay in a freezing cold caravan and walking around various gardens and shops. This time it just happened to be in close proximity to Sensei Jim Darts Kenshindoryu Club in Northampton.

So early Saturday morning we traveled down to his club in Roade, about 20 minutes south of Northampton and junction 15A on the M1. The morning started with Jujitsu for which I donned the traditional white belt as I get to go on a Jujitsu mat about once a year, I lasted longer that usual and about half way through the session managed to put my jaw in the way of Sensei's knee (ouch!!!). The remainder of the lesson in ground fighting passed off without further mishap.

After a quick break we went back on for a Judo session, for which I dug out my black belt. Jim's club teaches Combat Judo which is based on the Zen Judo Syllabus, with some changes to the order of the throws and for higher grades, atemi (strikes) and other techniques are added. As it was half term for the local schools in the UK, the class was smaller than normal, so the opportunity was taken to run the new green belts through some of there new throws and sutemi waza.

The session finished with some light randori. After putting the mats away we retired to the local village Pub for food, drink and conversation.

I would like to thank Jim and his Club for an enjoyable morning and making Yvonne and myself welcome.

John

(webmaster)

Congratulations to all the members of the Thatcham and Trowbridge Zen Judo Clubs
who where successful at the gradings held at Trowbridge Zen Judo Club on Sunday 28th September 2008.

Thatcham Zen Judo Club:-

Name		Grade Achieved
Gideon Rabinwitz		Green Belt
Anna Rabinowitz		Green Belt
Jeroen Visser		Blue Belt
Carolyn Visser		Blue Belt
Patrick Visser		Blue Belt
Jack Ford		Brown Belt
Michael Fleming		Brown Belt
Rob Fleming		Brown Belt
Laura Brennan		Brown Belt
Raymond Brennan		Black Belt 1st Dan