Young Judo Club Sittingbourne and Bredgar,
Warrior’s Grappling Academy, Kokusai Karate Club, Sittingbourne Judo Society
1/1/2000
Under 16’s Mission Statement
Dear Members and Parents
Our first Club was started in 1957; it was the Young Judo Club it was started by John (Nobby) and Margret Clarke. The club was started so their two boys Martin & Norman could participate in Judo as at that period of time the only people who done Judo was adults. So the original ethos of the club was to cater for children and we have taken that job very seriously, our main aim is to teach children the Martial Arts in a safe, protected environment and hopefully our pupils will become better human beings.
The Club has always kept up to date with new innovations and regulation hence we expect all our Coaches to be fully qualified/Insured, all pupils have to join the IBF after a few weeks for insurance, Judo players are also recommended to join the British Judo Association as well the Club itself is insured, some of our coaches have First Aid Certificates (this will change this year as all coaches will be attending a First Aid Course) and in the couple of years we have introduced a “Child Protection Policy” by the end of the year all of our coaches will have attend a “Child Protection Course”. Yet in most cases the SMAC have been a head of the game for over 20 years we have had a policy if a child joins one of our clubs they can not go to another club without the permission of the Senior Coach i.e. Martin Clarke 8th Dan this is to protect the child against being taught incorrect and dangerous techniques, it also protects the child from over training which can cause physical and emotional damage, all our coaches have had CRB checks not all Martial Arts clubs do, the child may be uninsured in another club. Martial arts should be an enjoyable educational experience something we at SMAC are proud of.
Our Judo and grappling section have been very successful since 1957 winning several World Titles and if a child got to the standard where they could be a possible Olympian it would be our duty to encourage, help and recommend the appropriate club for them to continue their training. Martin Clarke himself trained at the famous Renshuden Judo Club in London in his bid for the Olympics.