JOHN CLARKE’S QUANDARY

John Clarke who is a PE Instructor at Sittingbourne Community College who hold 4^th Dan Black Belt in Judo with both the British Judo Association and the International Budo Federation has been selected to represent Great Britain in two other Jacket Wrestling Sports Kurash and Sombo. Kurash is a very old Jacket Wrestling style form Uzbekistan , they wear similar clothing to Judo players, this wrestling style is a throwing sport only and you can only hold your opponent above the waist. Last year John defeated the Uzbek champion when an International was held at the Swallows, Chairman of the British Kurash Association Selected said “John especially deserves to go to the Worlds and Europeans on his past results”  the dates for these events are 1/5 Oct World Champs Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 19/21 Oct European Champs Tier, Russia. Sombo Wrestling comes from Russia and dates back to the early 1900’s, the competitors wear tight fitting jackets, plus shorts and soft soled boots and can win by throwing, pinning on the floor or by submission. John’s father and Coach Martin have won 3 World Silver in this style and John won an under 16 years World Silver. The World sombo will be held in Prague on November 1^st to the 5th

The problem is money and work! Kurash and Sombo in GB is relatively small and do not have the finance to support their athletes, plus would SCC be able to spare him, John is a very popular teacher at the school couple this with the fact he is getting married in August he is faced with a unique situation but how many sportsman can say they have been selected for Two sports World Championships in the same year.

Coach Martin Clarke said that John is international Standard in Judo, Sombo and Kurash having British Championships in all of them. He best known for high throwing ability so if he had to choose he would recommend the Kurash but hopefully he will be able to go to both.

Some years ago introduced a new idea of grappling where you wear boots, shorts and Judo style belt he called this Kent Belt Wrestling, it is a throwing system and you have keep hold of the Belt at all times, some years later he run a British Championship in this style and formed the British Belt Wrestling Association. John has won this event three times, Martin thought this was unique but he recently found that there is an International Belt Wrestling Association who organise World Championships. Although it differs slightly to British Belt Wrestling in the fact they wear Jackets and Long trousers, he hopes to take a team a team to the Worlds next year.

Anyone Interested in Judo and all the other grappling style mentioned they can contact Martin at youngjudoclub@yahoo.co.uk or visit www.sittingbourne.org

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