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YJC’S 50th Year January 2007 Newsletter Dear Members Welcome to 2007 and our 50th Year, hopefully it will be a year none of us will forget. A full history of the Young Judo Club will appear on the Clubs Web site in March, featuring A tribute to the founders Margret and John (Nobby) Clarke, 50 years of newspaper cuttings and an article of my attempt at the 1980 Olympics “Martin For Moscow”. Our main event of the year will be the “50th Anniversary Young Judo Club Open” this will be on April 22nd at the Swallows leisure Centre, it will feature the normal junior categories and a “Blast to the Past” for the seniors. This event will be done in the weight categories of the late 50’s and early 60’s and under the rules of that time, interestingly none of the major National or International organisation had copies but we were rescued by a previous YJC Club Championship winner from the very early 60’s Brian Cox who supplied us with a copy, this can be found on our web site. Even in those days Judo was about throwing, holding your opponent on the floor or getting them to submit by means of an arm lock or strangle, penalties were rarely given if ever. Judo was still very much a gentleman’s sport and to foul or cheat was not the English way of doing things (how things have changed) grip changing was unheard of in fact contestants were expected to take hold before hajime was given to start the match and many a time a Referee would stop the match to physically put the contestants hands on the jacket. On most occasions there would only be one referee, no judges and the referee would be in Judogi, only Waza-ari and Ippon were scored, in the case of a draw, extra time was given until the referee could decide who was the winner. So come along and have a look at what Judo was like nearly 50 years ago. I have been asked if I will be getting souvenir T-shirts and pennants for the 50th year, the answer is yes if there is a demand? if you are interested please let me know. Keith Costa collects waste paper for the club and the profits from this helps subsidise some of the trips, the success of this has given Keith a lot of work and he could do with some help. If any of you have a car with a tow bar and would be prepared to take a trailer full of waste paper to Kemsley please have a word with Keith. IBF
grades confirmed by BJA
Members
of the Young Judo Club took advantage of the new openness of the British Judo
Association where they allow you to belong to any Judo organisations as well as
the BJA. The YJC has always given its first loyalty to the International Budo
Federation, the BJA offered to run a Grade recognition and Coaching recognition
course at the Clubs HQ in Sittingbourne in the weekend of December 8,9,10. The
course was a great success and the YJC instructors were impressed with the
standard of the BJA examiners and their friendliness. Contest grades also had to
go to the Budokwai Lodon (Europes Oldest Judo Club) to prove themselves on their
contest as well as doing their theory at the club as expected John Clarke had
his 4th Dan confirmed, Colin Carrott 3rd Dan confirmed and Danny
Carrott 2nd Dan confirmed. Those taking Technical Grades still have little more
to do before they also get their grade confirmed but this will be no problem as
it just a matter of demonstrating Katame No Kata. The following are having their
Coaching Certificates and grades confirmed, John Clarke 4th Dan,
Colin Carrott 3rd Dan, Greg Garside 4th Dan, Keith Costa 3rd
Dan, Miles Brown 1st Dan, Ashley Costa 3rd Dan, Marcella
Cullen 1st Kyu. Hopefully our members will take advantage of
belonging to a second Judo association and purchase a BJA license, with that you
will be able to participate in their events and take their gradings. Just to
remind all members that membership of the YJC is conditional that you hold an
IBF License. Members of the YJC have in the past been very succesful in the BJA
lets hope our youngsters carry on the tradition. Due
to my injuries I handed over the Senior section to my son John last January and
his report is as follows: The senior club has its up’s and down’s this year since we have
been back upstairs in the new dojo, with some weeks having 15 on the mat to
other weeks with just 2, the average has been 8 over the last 9 month which is
fairly good. We have introduced the new tops which I am pleased to say that
everyone who attends Tuesday nights has one now which shall look good when we
take part in competitions and shall give us a good distinction. Peter wise (Petey) has done an
outstanding job with the beginners class which he runs down stairs teaching them
to a very high standard to get them prepared to come up to my class from which
after just 9 months they are all ready to join me, so well done Pete. Last but not least I would like to thank Colin Carrott in helping me
run Tuesday nights and taking the lessons when I have been absent and also for
taking part in every competition and BJA grading which is a wake up call to a
lot of other people who are much younger than Colin so once again Colin many
thanks. I look forward to seeing you all in the new year and I hope other
people from other IBF clubs will come along to our Tuesday night session
don’t worry we don’t bite!! John Clarke Young
Judo Club @ Bredgar There were the cynics who
said “it’ll never last”, but we are now into our second year at Bredgar
with a healthy membership. The
first class (8 and under) hosts 10 and second class with 12.
Well done to Drew Cullen for kicking it all off and making it a value
add-on for Sittingbourne. His
enthusiasm is infectious and feedback is positive from children and parents
alike. Unfortunately, Drew has
moved to San Francisco for two years but luckily the club is able to continue
with Marcella Cullen (sister NOT
deserted wife!) and Bruce Fisher. Hopefully
Drew will be making regular trips home and can be a “guest” sensei from time
to time. This year has seen us with
our fair share of gold, silver and bronze medals in the competitions entered,
and grading awards from two red tabs up to orange three red - one green.
Well done to everyone who takes part.
It’s really encouraging to see those improvers succeeding with their
techniques learned. We are making arrangements
to host a club competition at Bredgar Hall in the summer, which will hopefully
give the Sittingbourne members a chance to discover the Bredgar fraction of the
YJC. Watch this space for details. Not for us the luxury of
permanent dojo – jigsaw mats are pieced together every week and put away again
at the end of the lesson. For this,
many thanks to all the parents and children who assist in the speedy export and
import from the “cupboard” to the hall with a very special mention to
Christine, Oliver, Helen and Alan whose regular help is much appreciated. Please note that due to
work commitments new training times as follows: Thursdays: 18:00-19:00
first class 19:00-20:00:
second class Thanks to all the children
and parents who help to make Bredgar such a successful part of the YJC.
Long may it continue for Drew’s return! Marcella Cullen I am pleased to see that interest in Kata has becoming very
popular, Dave Boulding and Miles Brown junior Nage No Kata on a Wednesday night
is proving dividends with the standard becoming very good, as of January 1st
there will be a charge for the Kata but if you look at our new pricing structure
I think you will agree it is very reasonable. Remember Seniors can also attend
the Nage no Kata section on a Wednesday. Last year Greg Garside concentrated on getting the Ju No Kata
up too scratch, this year it will be Goshin Jutsu Kata and Itsutsu No Kata. Greg
has become our Kata Expert and he is trawling DVD’s, Books and Internet to
make sure he has got everything right. I am going
to attempt to start a Sombo night on a Friday Juniors 7pm and seniors 8pm but as
of yet I do not have a helper. As most of you know I hope to have a knee
replacement this year, when and if this done I will not be able to compete again
but I should be able to demonstrate, so I will try a new class starting Friday
January 12th hope you will bear with me. IMMIGRANTS Some
of you have approached me about immigrants using the club and the safety of
children. Although the club doesn’t have any restrictions on who uses the
facilities as long they do abide by the rules, we do have strict guidelines on
“CHILD PROTECTION” most of our coaches have attended “Child Protection
Courses” and we do have a policy of insisting that all Coaches and people who
are in contact with children have a “Criminal Records Bureaux” check anyone
who refuses to fill in a CRB form is refused membership, I have also been
informed that it is advisable that any parent who stays and watches should also
fill in a CRB form. The club will not insist on this but it is advisable for
parents to register, CRB checks through the IBF are free of charge. The club’s
first duty is the safety and care of our members. The club has a lot of events for you this coming
year: Young Judo Club/Warriors Grappling Academy Presentation Night
Saturday January 6th, Ł6 includes food plus Live Duo, To make this a
special occasions it has been decided to make this a DJ or lounge suit/ Evening
Dress event see John for tickets. IBF Technical Dan Grading Saturday January 6th
10am IBF Senior Kyu grading Friday January 19th 8pm. YJC Sittingbourne & Bredgar Championships January 20th 10 am under 8’s. 8 to 15 12 noon Keith Costa for more
details YJC Junior Presentation Night January 20th 7pm for
7.30pm Keith Costa Kurash Tournament Dartford Judo club February 25th Dutch Open Judo Sombo March 17th, this event attracts 500
competitors on 6 mats from 16 countries, it was hoped to run a coach to this
event but there was insufficient interest. I shall be going by car if any one
wants to make a convoy, there are youth hostels within a 20 mile radius I can
give addresses but I shall stay in a Hotel, ask your instructor for more
information. British Open Sombo Championships Swallows March 24th YJC 50th Anniversary Championships Swallows April
22nd IBF Multi Nation Judo Championship Dumfries Scotland May 12th
Spitfire Open Judo Folkestone June 10th British Closed Sombo Bredgar June TBO Scottish Open Sombo Dumfries July TBO IBF/BCSA Summer Camp August 19th – August 26th This will be the 2nd year the Summer camp will be
held at Dibgate ACF Camp Folkestone. We were the first group to use this brand
new facility, which is an excellent venue. For the first time we are having
Youths and Seniors together, a youth is someone who has started Senior school or
is a minimum 12 years old, The camp is hard work but also tremendous fun,
although the Youths will not be treated as children they will still be
supervised i.e. no alcohol, smoking, leaving the camp unaccompanied. The Weeks
course is Ł195 this includes dormitory accommodation, breakfast/evening meal
and tuition. A great course for adults and an excellent way for youngsters to be
introduced to Adulthood, parents are welcome as well if you non participant it
is a Ł110 for the week. November 11th IBF Nationals Swallows There are plenty more events but I do not have all the dates
yet but will keep you informed. If you know someone who is not on the web please
make a copy of this Newsletter and give it to him or her. Can I
wish all members continued success for the New Year Martin
Clarke 8th Dan YJC Technical Advisor |
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