Walderslade Judo Club
New Members Handbook
(Abbreviated web site version)
Please click on the relevant section to go straight to the page, or scroll your way through the pages at your own pace.
(Back to Walderslade Judo Club Home Page)
Welcome to this, our shortened, web site version of the Walderslade Judo Club’s ‘New Members Handbook’. Within it’s pages we have tried to include answers to the questions that we are most frequently asked by people interested in starting judo lessons.
Enclosed you will find short history’s of both judo and the club, and also an insight into the way the club is run.
Walderslade Judo Club is a non-profit making organisation that uses all monies raised to further promote the club and provide events and services for it’s members. As you will see over the next few pages, the club runs a number of events that are either free to members or are provided at subsidised rates
The club affiliated to the BJA (the national governing body for judo in the UK) and is recognised by Medway Council, and indeed has received much help from them over the years for which we are very grateful.
The emphasis behind all of our coaching sessions is on learning through enjoyment. Children especially, learn more when they are enjoying themselves.
We allow a period of around five weeks for new members to decide whether they wish to continue with judo lessons, and only after this period will we ask that they apply for thier judo licence.
We sincerely hope that you enjoy your first session and that you do decide to continue with judo lessons at Walderslade Judo Club.
If after attending your first lesson and after reading this booklet, there are still other questions that you would like answered then please do not hesitate to ask.
Eddie
Senior Instructor
Main Hall, The Greenacre School, Bradfields Avenue, Walderslade, Chatham, Kent.
Monday evenings
5 - 9 year olds 6:30pm - 7:30pm
10 - 15 year olds 7:30pm - 8:30pm
16 years and upwards 7:30pm - 8:30pm
Friday evenings
5 - 9 year olds 5:30pm - 6:30pm
10 - 15 years olds 6:30pm - 7:30pm
16 years and above 7:30pm - 8:30pm
Judo was derived from the Japanese martial art of ju-jitsu, a form of unarmed combat used extensively throughout Japan. The man responsible for the creation of judo was Professor Jigoro Kano a well respected and famous Japanese educationalist. As a child, Kano had begun to study ju-jitsu in order to improve his health and fitness. As an adult he soon began piecing together the beginnings of a new fighting art which he later called Kodokan Judo.
Jigoro Kano. The Founder of Kodokan Judo
Eventually Kano had devised a fighting system, based upon ju-jitsu, but one in which many of the dangerous techniques had been removed so that participants were able to enjoy full bodied combat without the intention of deliberately injuring one another. In 1882 he opened the first ever Kodokan Judo School in the grounds of a Buddhist Temple, with a mat area of only eight mats. Judo quickly became very popular in Japan and clubs began to appear all over the country as many of the old ju-jitsu masters switched to teaching judo. Very soon after, judo began to spread rapidly throughout the world.
The spread of judo in Britain can probably be attributed to one man more than any other. His name was Gunji Koizumi, and he has often been called ‘The father of British judo’. He opened the first judo club in Britain, called the Budokwai, in January 1918. This club is still in existence today and many of the countries top players have trained and still do train there. Koizumi also helped to set up this country’s first national judo association (the BJA) and was also instrumental in the formation of the European Judo Union. During the 1950’s many Japanese masters followed in Koizumi’s footsteps and came to Britain to teach judo. One of the most influential being Kenshiro Abe. It was this highly respected and very accomplished judo teacher that founded the British Judo Council in 1959.
Kenshiro Abe demonstrating technique during a weekend course
Judo today
Today judo is most often viewed as a dynamic combat sport which can be practiced by boys and girls, men and women. Judo is even an Olympic sport and British judoka have won numerous World and Olympic titles over the years, making it one of Britains most successful sports.
The club was formed in January 1996 with an original membership of less than 15 players. Over the years, numbers have steadily grown and now the club has a membership of around 70, and is very active within the local judo scene.
In the beginning the club used a second hand mat area purchased from Lordswood Leisure Centre. However, plans to replace these old and rapidly deteriorating mats were soon laid down and by February 1999 through its’ own efforts and much help from Medway Council, Kent County Playing Fields Association and the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, the club had taken delivery of a brand new practice area. The mats used at Walderslade Judo Club are top of the range judo contest mats and make up one of the safest practice areas available, providing our members with one of the best facilities in the area for the practice of judo.
Club members attend courses and championships on a regular basis throughout the year, a number of which are even held at The Greenacre School. At local championships many of the club’s players have been very successful, winning numerous medals. Walderslade players have even taken gold medals at national level.
In 1998 the club was proud to be one of only three sports clubs within the whole of the Medway Unitary Authority area to be awarded a prestigious ‘Sports Club Award’ by Medway Council, in recognition of our efforts in coaching and club development.
Judo sessions at the club are under the overall supervision of Eddie Orgee, 3rd Dan. A qualified judo coach, Eddie has been practising judo for over 28 years, and has competed at numerous tournaments throughout the country and abroad. He has won numerous national, regional and county championships in many different judo associations including the BJA, BJC and BJC (MAC) and has been a runner-up in several international events.
Each of the lessons follows more or less the same format. There will be a period of warming-up followed by some gentle stretching exercises and practice of breakfalls (falling correctly and safely). Younger members may then take part in ‘games’ and exercises designed to improve their overall fitness whilst slowly building strength and stamina, (something which is very important these days now that so little time is spent on physical activity within many schools).
Students will then be taught a judo technique and will have time to practice this with a partner. A period of randori (general judo practice) usually follows and, for the younger members, most sessions finish off with a game of some sort.
Walderslade Judo Club is a friendly and active club which not only takes part in the many events organised in the area, but which lays on a number of events itself for the benefit of it’s members.
Most of these events are provided either free to club members or at subsidised rates.
Gradings
During the course of a normal year the club would aim to provide three members only gradings for those up to yellow belt, (all players over this grade must attend local area gradings and be assessed alongside members of other clubs).
Championships
The club also aims to organise two of it's own championships each year. These are intended to be friendly competitions where everyone taking part is always guaranteed a medal and, wherever possible, competes against others of similar size and grade. One of these competitions is held on the clubs final evening just before the Christmas holidays. The other is our annual 'Millennium Championships'. This event was created through the support of the Millennium Festival 'Awards for All' scheme and encompasses free training for beginners and existing judo players, an individual, all-medal championship and, in the evening, a team competition between invited clubs who compete for the Millennium Shield.
Residential Training Camp
In a constant effort to improve the benefits available to our members, the club has begun to hold its own annual training week, which sees us travel to the sunny south of France in the May half term holidays. Aimed mainly at our older club members, the emphasis is on fun, enjoyment and team building, although obviously judo is still high on the agenda, and we train with our friends at Judo Club Serignan on a couple of occasions.
Yearly Awards & Prize Giving
At the end of every year the club makes awards in a number of categories including Best Boy, Best Girl, Judoka (Judo Player) of the Year, Best Competition Results and Best Attendance. These awards are presented at our award ceremony, which usually takes place just after our Christmas Club Championships and helps to finish the year on a high note for the members.
In comparison to many sports and pastimes judo is relatively inexpensive to take up. The only equipment you need is a judo suit (judo-gi) and these can be purchased fairly cheaply through the club.
Training fees are only payable on evenings that you attend the club and the only annual subscription you need to pay is for membership of a judo association, which covers your personal liability insurance and allows you to be graded and take part in the numerous events organised throughout the year.
Current weekly dojo fees are £2.00 for all members.
For more information, email us through the link on the Home Page.
We look forward to seeing you soon.