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Sept 2007

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Car - Treasure Hunt - Sunday 23rd September

Staggered Start from 1:00pm onwards.
This is not a race. Points awarded for collecting clues, not getting lost, having the correct Mileage, not returning too quickly and most of all, having loads of fun whilst raising funds for Biggin Hill Judo Club and some other local clubs and charities.
For the whole family. Plenty of stops on route.
BBQ and ALL types of refreshments at the finish. (Not included in price)
Adults £5 - Children £2.50.
Also see the section below, marked, Forthcoming Events.

Downe Scout Camp - Sunday 8th July

This was an all day event in support of the Scouts 100 year celebrations. Sensei's Bob and Mick, with the support of Oliver Wheeler, Sophie Bartlett and Hannah Edridge provided ‘taster’ lessons throughout the day. It started very slowly; in that no one came to the first session (administrative failing of the scouts – more like a late one the night before!). Therefore, some display team practice with some new ideas for next year, sumo wrestling in big suits and pugil stick fighting helped fill in the time. However, as the day moved on, it became very busy with all involved working in a hot marquee which had been a large bar and dance hall the night before. (Imagine the atmosphere – Yuk). Some 50 students gave it a go and the team had a few laughs on the way.
Scout – "Are you going to teach us to break bricks?"
Sensei "What’s the point? I’ve never been beaten up by a brick" and
(ED) "use a hammer.. Minimum effort, maximum efficiency!" You get the idea.

Biggin Hill Judo Club Competition – 15th July

This was the club’s first large serious competition and involved 95 students, 6 referees, 6 timekeepers and 100 spectators. It all started at 9am with weigh in for the juveniles and fighting started at 10.15am on three mats. Juniors turned up at 11am and they went on at 12.30pm and all was finished and cleaned up by 3pm. Thanks go to the clubs that attended which were Thamesmead Judo Club, Suburashi Judo Club, Green Dragon, Darrick Wood, Aylwin Judo Club and their Sensei's and timekeepers for helping. In addition we'd like to thank our own students and especially John Bartlett, who took up being a time keeper for the first time and the parents who helped clear up the hall.

Thank you also to Wayne whose Jack Petchey award had subsided the event and made sure everyone got a medal.
We will be doing it next year and hope to make it even better as well as hoping to keep it subsidised..

Wednesday night club - Throughout the Summer.
Open all year

Do something different in the holidays. We also will do more weapons and self-defence over the holiday period.

Saturday afternoon club -
Resumes Sat 8th Sept

From 3:30pm to 5pm. Mixed age group. 5 - 99
Please check the Events tab carefully as there are other dates when the Saturday club will be closed.

Student of the Month

The Student of the Month, for June 2007, is Cassidy Marshall..

This 6 years young student showed a lot of courage and true Judo spirit at the Charlton Competition. Being the only juvenile from the club, she was there on her own and, with her Dad busy helping the organisers with the pools etc, found herself in a very lonely situation. When warm ups came she was all on her own amidst two mats full of children. However, after a little tremble of the bottom lip, she got on and fought 6 fights. Fortunately, the Juniors arrived and were able to cheer her on. It is this club spirit that makes these competitions.

The Student of the Month, for May 2007, was Katie Meller..

Katie has regularly attended and has impressed the Sensei's by over coming nerves and taking part in the club grading. During the grading, she excelled and produced one of the best results of the day. Well done.

Consideration is taken for Attendance, Attitude and personal Achievements. The 3 A's.

Will it be you next time??

Follow the News Archive link for past recipients.

Jack Petchey Endeavour Award Scheme.

This award scheme is aimed for the 11-25 year olds and is sponsored by the Jack Petchey Foundation.
The award will be given in recognition of a students Effort, Endeavour and/or Exceptional achievement.
(The three ‘E’s).

The Club’s committee prepares a list of nominees every three months, which will include a brief statement regarding their eligibility.
The other students vote for the winner, however, a student may only win the award once.

It was a close run thing for Wayne McCarthy, who was chosen by his peers as the first recipient of the Jack Petchey award.
Wayne selected a number of items from a list prepared by the committee to spend the £600 on. He chose a digital camera and printer capable of producing photo quality prints. This will help with the recording of the club’s achievements as well as speeding up the process of licence applications, being able to produce passport photographs.

Wayne also decided to subsidise the club championships in July. We bought all the medals and stop watches so that other students could enjoy a competition without it costing an arm or a leg (figuratively rather than literally).

The recent winners for the Jack Petchey Endeavour award are:-

Hannah Edridge: Summer 2007
Club Captain; Hannah assists and supports the Dan grades. She represents our club at competitions and displays and has worked extraordinarily hard to use her Judo experience towards her GCSE’s...
Other nominees were Sophie Bartlett and Ryan Gray.

Wayne McCarthy: Spring 2007
For his consistent support of the club at display events, competitions and dojo preparation. He also willingly steps in as a demonstration Uke at any time.
Other nominees were Sophie Bartlett and Ian Pratley.


Some current ideas for future spending, but not exclusively limited too, are; Trophy Display Cabinet, Laptop and Projector for admin and as a training aid, more mats to extend the training area, Ten-pin bowling event, Family BBQ, Quasar, Disco/Party, Kata and refereeing courses.
Other ideas welcome.
Once again, well done Wayne and Hannah and a big thank you to those students who took part by voting.

Forthcoming events.

Always check the Events tab at the top of the page.
Often, more details follow in the next sections

Sat 8th Sep	- Saturday Club resumes. See events tab.
Sun 23rd Sep	- Car Treasure Hunt.
October	- Budo day
October	- Club Grading at the Squash Club.
Wed 14th Nov 7:45pm	- Club Annual photograph.
Fri 16th Nov	- Annual Awards Ceremony and party at the Squash Club.
Wed 28th Nov 6:30-7:00	- Club AGM. Everyone welcome.
Wed 19th Dec 7:00-8:30	- Club Christmas Party

Club Grading – October TBA.

This will be held At the Squash Club, Jail lane. Opposite Darwin School.

There is a spectators Viewing gallery by the bar.
This helps calm the nerves of the parents!!

All students should own their own judogi for the grading. Sensei Bob can get these in advance, at below shop prices, so get your details to him as soon as possible.

All students who have been attending for more than 16 weeks are expected to grade and to have taken out full membership after 4 weeks. Those who need to join, or renew, their membership to NAKMAS must get their forms from Sensei Bob well in time.

Students will be allocated a time to attend with similarly graded/aged students. Inform Sensei early if there are problems.

Dates for following Gradings will be published here well in advance.

Courses and Competitions

Next Budo Day : Autumn 2007

The last Budo Fun Day was on Sunday 22nd April and was another great success.
The free Shiatsu sessions took loads of donations for Asthma Uk, and we added some Raffle money to that.. making £150.
This Year we had Jiu Jitsu , Aikido x 2, Systema , Kempo Karate , Judo and Running throughout the day Shiatsu:-
We're sorry that the Capoeira and Kyudo was not available...These things are out of our control.
All the instructors give their time for free and we'd like to thank them all very much for their time.
We are looking at rescheduling the Budo Fun Day to run in a promotionally quieter time. The next should be around October, and then in Autumn each year from then on.

Club Competition : Sunday 15th July

See news Section

Thamesmead Judo Club - Charlton Competition 1st July

Only four students took part even though it was only 40 minutes down the road. Well done to Cassidy Marshall (the only juvenile to attend), Jack Stacey, Matthew Mullaney and Hannah Edridge for giving it a go.
Although we did not win any gold medals (Hannah got Silver) all the students did their best and fought with the right spirit and sporting attitude.
Hopefully we will have more entrants next year so that we can support our students

Display Team News.

This was our 7th year for the display team.
The team had three events. The first at Biggin Hill School as greeted with good weather and was a chance for the team to run through the sequences. It was a quick-paced display which paid off by keeping the crowd there from beginning to end.

Unfortunately, the second at Oakland’s was not so successful. With many false starts the students decided the show must go on and with a small break in the weather, got the mat out and went for it. Unfortunately mid way it started to rain making the going tough. Students made sacrifices so that the key set pieces could go ahead. The bad news was it took two weeks to fully dry out the canvas.

The final was at the festival at the Recreation ground. The weather held and after a word from the Mayor, the team were able to give their usual standard of display. Again it went well and everyone looked the part.

Our thanks to the team members Holly Fry, Hannah Bartlett, Jack Stacey, Sarah Treacher, Sophie Bartlett, Oliver Wheeler, Ryan Gray, Hannah Edridge and Wayne McCarthy and guest ‘Hoodie’ Mick Williams for his Oscar grabbing performance in the self defence display at the end. Team members will be formally rewarded at the club’s annual award ceremony in November. Trials for next years team will take place in September/October.

The Sensei's would also like to express their thanks to all those parents who helped with the mats at the displays, especially the rain soaked Oaklands. It is appreciated and does make things easier.

All videos and pictures from these events gratefully received and what I have will be posted to the Website, eventually

Website Updates and Stuff

Any comment gratefully received. Please use the Contact Us link or the tab at the top of the page.

Website last updated on 28th July 2007.
News, Budo and Jack Petchey Award updates.

4,000 hits by Nov.
4,400 by Dec 12th.
4,723 by Jan 13th.
5,590 by April 3rd
5,880 by April 25th
6.795 by July 28th
Future:-
The syllabus, now hopefully removed of all smelling errers,( I know), is getting a make-over. Completion by the end of this year. All going well, each item will link to relevant pages that will show the throws etc in video and moving graphic images to help remind you. In the mean time, please use the Judoinfo web site link on the links page. It's an awesome place to go.

I'd like to include your articles and comments if you want to submit them to Sensei Mick, or via the 'Contact' page above.

Stacks of fun stuff to add in as well, but first things first.
(ED - Mick Williams)