Well done to you all, a fantastic day albeit a very long one, especially for the Youth and Senior members. 24 of you went and we ended up with an awesome medal haul at what was the largest turnout for many years. We came back with 8 Bronze and 3 Silver medals, a superb achievement.

It was both exciting and a bit daunting for our younger members, for which it was their first time. Malachy Greaney, Luke Keenan, Oliver Walsh, Callum Pateman and Aaron James all were in large groups in their respective age and weight categories. Malachy had some good fights and certainly enjoyed the experience, as did Luke and Callum. Oliver survived some drop knee techniques against him (his opponent did get penalised eventually) but then picked up an arm injury but fought very bravely. Aaron did very well and actually did enough to fight off for a Bronze medal, but eventually finished 5^th in his very large group.

Our first time girls Emily Thirkell, Sophie Taylor and Isabella Hunter were all very nervous but kept their nerve and battled against the toughest opponents they have come against so far. Izzy enjoyed herself and nearly put herself into a medal position and is now very determined for the Welsh Nationals. Emily and Sophie overcame some heavy knocks and arm bending and were both very pleased to come away with a Bronze medal apiece in their respective weight categories.

Matt Weller, Ciaran Walsh, Alex Bakewell, Keiron King, Francesca Taylor and Amber Gregson have all experienced the Nationals before but not such a large turnout and never so much hanging around. Matt and Ciaran had some tough opposition but both performed well winning a few of their fights. Alex and Keiron after many previous attempts were both very pleased to receive Bronze medals especially as they are both at least 10kg below their opponents weights. Francesca had some arch enemies to face, was unfairly given a decision against her but even after a heavy knock battled on for a well deserved Bronze. Amber won her first few fights with great grit and determination and eventually got through to fight for the Gold medal. A slightly dubious referee decision gave it to the other girl but she was still pleased with her Silver medal,

Fiona Carroll, Lauren Curtis, Kushal Nayee and Ogi Balac our bigger juniors did have a long wait before they fought. Seasoned campaigners Fiona, Lauren and Kushel all had tough groups with big heavy opponents. Fiona was some 30 to 40 kgs lighter than many of her opponents but held her own. Lauren won a few of hers and was pleased with her Bronze medal. Kushel fought well but couldn’t repeat his success at the last Nationals. Ogi at his first Nationals was both surprised and delighted with his Bronze medal, not even realising he had won as they couldn’t pronounce his name. 

 Dan Hamill, Adam Lyne and Bryony King in our youth group, not only had to put up with long waits but also had to merge into the seniors. They eventually started at about 6 or 6:30pm. Dan was in a very large group had some great fights and then had to do it all again as 3 of them ended up with the same points. He battled well but just missed out on the Bronze. Adam fought well but by his own admission was disappointed with the result. Bryony after many previous attempts was extremely pleased with her Silver medal having had to fight ladies much older than herself.

Our seniors Connor Stacey, Ashley Ashdown and James Gerrans wished they had gone home after weigh in, done a days work then come back. Ashley fought very well, reaching the final stages and just missing out on the Bronze. James was well on his way to his expected finish when in his fight before the final he popped a rib (according to the medics) he managed to carry on and finish with a good ippon, however looking a bit pale and against the advice of both the referee and medic he did fight the final but stumbled and found the pain too great to escape from a hold, he was awarded the Silver and managed a slight smile on the podium. Connor in his first Nationals had the longest wait of all eventually finishing just after 8:00pm so thoroughly deserved his Bronze medal.

It was a long day but some fantastic results and one of the best medal hauls for years. Well done to you all and to your parents for their support. I am very proud of you all.

Best wishes

Jonathan

at Eynsham Primary School

Wed 11th, Thurs 12th, Fri 13th April

10:00 am. – 3:00 pm.

For 6 – 15 Year olds

EACH DAY:

Will begin with an introduction to Judo, its history and etiquette.

Warming up exercises – some fitness training

Breakfalling and other safety matters

Groundwork techniques – Holds and wrestling

Throwing Techniques – Counters and Combinations

Contest Techniques – Grips and Postures

Plus lots of Games and races

Plenty of breaks and Lunchtime outside (weather dependant)

Eynsham Primary School is easy to find in the centre of Eynsham. As you approach the top end of Mill Street, the first road on the right after the Chinese takeaway is Beech Road, the school is at the end of the road.

Cost £50 for 3 days, £20 one day

Ideal for boys and girls and beginners or those that have done Judo before

Everyone had a fantastic day and it was especially interesting to watch Darren break down the various techniques into the minutia of detail. He had spent a long time in Japan where they spend hours on particular angles and positions. We were introduced to some spectacular throws that no one had seen before and really enjoyed having a go at them.

Once again a superb day of Judo plus lots of mad games, all of which was ideal in preparation for the forthcoming BJC Welsh Nationals.

 Sunday 25^th September 2011, Hereford.

 Only 12 of you went however you came back with a fantastic 6 medals, 1 Silver and 5 Bronzes. It was also the most attended BJC Junior Nationals for many years.

  Starting with our smallest Francesca Taylor and Ceiran Walsh, both had good opening fights, Francesca producing one of her trademark ippon throws within a few seconds and Ceiran holding his own against boys several kilos heavier. Ceiran was pleased that he managed 5^th Place in a large group of heavier boys and Francesca just missed out on a bronze medal and thankfully kept her shoulder injury free even after some heavy throws.

Amber Gregson in only her second Nationals was determined to do well, and she did, against some tough opposition she came away with a well deserved Bronze Medal. Matt Weller was at his first Nationals and really enjoyed his first experience, holding his own with boys who had several Nationals under their belts. Jovan Lee-Roles did get frustrated with his performance this time, having won several medals in the past. Jovan fought hard but to no avail, though he had done his paper round before coming to Hereford.

Lola Arthur and Fiona Carroll were in the bigger groups that also contained several BJA fighters. Fiona stood up well against some fierce opposition and was pleased with her performance even without medal success. Lola was pleased with another Bronze Medal but it came at a price, what we had hoped was a sprained shoulder after one particular hard throw turned out to be a broken collar bone. We must all wish her well and hopefully see her back in 6 weeks. Lauren Curtis also had fearsome opponents but fought well and was pleased to up her medal from a Bronze last time to Silver this time.

Kushal Nayee and Max Blighton were both in the same weight/age group but in different pools. Both fought extremely hard and both experiencing at least 6 fights as they progressed. Max won all but one of his and Kushal winning several of his. Their dogged determination paid off as they both came away with Bronze medals in a large group that again had a lot of experienced BJA fighters.

Adam Lyne and James Chitty were both in the re-introduced Epoirs category. The weight separation was decided on the day, James in a light group and Adam in the heavy group. Both groups again had a lot of BJA fighters mainly Brown and Black belts which would prove to be tough competition. James was pleased with his performance but realized he hadn’t had enough mat time. Adam was slightly disappointed with his, but shouldn’t be as he came away with a Bronze medal even after some referee decisions went against him.

Well done to you all, an awesome performance at a very heavily attended competition.

There was plenty of beer and good food as everyone had fond memories of many events and happenings over the last 4 decades.

Martins prowess as a fine Judoka and competition player were talked about and he was able to recount some of his favourite moments and remind us to carry on the fine Oxfordshire tradition of Ippon Judo.

He and his wife Anne were presented with a lovely engraved Barometer and Flowers and we all wished him well in his retirement from Judo and insisted he now take us all Sailing with him.

They had a great way of explaining and introducing the Kata to all involved, both the old hands and many younger ones that had not done it before. Suddenly Kata was no longer that strange formal part of Judo that had nothing to do with the contest or other sides of Judo, it was just as useful and could be just as fun as any other aspect of Judo.

The Seniors got to grips with the Sacrafice techniques in the last two sets of the Nage-No-Kata and the complete 3 sets of the Katame-No-Kata and the Juniors ably managed the first couple of sets of Nage and the first set of Katame.

All in all a really fantastic day and it should certainly put many on their way to their next grades.

The competition in general had a low turnout, however it meant that those there were definitely the best in the country and proved to be very difficult to win against.

Philip Sparks in his first Nationals had some good fights, scored some points and gained great  experience. Francesca Taylor was up against some old rivals, had a good start with a great ippon, but then took a couple of knocks which shook her concentration, still she enjoyed her visit to the medics bay again. Ceiran Walsh battled strongly but struggled with some of the new rules, especially the change in the starting procedures.

Keiran King and Jack Mitchell both had to move up a weight group and joined Alex Bakewell and Jovan Lee-Roles in what was probably the largest group. All 4 had some good wins and Keiran and Jovan managed to get through to fight for the Bronze medal, however both just missed out.

Amber Gregson and Abigail Pinney both enjoyed their first Nationals experience and can’t wait to get back for the Welsh Nationals. Ben Griffin also at his first Nationals started well and then came up against the eventual medallists, he battled hard but just couldn’t get his trademark throw. Bryony King just gets stronger each time she attends and I am certain she will medal next time.

Kushal Nayee after many years and attempts was justly awarded with a Bronze medal in a very tough group. Alex Owen, Max Blighton and Will Hankins all at their first Nationals came up against some extremely strong opposition but all enjoyed the event and now have a better idea of what to expect next time.

Fiona Carroll and Lola Arthur were both delighted to win medals, Fiona a Silver and Lola a Bronze, well done girls. Nel Attwood ended up in an amalgamated category so was up against far heavier girls than herself. She did take a bad knock to the ribs at the start but carried on. Lauren Curtis performed well again and was very pleased with her Bronze medal and I believe some of the pictures taken while she was fighting.

Well done to you all, a fantastic performance, especially as we didn’t have much chance for practice just before the competition.

Best wishes

Jonathan

J U D O

Sunday 19^th June 2011

Henry Box School, Witney, Oxfordshire

When: Sunday 19^th June, Children too arrive by 10:00 am for warm up and size off. Medal presentations at 1:00pm

Where: Henry Box School, Church Green, Witney. OX28 4AX Look for the Church – Henry Box School is right next to it.

What is it ? A team competition where the children are sized off and then put into different teams. Each team will consist of about 10 players and have a team Captain (16/17 year old) and then children reducing in size down to 5/6 year old size. Each team member will fight their corresponding size on the other team. Girls 12 and over will only fight girls. After each member of the team has fought the teams are rotated. We expect each child to have at least 5 fights. Points are recorded for wins and draws and the team with most points wins. There will Gold, Silver and Bronze trophies for each team member.

Cost: £3.00 per child plus £2:00 spectator fee.

Rules: Only Green belts fighting Green belts allowed to perform sacrifice throws. Only coloured belts fighting coloured belts allowed to perform armlocks, chokes and strangles.

School rules: All children and spectators are only allowed in the Sports Hall, changing rooms and toilets. The School is a total non smoking site.

This is more of a fun competition and is particularly suitable for those that have never been to a competition before or are a little bit nervous about competing. Everyone has a chance of winning a trophy as it all depends on how well the whole team does rather than individual performances.

We are  always looking for parental assistance so if anyone is willing to help please contact Jonathan on  07967 349864 or Debbie on  07817 759085.

]]> http://www.oxfordshirejudoclubs.co.uk/junior-team-league-competition/feed 0