January News
The month started cold and stayed cold. Sensei even did something he NEVER does. He put on a t-shirt under his Judogi. Is this because of the extreme cold or is he just getting old and wimpy? Maybe he is becoming a burger.
Training resumed and for the last week of January, Jonah paid a visit and gave some demonstrations of gripping and tactical loitering. Everyone had a go at trying this out and in order to get a better idea of the concepts, Sensei has made a short video of examples which you can see by clicking here.
The other BIG news is that the new club at Dr. Challoners Grammar School opened up on the 12th and Sensei was pleased to have 16 attend for the first session and also, to have 16 attend (but not all the same ones) for the next two. Judogi and BJC licences have been purchased by the majority and February will see training intensify as they start to learn the techniques required for the syllabus. Sensei has great hopes for this club to grow quite quickly to more than double its current size. We shall see.
February News
Only two notable things happened in February as far as the club is concerned. These are:
Jonah entered the BUCS (British University & College Sports) Championship on the 18th and 19th (the team event). He won the Bronze on the Saturday, being beaten by the eventual Gold medallist. On the Sunday he won three contests out of four, this time being beaten by the Silver medallist the day before. Unfortunately, the rest of the Durham team didn't do as well and so there was no team medal. You can see Jonah's contests by clicking here. Most of the contest were very short but the third and the fourth (the ones he lost) take longer.
The other BIG news is that the new mats arrived. Sensei is SO excited:
Are they not wonderful?
March News
The last month was exciting. At the end of the term we had the first DCGS grading and all those who attended did well:
Name |
Previous Grade |
New Grade |
Adam |
6th Kyu |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
Bennett |
6th Kyu |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
Harris |
6th Kyu |
6th Kyu 2 Yellow |
Austin |
6th Kyu |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
Hugo |
6th Kyu |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
Giacomo |
6th Kyu |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
Ruben |
6th Kyu |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
Kieran |
6th Kyu |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
Ashwarth |
6th Kyu |
5th Kyu |
Oscar |
6th Kyu |
5th Kyu |
Thomas |
6th Kyu |
5th Kyu |
Finn |
6th Kyu |
5th Kyu |
This is a good start. Sensei is looking forward to the next term when further progress will be made with another grading by the end of the term.
Then on the 18th Sensei led a Referee Training Course in St. Albans and that has resulted in the BJC having 5 newly trained and now approved referees plus two more awaiting assessment (and hopefully before the end of April, they will have passed).
The following week, on the 25th, again at St. Albans 8 members of our club competed in the North London Basho. This the largest number of entries from our club for many a year (excepting our own Chalfont Championship). It was good to see that an active, competitive group were prepared to go and try out their skills.
It should be remembered that for all those who attended, this was their very first competition and as such, there were obviously nerves and stress. However, like everything else, once you have done it once, it is easier the second time and each time onwards, not only does it become familiar but consequently the chances of success increase with the removal of initial stress. This is much the same as with school exams. Pupils are 'prepped' with exams every year so that by the time they get to the GCSE's they understand the process. Sensei therefore encourages everyone to get as much contest experience as quickly as possible as that not only helps them progress in Judo, but life generally.
So how did we do? Pretty good actually:
and the results were:
Name |
Medal |
Zac |
Gold |
Sanjana |
Silver |
Sofia |
Silver |
Parker |
Bronze |
Michael |
Bronze |
Adithyaa |
Bronze |
Jogaila |
Bronze |
Isabelle Hancox |
Bronze |
Is there any other news? YES! Our new mats arrived! From the point that Sensei started with Chalfont (2005) we have been using 72 sq/m of Tatami which is enough to manage 30 people but it does get crowded. As the club has grown, in the interests of providing better facilities and ensuring safety, more mats were ordered, have now been delivered so that our Tatami is now 98 sq/m.
April News
Continuing our increased attendance at competitions, Zac attended the Southampton Samurai where he came away with a nice Bronze. Other than that, the only other new bit to report was that our new mat trolley arrived and did excellent service for one week and then on the next, one of the casters snapped off. That is currently being attended to.
The very last day of April was the BJC Open National Championships that takes place in Kettering. Your Sensei was given the new role of overseeing the other referees and thereby assisting the Referee Coordinator. This was a relatively boring job compared to actually being a referee but someone has to do it (I suppose). Even Lorraine was given a job this year. She was official Licence Checker which was more fun that she expected as she met over 200 new people and some who she already knew.
The next day Sensei and Lorraine visited Deene Park parts of which date from the 1400's and which has been the ancestral seat to one family ever since. One of the most famous members of that family was Lord Cardigan (yes he invented it) of the Charge of the Light Brigade fame. As we walked around looking at all the portraits on display one was struck by how miserable and unattractive they all looked. Whether this was just the result of genetics or having to stand in the same place for hours whilst the artist painted, we will never know.
May News
Our second new mat trolley was delivered in early May and by the second week, two of the casters had broken under the strain of the mats. This was strange as the trolley was rated at 300Kg and the mats came to 240Kg. Never mind, the supplier has offered to pay for new stronger casters which are expected in the next few days.
Sensei went to Antwerp for the Ippon Trophy where he spent an exciting two days refereeing at this major international event and was invited to return next year. He then spent another five and a half exciting hours waiting at the Eurotunnel terminal whilst train problems were resolved. All in all, a good weekend.
June News
Six of our club attended the Rush Judo Red Belt (our white belt) Rumble in Berkhamstead on the 13th June and so we went. Sensei was asked to referee and they said nice things about him:
Not only that, but the Chalfont six did rather well (especially as apart from Zac, it was their first competition):
Name |
Result |
Zac |
Gold |
Peter |
Silver |
Emily III |
Silver |
Daniel |
Silver |
Natalie |
Bronze |
Evan |
Bronze |
July News
At the Shizentai Championship, four of our club attended and they did rather well (especially as apart from Zac, it was their first competition):
Name |
Result |
Finlay |
Gold |
George |
Gold |
Zac |
Bronze |
Johnny Mitchell |
Bronze |
But that is not all. Oh no, we had the Buckinghamshire Area Grading on the 11th which was overseen by the Area Technical Officer, Steve Rand Sensei who ensured that everything was done to the correct standard. We had a very good result and Sensei now feels far calmer and is back to normal.
[note: Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, said "it is not who I beat today that matters but whether I am better than I was yesterday". Progression in life generally (and Judo) is not linear. People can make big jumps in grade and others may not but come the next grading the positions can (and often are) reversed. The important part is to keep going and the progression will come]
[key: grey background is only to assist visibility as white and yellow don't show, for safeguarding reasons surnames are not listed for primaries and juniors so where there is a '2' or '3' that is because there is more than one with that first name and these people know who they are]
Primaries:
Name |
Previous Grade |
New Grade |
Anaya |
6th Kyu |
6th Kyu 2 Orange |
Natalie |
6th Kyu 1 Orange |
6th Kyu 2 Green |
Catalina |
6th Kyu 2 Blue |
6th Kyu 1 Brown |
Pavit |
6th Kyu 1 Orange |
6th Kyu 1 Green |
Peter |
6th Kyu 1 Orange |
6th Kyu 1 Green |
Alex |
6th Kyu 1 Green |
6th Kyu 1 Blue |
Zac |
6th Kyu 3 Green |
6th Kyu 2 Blue |
Juniors:
Name |
Previous Grade |
New Grade |
Evan |
6th Kyu |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
Aryan |
6th Kyu |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
George |
6th Kyu |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
Zachary |
6th Kyu |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
Daryll |
6th Kyu |
5th Kyu 2 Orange |
Louis |
6th Kyu |
5th Kyu 2 Orange |
Emily 3 |
6th Kyu |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
Emily 2 |
5th Kyu |
5th Kyu 3 Orange |
Sofia |
5th Kyu |
5th Kyu 2 Orange |
Finlay |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
4th Kyu |
Michael |
5th Kyu |
5th Kyu 2 Orange |
Daniel |
6th Kyu 2 Blue |
5th Kyu 2 Orange |
Ian |
5th Kyu 3 Orange |
4th Kyu |
Adam |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
5th Kyu 3 Orange |
Eshika |
5th Kyu 3 Orange |
4th Kyu |
Elisa |
5th Kyu |
4th Kyu |
Parker |
5th Kyu 3 Orange |
4th Kyu |
Ian |
5th Kyu 3 Orange |
4th Kyu |
Thomas |
5th Kyu |
4th Kyu |
Hugo |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
4th Kyu |
Robert |
4th Kyu 2 Green |
4th Kyu 3 Green |
Jogaila |
4th Kyu 2 Green |
4th Kyu 3 Green |
Anahita |
4th Kyu 1 Green |
4th Kyu 3 Green |
Agam |
4th Kyu 1 Green |
4th Kyu 3 Green |
Seniors:
Name |
Previous Grade |
New Grade |
Marco Gaminara |
6th Kyu |
4th Kyu |
Johnny Mitchell |
5th Kyu |
4th Kyu |
August News
August started off with Sensei on holiday and he was VERY grateful for Saffron and Emma taking the club training session on the 1st August. The following two weeks saw an improvement in numbers so that for the rest of the month we continued to have 20 on the mat. On the 22nd August we had a SPECIAL visitor!
Tessa was a club member from 2013 through to 2016. Coming from a family of diplomats she quickly adapted to the expectations of Sensei by always laughing at his jokes. Something that the current generation have not yet learnt to adopt. It wasn't like that in my day etc. etc. Anyway, when Tessa's father was given a new posting the whole family took off to... Tokyo Japan, where Tessa went to train in the Kodakan, the heart and home of Judo!
It was at the Kodakan that Tessa gained her Black belt:
Tessa took the session on the 22nd and demonstrated excellent Japanese style Judo, as one would expect and Sensei was very proud, telling everyone that he 'taught her everything she knows', which is clearly not true but does his ego no end of good.
So here is Tessa with Sensei:
Of course, when she started, at Chalfont, she was actually shorter than Sensei...
Anyway, we were delighted to have Tessa visit us and hopes she comes again because, apparently, the rest of the club all thought that she was a MUCH better coach than Sensei.
Later in the month, on the 27th, Jonah and Sensei travelled up to Tamworth so that Jonah could contest to try for his 3rd Dan. Unfortunately, for the first time ever, Jonah was not succesful at a grading but nevertheless he did very well.
Never mind, there is always another grading somewhere, sometime.
September News
The new school term started and for the first weeks numbers were a bit low but after that, we have enjoyed more than 30 on the mat every week. Long may this continue!
The month ended with Sensei travelling to the South Durham and Cleveland area to lead a Referee Training course. It was a great success as this time everyone passed. What made it so different from the many other courses that Sensei has put on? Well, the candidates actually bothered to read the Contest Rules. That helps.
October News
This month was fairly quiet. Sensei has been busy also coaching at UCL Judo Club whilst the normal coach is unable to attend. This has resulted in a minor injury from a bigger person trying their luck out. But Sensei has a secret weapon and revenge will be obtained.
Sensei also travelled to Nottingham for the 4-5th November in order to revalidate his coaching qualification and now has a brand new FPJ2. Now can you find him?
November News
First up we had the Southampton Samurai which saw three club members attend. Daniel, Ian and Alex. Daniel unfortunately was not successful (in his first competition) but Ian got the Silver and Alex the Silver! This was really excellent and Sensei was really pleased. You can watch the video on YouTube of Alex's contests here. Do not miss the superb Tomoe Nage at 3:10.
Next up the following week was the BJC Closed Nationals and at this event, Sensei was awarded BJC Referee International Grade. Here you can Sensei shaking the hand of Paul Laskey 7th Dan just after having been awarded it by G. R. Mealing 8th Dan, BJC Vice-President (just behind).
But all of this was beaten by the three club members who entered this event. First up was Zac in his first try and this level of event. Unfortunately, he was not successful in obtaining a medal but nevertheless, he put in a brave performance and from that, he is better positioned to move forward now that he knows what it is all about.
Then we had Tom Hagreaves who was competing in the 2nd to 1st Kyu (blue and brown belt) category. He missed his weight category but nevertheless, fighting up a weight category from that intended, gave his best and grabbed the Gold! Unfortunately only one of his contests was videoed but you can watch that here.
The last Chalfont member to compete at the BJC Nationals was Jonah who...
became National Champion for the 20th time. If you want to see his contests, click on this link.
All of this is great in itself but we have also hit a new milestone when mid-month, we had our largest ever training session with 42 members on the mat (between the junior and senior sessions). Your club is growing and we are rapidly getting towards maximium numbers. Even the mat size has grown, up until Easter, we had 72 sq/m, then we had 91 sq/m and we have just grown to 98 sq/m.
December News
We had the grading on the 12th December. As per usual, Sensei was all grumpy and not in the best temper as he tried to get everyone to where they needed to be but on the day... in front of Sensei Steve Rand, the Area Technical Officer for Bucks, it all went according to plan and Sensei Rand commented upon how impressed he was by the oversall standard that he observed. 31 people attended and the grades awarded are as follows:
[note: Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, said "it is not who I beat today that matters but whether I am better than I was yesterday". Progression in life generally (and Judo) is not linear. People can make big jumps in grade and others may not but come the next grading the positions can (and often are) reversed. The important part is to keep going and the progression will come]
[key: grey background is only to assist visibility as white and yellow don't show, for safeguarding reasons surnames are not listed for primaries and juniors so where there is a '2' or '3' that is because there is more than one with that first name and these people know who they are]
Primaries:
Name |
Previous Grade |
New Grade |
Anaya |
6th Kyu 2 Orange |
6th Kyu 1 Green |
Catalina |
6th Kyu 1 Brown |
6th Kyu 2 Brown |
Pavit |
6th Kyu 1 Green |
6th Kyu 2 Green |
Peter |
6th Kyu 1 Green |
6th Kyu 3 Green |
Alex |
6th Kyu 1 Blue |
6th Kyu 1 Brown |
Zac |
6th Kyu 2 Blue |
6th Kyu 1 Brown |
Patrick |
6th Kyu |
6th Kyu 1 Orange |
Preston |
6th Kyu |
6th Kyu 1 Orange |
Juniors:
Name |
Previous Grade |
New Grade |
Evan |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
5th Kyu |
Aryan |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
5th Kyu 1 Orange |
Zachary |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
5th Kyu |
Ruben |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
5th Kyu 1 Orange |
Natalie |
6th Kyu 2 Green |
5th Kyu |
Emily 3 |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
5th Kyu 1 Orange |
Harris |
6th Kyu 2 Yellow |
5th Kyu 1 Orange |
Sofia |
5th Kyu 2 Orange |
4th Kyu |
Sofia 2 |
6th Kyu |
5th Kyu |
Olivia 2 |
6th Kyu |
5th Kyu |
Finlay |
4th Kyu |
4th Kyu 2 Green |
Michael |
5th Kyu 2 Orange |
5th Kyu 3 Orange |
Daniel |
5th Kyu 2 Orange |
4th Kyu |
Sanjana |
5th Kyu |
5th Kyu 3 Orange |
Adithyaa |
5th Kyu 1 Orange |
5th Kyu 3 Orange |
Maxi |
4th Kyu |
4th Kyu 2 Green |
Parker |
4th Kyu |
4th Kyu 2 Green |
Ian |
4th Kyu |
3rd Kyu |
Jogaila |
4th Kyu 3 Green |
3rd Kyu |
Anahita |
4th Kyu 3 Green |
3rd Kyu |
Agam |
4th Kyu 3 Green |
3rd Kyu |
Seniors:
Name |
Previous Grade |
New Grade |
Marco Gaminara |
4th Kyu |
3rd Kyu |
Johnny Mitchell |
4th Kyu |
3rd Kyu |
The last club session for 2023 was the 19th December when Sensei sprung a surprise mini-competition upon the members who attended. 20 people competed and with these numbers, it was not really possible to make properly balanced categories so for some of the smaller people, it wasn't quite fair. However, the objective was to do something a little bit different and to give everyone a taste of what Judo competition is about. This was a success and everyone went away with medals and chocolate coins. So that was a good end of term!
Primary Male
Alex |
Gold |
Patrick |
Silver |
Pavit |
Bronze |
Preston |
Bronze |
Junior Male Smaller
Daniel |
Gold |
Zac |
Silver |
Parker |
Bronze |
Junior Female
Olivia 2 |
Gold |
Sanjana |
Silver |
Sophia 2 |
Bronze |
Junior Male Lower Grade
Edward |
Gold |
Adithyaa |
Silver |
Evan |
Bronze |
Zac 2 |
Bronze |
Junior Higher Grade
Jogilia |
Gold |
Ian |
Silver |
Agam |
Bronze |
Seniors
Johnny Mitchell |
Gold |
Alex Sprackling |
Silver |
Marco Gaminara |
Bronze |
James Stockwell |
Bronze |
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