Butokokan Judo Club – Presentation
On the evening of Tuesday 14th March, Councillor Louise Spratt, Mayor of Newbiggin By The Sea, accompanied by Councillor Alison Sutherland, Deputy Mayor of Newbiggin By The Sea, and Leanne Lawson, Assistant Clerk and Project Officer, visited the Butokokan Judo Club at Newbiggin Sports & Community Hub during their training session to present them with a donation of £300.00 to help towards costs for competition entry and travel. They plan to go to Kettering for the British Judo Council’s Open National Championships.
Running from the Newbiggin sports centre since June 2011, Butokokan Judo Club have been offering Judo as both a competitive and a recreational sport to children aged 5+ and adults in a dynamic, fun and safe environment.
Butokokan Judo Club aim to give every participant a goal to aim for, whether it be climbing up the grading ranks to achieve a black belt, or to compete at various levels from Area to National/International. Since starting up, the club have produced several National Champions and National Medallists across British Judo Council and British Judo Association events. Including medals at International events.
Just within this last week, two judoka achieved big milestones within their Judo pathway. Robyn Key attaining her 2nd Dan black belt after accumulating the required 100 points (10 competitive wins) and theory examination, and Jay Coleman winning a bronze medal at the British Schools National Championships, adding to his impressive collection which include a British Championship Bronze Medal in 2021 and BJC Open National Championship Gold last year.
The team of coaches are made up of very experienced judoka. Headed by our founding coach, Michael Douglass 6th Dan, who after almost 50 years in Judo has competed from Club to International level. Ran by Husband and Wife, Andrew and Rachael Douglass with 28 years and 11 years in Judo and both having National medals to their names. Steve smith, Raymond Cook, Anthony Welch, Molly Common, Adam Douglass and Robyn Key make up the rest of our team with tons of years of service in Judo between them, and all with minimum level one coaching awards and a host of medals at various levels between them. Including British Schools National Championship medals for Molly and Robyn, BJC National medals for Anth and Raymond and two bronze medals won by Molly in Holland events back in 2018.
Butokokan Judo Club train at the Newbiggin Sports Centre on Tuesdays 6-7pm & Saturdays 10-11.30am. £2.50 per session.
Newbiggin Town Council look forward to seeing what your club do in the future and all the best to all in the up and coming competitions.
