Littleport Judo Club held an official opening weekend in October to celebrate the launch of the club in the brand new sports centre in Littleport.
On Saturday 21st October, the club welcomed Brian Jacks who officially opened the club.
Brian Jacks won Britain’s first ever Olympic Medal at Judo in 1972 at the Munich games. Jacks was also the first Judo World Champion medallist for Britain, and won medals at the European Championships six times.
After cutting the red ribbon to open the club, Jacks delivered two judo masterclass training sessions – one for juniors and one for seniors.
Brian Jacks has a connection with Littleport Judo Club through club coach Stuart Aldous. When Stuart was a young judoka aged just 12 years old in the 1980’s his judo coach Phillip Rolls was a good friend of Brian’s. Together they set about making a VHS video ‘Judo Throws’ in which Brian demonstrated his judo techniques. Brian invited the young Stuart to train with them and later gave him a small part in his video. Some 33 years later Brian and Stuart got back in touch and last year they met up again in London at the Budokwai Judo Club along with Philip Rolls.
Club Coach Stuart says “When I met up with both Philip and Brian Jacks last year it brought back many happy memories from my youth, and Brian was still fantastic on the judo mats. He was still inspiring the next generation just like he had back in the 1980’s. It was then that Brian said he would be happy to visit my current judo club at some point and we talked about him coming to visit next time he was in the UK. Then when we learnt that we would be moving into the fantastic new facility in Littleport it seemed the perfect occasion to get Brian along – to officially open the judo club in the new building. It coincided with the end of Brian Jacks’ current UK visit and Brian was very keen to come along and visit our club.
The clubs senior coach Ray Taylor said, “It was fantastic to see Brian on the judo mat in Littleport. He still knows how to inspire the youngsters and it was great to see them all having fun and learning from one of the best judoka to come from Britain.” Brian Jacks finished the senior session with a technical critique that saw him offering one to one advice to the players on their favourite judo techniques.
The day finished with some presentations that saw Ray Taylor receive the ‘Spirit Of Judo’ award for his dedication and commitment to Littleport Judo Club.
Brian Jacks was presented with a huge cake naming all the judo clubs he had visited around the UK.
Then on the Sunday, the judo continued with the Littleport Youth, Senior and Masters Judo Championship at the leisure centre.
The tournament had over 70 entries from clubs across the region, as well as from further afield in London and the midlands. The club’s event organiser Ros Edwards said, “It was a great Championship and some great Judo was on display. It was the perfect follow up to Saturday’s masterclass, and everybody enjoyed the weekend.”
There were two players from Littleport Judo Club in action at the Championships – Noah Aldous and Joshua Heflin. Noah took a bronze medal in the youth section and a gold medal in the senior section. Josh just missed the medals in the youth section but took a well-deserved silver in the senior event. The weekend finished with a dan grading that saw several players earning their black belts – including Rory Southgate from Kumo Judo Club near Thetford.
Club coach Stuart said, “It was a fantastic weekend for the club and helped cement Littleport as a great venue for judo and put Littleport Judo Club back on the map as a strong area club. Littleport Judo Club is a not for profit members club and is run completely by volunteers. Our coaches are all qualified and hold up to date coaching licenses with The British Judo Association and the club is run purely by members for the benefit of members. Our aim is for the club to become a valued part of the community in Littleport. Judo is a great physical and moral education for children and young people and since moving to the new sports centre we have recruited lots of new members who have started learning the fundamentals of judo at our club.
As the only members’ judo club operating in the Littleport and Ely area we attract players from a wide variety of locations and have members from 5 to 75 years old.”
For further information on Judo training for children and adults at Littleport Judo Club please contact Stuart by email stuart.littleportjudo@gmail.com or look up the Club’s Facebook page and send them a message.