Bucks Area Grading
The second grading of the year was held at Kitsune Gari in Milton Keynes, on November 12th 2017. Specific congratulations go to Saffron, Aileen, Nicola and Berlin for outperforming Sensei expectations.
Name |
New Grade |
Berlin (DCHS) |
5th Kyu 3 Orange |
Grace (DCHS) |
4th Kyu |
Saffron (DCHS) |
4th Kyu 1 Green |
Pippa |
4th Kyu 2 Green |
Rachel (DCHS) |
3rd Kyu |
Ivy (DCHS) |
3rd Kyu 1 Blue |
Aileen (DCHS) |
3rd Kyu 2 Blue |
Audrey Liew (DCHS) |
3rd Kyu (ratified Senior grade) |
Lucca Gabella |
3rd Kyu |
Gemma Toerien Howie |
3rd Kyu |
Nicola Cleary (DCHS) |
2nd Kyu |
Oxford Course
The September Oxford Course came and went and was attended by Laura and Jonathon Day as well as Jonah along with Sensei. Jonah was graded to 2nd Kyu (Blue belt) with three contest wins and one draw against a group all older and heavier than him.
Laura and Jonathon started to learn Ju no Kata (the Kata of subtlety and flexibility) and Sensei finally was assessed and passed on Kaeshi no Kata (Kata of counters developed by Yoko Tani and passed on to Matsutaro Otani and is generally known as the 'BJC Kata'). That is now six Kata passed to Shudoshaidai level leaving just Goshin Jitsu no Kata (modern self defence) to polish and Koshiki no Kata (breaking balance and throwing in armour, this Kata is a 'historic' Kata from the Samurai era) to learn in order that he can claim to have studied all of the Kodakan Kata.
Maccabbi Games Israel 2017
In July 2017, Jonah Alfert participated in the Maccabiah Games, where he fought against tough competition and won a Bronze medal (the first GB medal ever for Judo at these games):
There are lots more pictures of Jonah at these games by clicking here. Video footage of the contests can be seen here.
BJC Open National Championship
Although it took place in April, Sunday the 30th, this traditionally May event saw three from our club enter where Luca and Laura Day both took Bronze. Luca fought well pulling his first National medal in a largish group and Laura taking on an almost Olympic hopeful from last years games. Jonah, lost his first contest to decision but won the next two, both in less than ten seconds.
Name |
Category |
Medal |
Luca |
Male 13-15 U65Kg |
Bronze |
Laura Day |
Dan Grade Females |
Bronze |
Bucks Area 'Low Kyu' Grading
At this event, on Sunday the 7th May at Dr Challoners high School, eighteen of the club members attended and all were successful in achieving a higher grade. Of particular note are Tom Goddard who jumped all the way from Yellow to Green belt, and Ivy from DCHS who has now caught her sister up and is ready to contest for higher grades.
Name |
Club |
Grade |
Haris |
Chalfont Judokwai |
6th Kyu 2 Orange |
Eesa |
Chalfont Judokwai |
6th Kyu 2 Orange |
Ellie |
Chalfont Judokwai |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
Georgia |
Chalfont Judokwai |
6th Kyu 3 Yellow |
Paris |
Chalfont Judokwai |
5th Kyu |
Archie |
Chalfont Judokwai |
6th Kyu 2 Yellow |
Yash |
Chalfont Judokwai |
3rd Kyu |
Tanmayi |
DCHS Judokwai |
5th Kyu |
Niamh |
DCHS Judokwai |
5th Kyu |
Grace |
DCHS Judokwai |
5th Kyu 1 Orange |
Saffron |
DCHS Judokwai |
5th Kyu 2 Orange |
Asha |
DCHS Judokwai |
4th Kyu 1 Green |
Rachel |
DCHS Judokwai |
4th Kyu 1 Green |
Ivy |
DCHS Judokwai |
3rd Kyu |
Laura Edgar |
DCHS Judokwai |
4th Kyu 2 Red |
Pippa |
Evreham Judokwai |
4th Kyu |
Gemma Toerien Howie |
Evreham Judokwai |
4th Kyu 2 Red |
Tom Goddard |
Evreham Judokwai |
3rd Kyu |
BJA National Schools Championship Finals
Following on from his success at the Regionals event earlier in the year, Jonah entered this ranking Championship. Taking place in Sheffield on the Saturday 8th April, Jonah was placed in a category of 20 although when we were called to the mat for his category, it appeared that only 16 had turned up. Jonah won his first two contests but lost the third in the semi-finals. This put Jonah into the reprecharge where he won his contest to pull a Bronze in a very hard fought category.
Chalfont Championship
This year’s event took place on Saturday 18th March at the Evreham Sports Center and was our most successful ever. A good number of club members took part in this event. We were honoured to have had Denise Lewis OBE attend and hand out medals to many of the successful.
With 200 contestants entered, spread over three mats, the whole event was more organised, better run with more satisfied contestants, spectators and visiting officials than ever before. A big 'thank you' goes out from your club committee to all those who gave up their time to help move mats, seating, arrange refreshments, man reception and clear up afterwards. A special 'thank you' goes to Bury Beth who isn't even a member of our club and to Noah Alfert who organised all of the IT and ran the weigh-in.
A dozen members of our club entered this event. Not as healthy a number as usual, so we hope for better next year. A special
mention goes to Paris, who in his first competition, after only starting a term ago, pulled off a Gold. Well done Paris!
Denise Lewis OBE with one of this years medallists. Apart from awarding medals, Denise was much in demand for autographing belts, Judogi as well as the more normal pieces of paper. |
Paris only started Judo in December after a lot of nagging by Sensei who met him a few times at his father’s business. But he bravely entered our Championships and took the Gold! |
Name |
Category |
Medal |
Paris |
Novice 8-9 36-42Kg |
Gold |
Annelise |
Junior Female 10-15 under 38Kg |
Bronze |
Annelise* |
Novice Female 10-15 under 36Kg |
Bronze |
Aileen (DCHS) |
Junior Female 10-15 under 43Kg |
Bronze |
Luca |
Junior Male 10-15 under 65Kg |
Bronze |
Jonah |
Junior Male 10-15 under 55Kg |
Gold |
Jonah* |
Junior Male 10-15 under 90Kg |
Silver |
George Pickford |
Senior Male Kyu Grade under 60Kg |
Silver |
Nicola Cleary (DCHS) |
Senior Female Kyu Grade under 62Kg |
Bronze |
Emma Cleary (DCHS) |
Senior Female Kyu Grade under 62Kg |
Bronze |
Laura Day |
Senior Female Dan Grade under 75Kg |
Gold |
Jessica Day |
Senior Female Dan Grade under 75Kg |
Silver |
Those marked * above were entered into two categories in order to make these up to the desired minimum of four so that each contestant would, wherever possible, get a minimum of three contests.
Not only does this event provide a lot of fun and enjoyment for literally, hundreds of people, but it also raises the club profile, boost the club funds and provides a platform to demonstrate BJC Ippon Judo to non-BJC clubs who attend.
Nage no Kata - Reloaded
David Sensei once again put on this course, this time ably assisted by Jessica Day to the largest attendance yet. We held the course at Brunel University where during the day, not only did we cover the entire Nage no Kata but also two sets of Katame no Kata. Those who attended, including the three who were 'press-ganged' from DCHS enjoyed the day.
Southfields Championship
Jonah and David Sensei travelled to this annual event in Leicester on Saturday the 4th February. Jonah to compete and David to officiate. Jonah went with the objective of trying out the new techniques he has been learning in preparation for the Maccabi Games in Israel later this year. These proved succesful for him but as expected, where not acceptable for a BJC Junior event and as a result he obtained several Shido and thereby losing the first contest. Afterwards, one of the referees said that he had never seen anyone score so many Ippon scoring throws (in a senior event) and yet lose. Jonah nevertheless went away with a Bronze from a category of six.
BJA British Schools NHC Regional Championship
Jonah entered this event for the first time on Sunday the 28th January. NHC stands for 'Northern Home Counties' and the event took place at the High Wycombe Judo club, which was a great boon as we did not need to leave home until 11am and were back again before 3pm. With a surprise defeat in the first contest Jonah proceeded to win his next three contests very decisvily to take the Silver. With this Jonah gained priority entry into the finals that take place in April.
Ilias Illiadis Course - University of East London
This event took place on Saturday the 21st in a massive hall with around 300 in attendance to learn from the legend. More than a 100 were Dan grades. Jonah and David went along and had a great time. We even met some other BJC members and of course, grabbed a photo with the great man himself.
Ashi Waza Technical Training Course
led by Branko Andjelkovich 6th Dan
Took place on Sunday the 15th January. In a superb day of training we spent the morning specifically looking at Sasae Tsuri Komi Ashi, a rather under utilised throw currently, and went through 20 different variations, combinations and counters. In the afternoon we covered De Aashi and Okuri Ashi along with a brief look at using Ko Soto as a primary attack.
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