Merry Christmas

Hi Team Big Judo had its last session for 2015 this week.  We are going to take a summer break..

We start training again for 2016 on:

• Monday 1 Fenruary - Police
• Tuesday 2 February - Kids and Adults

On Friday 5 and Saturday 6 February there will be no training because of Waitangi Day,

Then in the second week of February we are back into regular training.  

Big Judo Big Visit to University Judo Club

 Big Judo Kids from both Central and Pukekohe held a training session at the University Judo in Epsom.  A nice class.  We did lots of Judo practice and finished with 'Batsugan'(informal) competition.

It was also a good chance for Ben and Jordan to catch up with Rick.  The 'dungeon', University Judo Club's dojo in Epsom, is where both Ben and Jordan learnt their Judo. Jordan's Dad also learnt Judo with Rick,

Everybody really enjoyed watching the kids because as well as being a great fun day it also let the kids see where our club's style of Judo started, learn  about their legacy and demonstrated that we are working to bring a new generation of Judoka onto the mat.

Another Big Saturday for Big Judo

This Saturday was really good day - the two kids classes were big and not to rowdy.  Nellie turned up again and enjoyed helping coach for three classes!

Pia from Germany had a great time with the kids teaching them good German technique. '

And I finally got a photo of Pia.   Here she is Pia Elisabeth Jahn from Jenna in Germany.  A great addition to our team helping us out not just with the kids but also with the adults. 

Then we a had a good strong adults class.  This class just keeps growing, We also had some women on the mat including a visitor from Tukaha BJJ, a big well respected BJJ club.  We know Pedro, Mike and Jonathan (instructors at Tukaha BJJ) from the olden days and really appreciated that one of their students has come to visit.

With Tracey, Nellie and Pia we have really good female instructors on the mat which is a huge bonus.

At Big Judo we pride ourselves on being an inclusive and safe training venue so are really pleased that as well as our gang of broken down old men and young kids we are starting to attract a nice group of women keen to learn Judo,

Great work team.

Big Judo Has A New Friend

At Big Judo we are pretty lucky to have had visitor from Germany - Pia Jahn.  Pia is a handy young Judo player who hails from Jena in Germany.

Pia used be a competitive Judo player but after injuring her knee decided to concentrate on coaching instead.  She is very good coach and has brought a lot of interesting ideas and techniques to the club.

Pia helps out with the kids classes and trains with the adults.  She has been wonderful to have on the mat as a coach and even though our adults class has a few large dudes in it she has thrown herself into that with gusto too.

If you want to meet Pia come down one Saturday.

Great Start to Term Four

Awesome start to Term 4.  Some photos of the Central Class.  Would have photos from Pukekohe too but was so busy there that I didn't have time to take them!  Last Friday the Beginners had 20 kids!

1pm kid beginners class.  Look at all the newbies in the distance learning their breakfalls with Jordan.

2 pm kids class - busy - busy

 

3pm 'silver backs' more busy-busy

It awesome to see so many kids and new adults on the mat.  As instructors it is incredibly satisfying to be so busy and more importantly introducing new people to Judo.  Wonderful way to start the term.

Big Judo Classes Getting Bigger

Awesoem Satruday class. Sixteen Big Judo big boys on the mat. Well done team!

Old Friend - New Little Sister

We had a visit from an old friend this Saturday.

Lyle Kendrick stopped in to say Hello.

His grand-daughter Abigail is doing Judo with us. Lyle and his daughter Ayesha (Abigail's mum) used to do Judo at the old Pukekohe Judo Club.

In the late 80's Pukekohe Judo Club had about 200 members and was strong club.  Lyle was one of its stalwarts and in the late 80s and early 90s me, Shaun Walton (and sometimes Daniel Gowing) used to regularly visit the club and a strong relationship existed between University Judo Club and Pukekohe.

It was good times and it is fantastic to have Lyle's grand-daughter on the mat with us.