Meiji.org.uk Judokwai Judo

After competing in the National Championships (March 2012) the Meiji Squad have been training up to 3 times a week, with their Sensei pushing them to be the best that they can be. Will this training pay off? Will they remember to listen to their Coach? Will the Meiji fighters bring home more Dutch trophies?

This time next week some of these questions will have been answered!

The whole of the Meiji Squad would like to say “Best of Luck!” to the International squad made up of - Jasmine, Meena, Issie, Danny, Lewis, Reece, Shane, Kallum, Riley and Stewart.

“Go out there and make us proud!”

Wednesday 25th April saw the Meiji School of Excellence participate in one of its very own fund raising event - the Throw-a-thon! This is a gruelling event where all participants throw other members of the club constantly for an hour (Yes - Thats 60 minutes non-stop). This year was slightly different to those in the past however, mainly due to the clubs growing membership. Six crash mats were set up with children grouped according to their height/ weight - maximum of 6 members per group. Each group competed against each other to see who could complete the most throws independently and as a team.

The combined number of throws for the Throw-a-thon 2012 was 6,384 - CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE WHO TOOK PART!

On Sunday 18th March, Meiji School of Excellence entered the National Championships at Stockland Green, Birmingham. The club entered eighteen competitors and won seventeen medals – 7 Gold, 6 Silver and 4 Bronze.

The club entered a range of judokwai (fighters) from low grade junior members to higher graded senior members. Gold medal winners: Thomas Hudson, Riley Hall-Woodcock, Meena Harrington, Mollie Hudson, Issie Hall-Woodcock, Stuart Davies and Stephen Hudson. Silver medal winners: Reece Harrington, Khya Hudson, Shane Davies, Kallum Nahoor, Jasmine Turner and Alex Turner. Bronze medal winners: Bradley Turner, Danny Finlan, Lewis Asling and Jordan Smith.

Sensei Stewart Hogg 3rd Dan Black belt says “I am so proud of all my members and the club is continuing to go from strength to strength. I would like to give Thanks to Ray Smythe and the Heath Hayes and Wimblebury council for supporting/ sponsoring the club by allowing the use of the community center to hold extra training sessions for the team until we go to Holland.”

Stewart is now preparing to pick a team from these winners to give them the opportunity to go to Holland and represent Great Britain as part of the Meiji judo squad. Over the past 3 years, the club has won a variety of International titles from this event.

He has also opened the doors of the club to all winners of the Nationals, including those from other Judo Clubs around the midlands up to the trip to Holland, coaching them to get ready for the challenge ahead.

Taking the team over to the 17th Houvast Tournament, Meirlo, Holland is a very costly event, so to help raise funds for the team the club is seeking help from any potential businesses that might be willing to put towards sponsoring the club for this venture, in the meantime the children and the adults will be holding a sponsored throw-a-thon to see how many throws they can complete in one hour, this is a very hard hour for the adults never mind the children and any sponsors they can get from friends and families are well deserved.

The club is currently running a promotion: for free judo lessons to any new members that join the club, this offer ends at the end of March 2012.

Also this year the club will be seeking to raise funding to purchase new Judo mats thus costing £8,000. The club is a none profit organisation and is 100% voluntary run, Stewart said that he understands that times are hard with the recession but if any businesses are willing to contribute towards any of our causes no matter how small or large could you please contact him via the “contact us” page opposite. Stewart strives to be committed to providing a sport activity to help children and adults within the community and making it a better and safer place to live.

On Saturday 3rd March, Meiji School of Excellence entered the BJA Samurai Tournament held at Gilt Edge Leisure Centre, Kidderminster. The club entered 7 competitors, winning 6 medals – 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze.

The club entered a range of Judokai from low grade junior members to high grad juniour members. Gold medal winner: Thomas Hudson. Silver medal winners: Khya Hudson, Callum Nahoor. Bronze medal winners: Lewis Asling, Jack Finlan and Jasmine Turner.

This was the first BJA competition that the Meiji club has entered for the past several years and Sensei Stewart Hogg 3rd Dan Black Belt was keen for his judokai to do well.

The atmosphere for the event was fantastic, the room was packed with many skilled fighters from all over the United Kingdom. All of the spectators were on the edge of their seats. Many of the BJA competitors were waiting for their opponents to make the slightest mistake before they took their opportunity. But Meiji’s determination and training paid off as they fought really well with some impressive throws and ground work.

Sunday 12th February 2012, saw the Meiji School of Excellence enter its first competition of 2012. After completing 2011 with such success again, it appeared as if all eyes were on the Meiji fighters. Many fighters would have crumbled under the pressure, but the Meiji fighters held their heads high and did what they know best, go out on the mat and fight to win!

Sunday 25th September 2011 saw Meiji enter the East Midlands Open Championships, Earl Shilton. We entered eight individual fighters, and all of them walked away with a medal and their heads held high.

A big well done to everyone that entered, you all fought your best and pulled off some impressive throws and holds!
Below is a table of results:

Sunday 10th July 2011 saw Meiji enter the Cobra Championships, Castle Vale. We entered a range of individual fighters, form young to old, and 2 teams for the team event.

A big well done to everyone that entered, you all fought your best and pulled off some impressive throws and holds - which culminated in another fantastic haul of trophies being won under the Meiji School of Excellence name.

Below is a table of results:

Team Event: Well done to both teams, you went out and made us all proud!

Cobra Champions 2011 - Team A - consisting of Charlie, Jasmine, Thomas, Shane and Ben. Congratulations on retaining the Title!

On the weekend commencing Saturday 14th May, Meiji School of Excellence entered the International Championships at Mierlo, Holland. The club entered nine competitors and won two Silver medals.

The club entered seven young judokwai’s to compete on Saturday 14th May and two adult judokwai’s to compete on Sunday 15th May in the 16th ‘Houvast’ Tournament. It was a really tough competition with lots of skilled fighters from all over Europe. Only two members of the Meiji squad, father and son, Lee Davies and Shane Davies, won a trophy. However all of the squad fought extremely well and tried their best, with some fighting off for the bronze, but were unlucky enough not to win trophies.

Sensei Stewart Hogg 3rd Dan Black belt says “We are grateful to people who donate to the club to support the local children to enter such events and without your help these events which mean so much would be too expensive.”

Today was another successful day at the AJA National Closed Championships 2011 held at Castle Vale. Well done to all who took part; it was tough. Below is a table of all those who won a medal. The winners in the table below have been invited in May to be part of the AJA England squad, who will fight at the International ‘Houvast’ Judo Tournament at Mierlo in Holland. Good luck!

Well done to everyone else you all fought really well, but were unlucky enough to take home a medal.

Sunday 6th March, saw our Senior members travel over to Ashby for their first grading of the year.

“Well done to all the adults grading today, especially scott for having a real good go with an injured leg and steve for battering everyone” - John Parkinson. Couldnt put it any better myself!

Below are the grading results: