EJC's BLACK BELTS

Phoebe Rounds Up a Decade of Judo With Her Black Belt

An exciting time was had by all at the Samurai Kyu Grade Open on 14th April 2013, waiting to see if 17 year old Phoebe Harris would be able to complete her points for her first Dan. Needing 36, she gained 10 points along the way to winning gold in her weight category, but then won another 10 in the weight above. She then took the decision to fight in an open section and there won her final 17 points, and with her theory passed some time ago, completed all requirements for her 1st Dan. Phoebe is one of a handful of young athletes to have been at Ealing Judo Club in its very first year. We are all very proud of her achievement.

Luke Achieves a Different Success at the British Championships

17 year old Luke Balfre collected his final points at the British Championships on 14th October 2012. He put in a great performance at the event but didn't quite make it to the rostrum. However, a reward came in the change of his belt colour from brown to black. He completed his theory at the 61 Club Dan grade theory course the following weekend and is now a fully ratified first Dan, EJC's 19th. Congratulations from all of your club-mates.

Martin's Joyful July

Below is Martin with his new black belt, having accumulated the last of his points at the High Wycombe grading on 7th July 2012.

Eliot hits his 2012 goal!

On 8th July 2012 young Eliot Bradford travelled to the Samurai Kyu Grade Tournament in Kidderminster in the hope of a medal and his last Dan grade points. Eliot was in fine form and won both, a gold and his 1st Dan. With his theory completed some time ago his grade was ratified immediately. All at EJC congratulate Eliot for his outstanding achievements.

April and Joe is in the black!

On 7th April Joe Thorpe went along to the National Promotion Examination at High Wycombe Judo Centre, in an effort to complete the points needed to earn his contest first Dan. Joe did this with ease after winning his 1st two contests and then the 1st two in his line up aswell. This gave him 40 points, more than enough to gain his 1st Dan. Congratulations Joe from all at the club.

Marching into March

March 2012 sees EJC claim two more 1st Dans, as Ndu's grade is completed at the 61 club Dan grade theory course (The contest element was completed last year). Julia smashed her way to 1st Dan too, by claiming a bucket load of points at the Southern Area Senior Open. Her theory had been long completed and so this was a fantastic day for Julia. EJC salutes both of these new Dan grades.

Double Dan Grades for EJC... Again

Congratulations to Daniel Woodhouse and Ndu Wodu. They stormed through a grading at the High Wycombe promotion event on 8th October 2011, with Daniel completing his points and Ndu blasting through his line-up, at his first attempt.

17.9.11 - Triple, or was it Quadruple Victory for EJC!?!!

Today was an outstanding day for Ealing Judo Club. At the National grading at High Wycombe Judo Centre 1st Dans were earned for young Harkirat and Conor as both steamed through their opposition. Lukasz was also on great form to beat his line up, although he will have to wait for his obligatory 6 months as a 1st Kyu to expire before the grade can be ratified. With John completing his 2nd Dan at the event too, EJC had one of its most rewarding days ever. Massive congratulations to all - you were the class acts of the event!

Akhil Bist, 15, Achieves 1st Dan

Akhil was the smallest and youngest competitor at the Samurai High Grades Open on 19th June 2011 and so the target of 23 points was to be a tough goal. However, the 15 year old multiple national medalist dug deep and dispatched 5 opponents by ippon to gain 50 points on that day. This gave him more than enough for his Dan grade. Akhil is a worthy black belt and we all offer sincere salutes for this great achievement.

Lucy is EJC's #8

Lucy has made a storming return to competitive judo, following a long period of recovery from an injury. Having been out for 16 months she fought a small tester competition in the Midlands at the beginning of March and was surprised to collect some Dan grade points there. Not one to rest on her laurels she entered the Southern Area Senior ranking event on 20th March, where she not only won the event but also completed her points. With the theory already in the bag Lucy was soon ratified as EJC's 8th Dan grade. Congratulations Lucy!

Double Dan grades for EJC

The 17th of October 2010 was an excellent day for two old friends and for EJC. Rifqa and Rohan, two of our national medallists and oldest members, went to the Hampshire grading together, along with a few other club-mates. Rohan only needed 13 points and appeared to pick those up rather easily, although the joy was clear for all to see when he won the final ten. Rifqa's day was a bit different, however, coming into the event needing 43 points. She worked extremely hard and due to various circumstances had the opportunity to participate in 7 contests. She won a massive 57 points and with her theory already complete she too picked up her grade today. It was a very proud moment for me as I was there to see it - one would have been great, but two together was fantastic. Both players deserve this accolade and everyone at EJC congratulates them.

It should also be noted that Rifqa is now our first female Dan grade aswell as our first ever National Champion.

21st November 2009 - Misha finally gets his points!

Having been so unlucky at his last grading, finishing his day stuck at 97 points, Misha was pretty focussed on getting those last 3 points. so today he travelled to Kingsley Hall in Essex and in his first contest took ten points and his Dan grade. This makes Misha EJC's 5th Dan grade and we are very pleased for him. Well done Misha.

18th October 2008 - John makes it 4 for EJC

On Saturday 18th October 2008 John Hough, from EJC's excellent adult session, achieved the grade of 1st Dan. He only needed 20 points at the start of the day and actually earned himself 30. With the theory done quite some time before the grade was ratified in only a few days. Well done John.

25th May 2008 - Lyam is EJC Dan grade # 3

On Sunday 25th May 2008 Lyam Quin went to the Budokwai to earn his final ten points for his black belt. Having had a couple of previous occasions at gradings, missing out on the covetted grade by only the last fight in a line up, Lyam was pretty fired up to get it on this attempt. And so he did! He completed his theory on the same day too and so the job was done. Very well done Lyam.

8th July 2007 - 14 Year Old Taku Beats Line Up

Our very own home grown Taku Kawamoto went along to the Bucks County Grading on 8th July 2007 to try to get his senior brown belt, having converted to a senior licence earlier in the year. He threw two opponents for ippon to be graded to first Kyu, and was very happy. But he was then invited to fight for Dan grade points with the other 1st Kyus, so he did.

Taku drew his first contest in this section but he knew he had two more chances to earn a line up. One came and was dispatched for ippon, and then another. The line up was next. He faced three men, all bigger than himself, as there were no lighter players left to fight. He threw the first for ippon in 4 seconds, the second in 14 seconds and the third in 20 seconds!

All in all it took Taku less than a minute to secure his black belt! He then zipped through his theory, scoring well over 90%. However, he is too young to wear the grade as he is still 14. He turns 15 in September but will have to wait until January - as he has to be a 1st Kyu for 6 months...

It is an outstanding achievement for an outstanding fighter. Congratulations Taku.

14th May 2005 - Phil Becomes EJC's First Dan Grade

On the 14th May 2005 Phil Barnes went along to the Veterans Grading at Willesden in the hope of picking up his last 8 points. With a rib injury and only a little training beforehand his chances were slim.

He had 3 fights but unfortunately was not able to gain any points from them, leaving him disappointed and tired. But out of the gloom came a reprieve. There were still a few line-ups to be had... this could be his chance.

Phil was called up as the first man in the 2nd line-up of the day. Nervously he stepped forward. He footswept his opponent beautifully for ippon, giving him the ten points needed. Success!

With the theory already completed and the points tally totalled, Phil was over the moon. He had at last won his Dan grade - a huge achievement.

Big congratulations to Phil from everyone at the club. This was a long-awaited goal; Phil had been out of judo since college and had only been back in training for two years. So with twenty years out of the sport to contend with, finally getting his points was very sweet!

EJC's Dan Grade Register

1. Phil Barnes, 1st Dan achieved on 14.5.05 at the National Veterans' Grading at Willesden.

2. Taku Kawamoto, 1st Dan achieved on 8.7.07 at the National Promotion Examination at High Wycombe.

3. Lyam Quin, 1st Dan achieved on 25.5.08 at the Budokwai National Promotion Examination.

Lyam achieved his 2nd Dan on 27.6.10 at the Kent International Tournament at Crystal Palace. He earned his final 10 points at the event and had already completed his theory.

4. John Hough, 1st Dan achieved on 18.10.08 at High Wycombe.

John completed his points for his 2nd Dan at the National grading at High Wycombe on 17.9.11. With his theory already completed the grade was ratified immediately.

5. Misha Kljutic, 1st Dan achieved on 21.11.09 at Kingsley Hall.

6. Rohan Bist, 1st Dan achieved on 17.10.10 at the Hampshire grading.

7. Rifqa Samad, 1st Dan achieved on 17.10.10 at the Hampshire grading.

8. Lucy Chamberlain, 1st Dan achieved on 20.3.11 at the Southern Area Senior Open.

9. Akhil Bist, 1st Dan achieved on 19.6.11 at the Samurai High Grades Open, Kidderminster.

10. Harkirat Sekhon, 1st Dan achieved on 17.9.11 at the National grading at High Wycombe.

11. Conor Corrigan, 1st Dan achieved on 17.9.11 at the National grading at High Wycombe.

12. Daniel Woodhouse, 1st Dan achieved on 8.10.11 at the High Wycombe Promotion Examination.

Daniel completed his points for 2nd Dan at the Samurai High Grades Open Tournament in Kidderminster on 11.11.12, ratified immediately as his theory was passed prior to the event.

13. Lukasz Czyzewski, 1st Dan achieved on 17.9.11 at the National grading at High Wycombe, but the statutory 6 months as first Kyu was not yet complete. Lukasz's grade was ratified on 26.11.11

14. Julia Scardone, 1st Dan achieved on 18.3.12 at the Southern Area Senior Open in Crawley.

15. Ndu Wodu, 1st Dan achieved on 25.3.12 at the 61 Club Dan Grade Theory course.

16. Joe Thorpe, 1st Dan achieved on 7.4.12 at the National grading at High Wycombe.

17. Eliot Bradford, 1st Dan achieved on 8.7.12 at the Samurai Kyu Grade Tournament in Kidderminster.

18. Martin Murray, 1st Dan achieved on 14.7.12 at the National grading at High Wycombe.

19. Luke Balfre, 1st Dan achieved on 21.10.12 at the 61 Club Theory course, having collected his last points at the British Championships in Sheffield only a week before.

20. Van van der Moir, 2nd Dan achieved on 10.2.13 at the NHC Senior & Masters Open at High Wycombe.

21. Phoebe Harris, 1st Dan achieved on 14.4.13 at the Samurai Kyu Grade Open.