Court Lane Judo Club returned to competition after a long hiatus due to the Covid pandemic, when three players entered the 2022 Hampshire Closed.
Lewis Hook secured gold in his category, winning all his fights with ippon.
Chloe Lymer fought in a group where three three different weight groups were combined, securing a silver medal.
Michael Churcher made his full senior debut, and had seven excellent contests. Michael beat some higher graded players and was unlucky to just miss out on a medal.
Well done everyone!
Thanks also to the players who made the effort to come along and support – it was greatly appreciated.
After a mammoth grading effort – not helped by both Tony and Kev having to isolate due to Covid – over 20 new grades have been registered with the BJA!
Congratulations to :
Nevaeh Langley – 1st sho
Connor McCormack – 4th sho
Oliver Bernere – 4th sho
Natalia Langley – 1st mon
Xander Langley – 1st mon
Fabian Rodgers – 1st mon
Oscar Rodgers – 1st mon
Liam Cordery – 1st mon
Yameenah Baree – 1st mon
Zakariyya Baree – 1st mon
Harley Williams – 1st mon
Harry Webb – 1st mon
Jack Buckner – 1st mon
Harriet Stevenson – 2nd mon
Edward Stevenson – 2nd mon
James Passingham – 3rd mon
Lewis Hook – 5th mon
Chloe Lymer – 9th mon
Ryan Southey – 6th kyu
Connor Southey – 6th kyu
Paul Kelly – 4th kyu
Grading certificates etc. will be despatched directly from the BJA shortly.
There are a few players who were unable to grade for various reasons, hopefully we can add their names to this list shortly!
Due to the pandemic, it’s been a while since we had any competition results to celebrate.
Even when clubs reopened, competitions were a way behind, with players being asked to evidence so many hours of practice beforehand.
Two players associated with the Club have ventured back out onto the competition circuit, with great success.
Jonty Bassil, representing the Royal Navy, won gold at the Samurai club in Kidderminster in October, and picked up points towards his black belt – well done Jonty!
Chloe Lymer joined a team from Holbrook Judo Club to take part in a competition at another Samurai Judo Club, this time in Southampton, returning with a well deserved silver medal.
Congratulations to both players! We hope to see more players returning to competition next year as we continue to come out of the pandemic.
As you will be aware, easing of Government covid restrictions means that we can start to consider (again!) a return to training.
Outdoor training is permissible from 29 March, with gyms allowed to reopen from 12 April.
We have decided NOT to take up the option of starting outdoor sessions from Monday. Instead, we are targeting the reopening of gyms as a possible date to return our junior (under 18) players to the mat. As the draft guidance (still awaiting sign off from Department of Culture Media and Sport) issued by the BJA on Friday indicated that outdoor training with full contact was possible, for players aged under 18, we are hoping that by time we return to the mat, this will also be possible indoors.
We have been in contact with the school and the Headteacher is happy for us to return from Tuesday 20 April. Hopefully this will be indoors, mat based training for our junior players – decision needs to be ratified by school Trustees, based on the risk assessment we submit. Adults will need to wait a little longer to get back on the mat. If we are not able to return to the mat, we will commence outdoor training from Tuesday 20 April, using the school site.
The graphics below indicate the BJA’s understanding of the current situation:
It is still an evolving situation, all dates remain provisional and are dependent on the Government being satisfied that :
the vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern
We will keep you informed as we approach the target date.
Please make sure your licence is in date for when you return to training!
Yesterday’s announcement from the Government gave us cause for hope.
11 months after we closed the dojo, there is light at the end of the tunnel. In a speech that emphasised data over dates, there were still several key dates. Below is our take on what these might mean for us.
8 March – schools return, outdoor after school sports and activities can resume
Possibility of resuming outdoor training sessions?
29 March – Organised outdoor grassroots sports can resume
Outdoor training sessions can resume
12 April – gyms can reopen
Children can return to mat based training – no contact – although this may not be until 17 May
17 May – Indoor group exercise classes can resume
Adults can return to mat based training
21 June – most social distancing requirements removed
Return to some form of recognisable judo – uchikomi and kata, possible randori and shiai?
This is just our take – we are awaiting guidance from British Judo, who will be in consultation with Department of Culture Media and Sport. We are also obviously dependent on the school agreeing our return to the premises.
Much is dependent on the infection rate and hospitalisations remaining their downward trend, and the rollout of vaccines. Please remember to keep following the mantra of Hands – Face – Space to keep yourself and others safe – Portsmouth’s judo and martial arts community has suffered at least one loss due to Covid this year, we know of other people who have also died following infections.
Whilst we wait to return, don’t forget to make sure your licence remains in date so you can continue to participate in online training sessions organised by British Judo, and take advantage of other benefits. Your licence must be in date to return to the mat.
