Friday, August 07, 2015
Martin Clarke's Last Judo Lesson
Martin Clarke 8th Dan |
Well that’s it my Judo
Coaching Career has now finished and Thursday August 6th 2015 at the
Young Judo Clu b was where I bowed out.
It was pleasing to see I had players from Sittingbourne, Folkestone,
Faversham and London in attendance at my last lesson.
For some years I had lost the
buzz I used to get from Judo mainly due to my injuries and the fact I found
Sambo. I started under my parents when I was 5 years old and that was 60 years
ago sadly both of them are no longer with us but I am sure they are looking
down on me.
Teaching Young Black Belts |
In those 60 years I have
trained, competed, coached and organised Judo but when you put your body under
that sort of strain things will happen and as the wife says “God does not pay
his debts in money” and my debt has been 2 replacement Knees, replacement Hip
and Elbow operation. These finished my Competition career which was Olympic
Judo Reserve Moscow 1980, World Jiu Jitsu Silver, 3 World Games Sambo Silver,
World Sambo Silver, World Masters Silver and World Judo Masters Gold not a bad
haul but I still missed the competition which was my first love. My second love
was Coaching and as I was very competitive I achieved reasonable success with
my Students but just coaching was not enough.
Eventually I handed over to
my Son John and left it to him and he is carrying on the success from me and
his grandparents, yet I still missed the buzz and in the last 2 years the new
IJF rules have completely demoralised me and Judo was no longer what it was
Yet this last lesson
recreated all my enthusiasm for Judo with 15 people in attendance I certainly
got the buzz again. OK I did not get the 50 plus I used to get 10 years ago and
most turned up to support my last lesson but it felt great, even demonstrated
Uchi Mata (not a very good one I might add) and then had a 2minute pull round
with Danny Carrott, still got the strength but the timing has gone. I was also
very pleased to receive a plaque from Oleg Siblev and his London based Club
Mixed Style Sambo Association, his comment was warmly received “I wanted to
train with a Grand Master”
There will be some will think
well Good he has retired! Well sorry I may have retired from active Judo but I
will still be involved as President of the IBF UK plus I will still very active
in what is now my first love SAMBO where I will remain as British Sombo
Federation President and an active member of FIAS and if I get a Sambo Jacket
big enough for me may still do the odd Sambo Seminar
To finalise I would like
thank all the people I have been involved with in my Judo Career it has been a
great and enjoyable journey
Martin Clarke 8th
Dan Judo
Comments:
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i had the pleasure of being tought by nobby clark martins father in the 1960 and 70 i was lucky enough represant gb at the european championship in 1980 ultmantly lost by a koka quarter point to martin belan of belgium who went on to take the gold medal i finished fourth just outside the medlals after which i was injured wich finished my competave carrier still love judo and martual arts today and im now a oap
dave mose
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dave mose
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