Wednesday, October 19, 2016
A Happy day for John
Very happy day indeed. I finally get to wear my 6th Dan. Why so important you may ask!!!
Well when I started Judo at 5 my grandfather Nobby Clarke was a 6th Dan and anyone who knows will remember, I spent all of my summer holidays at summer camp with him,at St Mary Bay. I always said from the very start I want to be a 6th Dan like him. Well 38 years later here I am. I have a few people I need to thank. My dad Martin Clarke who is by far the best coach a fighter could ask for. He never gave up on me and paid for all my competition, course, grading etc etc. I had the pleasure of fighting him in training and we even competed in 2 competition together ( in different weight groups of course) Great coach and even better father. The 3 very strong women in my life and let's face it, they had to be strong to put up with us Clarke men ha ha. OMA my Nan and yet again she would also take me to comps but once told me my Grandfather hated to watch me fight as I was always getting injured as a kid, amazing lady. My Mum Valerie Clarke, what a mother who has given up so much to make sure we had what we could, and she still looks after me now ha ha. My Wife Rebecca Clarke, it's not easy coming into such a competitive family. She understood straight away my passion for my sport and has supported me every step of the way. Maybe my sons Lewis or Harry Clarke could become the 4th Generation to become a 6th Dan!!!!!!!!!
Two people outside of the family were Steve Sweetlove and Mick Poole. These two guys took me under their wing from the age of 17 till about late 20s. We traveled the world competing together and did many course down in Cornwall. They helped make me the fighter and man I have become. I won't ever forget those guys. Of course Colin Carrott my partner in crime the person I have been with on the mat for over 20 years now. We do everything together and I can't thank him enough for coming with me and being there when I got my 6th Dan.
So after 6 knee ops a big elbow op and many other broken bones I no longer fight, but train the next lot of champions. Thank you to everyone I have fought and trained with that have helped me along this amazing journey. Now to look forward to my 7th Dan!!!!!
Well when I started Judo at 5 my grandfather Nobby Clarke was a 6th Dan and anyone who knows will remember, I spent all of my summer holidays at summer camp with him,at St Mary Bay. I always said from the very start I want to be a 6th Dan like him. Well 38 years later here I am. I have a few people I need to thank. My dad Martin Clarke who is by far the best coach a fighter could ask for. He never gave up on me and paid for all my competition, course, grading etc etc. I had the pleasure of fighting him in training and we even competed in 2 competition together ( in different weight groups of course) Great coach and even better father. The 3 very strong women in my life and let's face it, they had to be strong to put up with us Clarke men ha ha. OMA my Nan and yet again she would also take me to comps but once told me my Grandfather hated to watch me fight as I was always getting injured as a kid, amazing lady. My Mum Valerie Clarke, what a mother who has given up so much to make sure we had what we could, and she still looks after me now ha ha. My Wife Rebecca Clarke, it's not easy coming into such a competitive family. She understood straight away my passion for my sport and has supported me every step of the way. Maybe my sons Lewis or Harry Clarke could become the 4th Generation to become a 6th Dan!!!!!!!!!
Two people outside of the family were Steve Sweetlove and Mick Poole. These two guys took me under their wing from the age of 17 till about late 20s. We traveled the world competing together and did many course down in Cornwall. They helped make me the fighter and man I have become. I won't ever forget those guys. Of course Colin Carrott my partner in crime the person I have been with on the mat for over 20 years now. We do everything together and I can't thank him enough for coming with me and being there when I got my 6th Dan.
So after 6 knee ops a big elbow op and many other broken bones I no longer fight, but train the next lot of champions. Thank you to everyone I have fought and trained with that have helped me along this amazing journey. Now to look forward to my 7th Dan!!!!!
Martin on Mat
So Tuesday Night at the Dojo John wanted myself and Trevor Davies to put our Judogi on and have a Photo. Once on I thought I would have a couple of pull around on the Mat. so being Old and sensible (?) I thought I would have light pull round with the younger element with replacement Knees Hips etc (judo has been good to me) I have to be a bit careful. What a mistake that was as both lads had been coached by my son John who when he was 18 and weighed a mere 70k, I had told him when fighting Heavyweights was to run them ragged and pick them off. That was to haunt me this time on the Mat. My first bout was against 18 year old 1st Dan Richard Seaman and he done exactly what John had told him keep pulling me about, do not be intimidated, attack attack. After a short time I was breathing out my lower orifice. Next was 1sy Kyu 16 year old Grandson Lewis, I thought no way could he do the same but as you can see by the video clip he did.
So at 66 I should think I could do what I did at 36 lesson learned. Both lads would never have thrown me but what was more important I did not throw them, well done to both of them. Next time I will go on with the slower older ones watch out Ken, Colin and drew
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Judo Plus photos
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| Martin Clarke 6th Dan Nobby Clarke 6th Dan Peter Schowille 8th Dan 1986 Summer Camp |
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| Donna Clarke 1981 |
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| John Clarke 1981 |
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| 1980 |
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| Charity Event Detling Nr Maidstone 1988 |
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| Colin Ogburn Robin Hyslop Martin Clarke Dave Boulding Alan Kontozi Mid 80's |
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| Charity event Sittingbourne |
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| Leaving Copenhagen Denmark in Van which would only do 40 miles an hour. Nobby Coached 1975 |
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| Summer Camp late 1980's |
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| BJC National Squad Sittingbourne 1977? |
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| IBF Karate wish we had them numbers now Mid 1980"s? |
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| Water Fight Summer Camp early 1990's |
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| Waiting for the Bar to open Belgium early 1980's |
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| National Weightlifting Coach Ron Reeves trained people at Summer Camp and had a comp Craig Scott with trophy |
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| Clive Simms |
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| Ricky Stacey |
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| St Mary's bay Summer Camp 1970? |
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| Young Judo Club 1962 |
2016 Sambo Training Sittingbourne
1989 European Championships Herne Bay kent England
Friday, October 07, 2016
John and Chris gain 6th Dan
It is with Great Pride and Joy that I can announce that my
Son John Martin William Clarke was awarded his 6th Dan Judo at the
International Budo Federation Annual Congress held in Belgium. John follows in
his Grandfathers John (Nobby) Clarke and Father Martin Clarke in obtaining the
coveted Red and White Belt.
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| John with IBF International President |
To be graded above 5th Dan in the IBF you have be accepted by
the IBF Congress this John Clarke Judo and Chris St John Jiu Jitsu (Northern
Ireland) were nominated for 6th Dan each had to produce a CV of
their record of involvement with Judo/Jiu Jitsu. This was sent several months
ago to all member Countries of the IBF which total 35 Countries in all http://www.ibf-international.com/.
At the Congress there was 27 Representatives present each one had a vote those
not present gave a proxy vote to the IBF International President Mr.
Friedebert-Georg Niering 10th Dan. Both John and Chris
had a unanimous vote in favour of their 6th Dan.
John was specially mentioned, as he was Grandson of
the late John Nobby Clarke a founder member of the IBF who is still remembered
with great respect with in the IBF Community. A couple of comments show the
respect the Congress had for John, “how could we not recommend you with a CV
like you produced” “A third generations from a great Warrior Family” John
remarked that Nobby and Oma (his grandmother) would be looking down from Heaven
with great joy and happiness, his only regret that Nobby will not be able to
have a couple of pints with him. Myself and Val would not have believed when
John was born in 1973 that he would obtain this accolade at a relatively young
age Well done Son and well done Chris
John Clarke CV
John Clarke
Valmar Apartments
Flat 2C
127 East Street
Sittingbourne
Kent ME10 4BL
England
Wednesday, 3 August 16
John Clarke
D.O.B 16/10/1973
I am the 3rd Generation of the
Clarke Family who is a member of the International Budo Federation. My Grand
parents were John (Nobby) Clarke 6th Dan Former IBF GB
President, Margret Clarke 4th Dan. Martin Clarke 8th Dan
IBF GB President and Valerie Clarke 3rd Dan are my parents. I
Started Judo at the age of 5 and have been developing ever since.
I am a Judo/Sambo Coach at the Young Judo
Club/Warriors Grappling Academy Sittingbourne plus IBF Senior Judo
Coach/National Sambo Coach for Great Britain. My Coaching experience has been
varied I have coached in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Finland
coaching adults and juniors, from kyu grades to Dan grades.
I have also trained over 10 competitors to
international level in Judo and Sambo, as well as coaching them through their
Dan grades.
Furthermore being a coach I feel it is very
important to produce opportunities for students to compete in as many
competitions as possible. For the last four years I have been running three
competitions a year in Judo and Sambo as well as coaching courses and
International squad training sessions.
I have had a very successful competition
career, winning over 450 medals and trophies all over the world competing in
over 450 competitions in all associations. I have competed in over 30 IBF Multi
Nation Judo Championships winning gold medals in 98% of them. Plus I have won
20 IBF British titles. Apart from being a proud IBF competitor I also competed
as a member of The British Judo Associations (Olympic Body) Southern area team
and entered the Kent International at Crystal Palace winning bronze in both
events.
My competition career is not just in Judo, I
have competed in Freestyle wrestling, Kurash, Belt Wrestling & Sambo.
· Freestyle Wrestling
(London Open Champion twice, British
Championships 2nd Place).
· Kurash
(British Champion twice, Grand Open Champion
Once).
· Belt Wrestling
(British Champion once).
· Sambo
(British Champion 8 Times, World School Boys
second place 1989 USA, World Youth 5th Place 2002 England,
World Seniors 7thplace Prague 2007, World Masters 5th place
Belarus 2008).
Anyone placed in the top 8 gains a world
ranking. In 2010 I was awarded a bronze award of Master of Sambo for my
contribution in the Sambo world.
I was grade to 1st Dan in Judo
1991, 2nd Dan 1993, 3rd Dan 1997, 4th Dan
2003, 5th Dan 2007, for all these grading’s I had to show my
knowledge of Judo, IBF History and theory. Kata plays a very important part of
IBF Judo and for my 5th Dan I had to perform Nage No Kata,
Katame Kata, IBF Newaza Kata, Kime No kata, Goshin Jutsu Kata, Ju No kata,
Gonosen Kata and Itsutsu no Kata. I am the only person in England to have
graded for his 5th Dan, this is something I am very proud of.
As you can see from above not only have I been
a true competitor at National and International Level, flying the flag for the
IBF always giving 100%, I am now putting back my love of the sport through my
coaching and the ability to run course’s and competitions giving up coming
students the opportunities I was given.
