Counter Throws
Go-no-sen-no-kata demonstrates forms of counter attack.

This judo kata focuses on counter-attacks to throwing techniques. A good counter throw will use the attackers own momentum and lack of stability in a direction against them. Zen judo instructors Martin Robertson and Dave Bennington demonstrated a variation of the kata using throwing techniques within the zen judo syllabus. Their aim was to adapt the Go-no-sen-no-kata for use by zen judo judoka while aiding in teaching why good posture, kazushi and technique is so important when executing a throw.

Go-no-sen-no-kata (Variation):
* Kubi Nage countered by Ushiro Goshi (as a basic counter)

* Hiza Garuma countered by Hiza Garuma
* Kata Seoi countered by Te Hiza Sasea (Long Version)

* Ko Soto Gake countered by Tai Otoshi
* Ko Tsuri Goshi countered by Ko Soto Gake
* Koshi Guruma countered by Uki Goshi

* Ko Soto Gari countered by Ko Soto Gari

* Osoto Gari countered by Osoto Gari
* Hane Goshi countered by Sasae Tsurikomi Goshi

* Ouchi Gari countered by Ouchi Gashi
* Ko Uchi Gari countered by Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi
* Hiza Guruma countered by Ouchi Gari
* Harai Goshi countered by Osoto Gari or Uki Goshi
* Uchi Mata countered by Uchi mata Sukashi (as a basic counter)

Note: These techniques can be taught as above in grade order, so Zen Judo judoka can learn the components of the kata at a level safe for their current grade.

BZJFA Promotions 2023
Some information from our sister organisation the British Zen Judo Family Association.

The Head of the BZJFA Sensei Gordon Lawson has been promoted to 10th Dan Hanshi in Zen Judo. Following this a number of ZJF Dan grades have received certificates of promotion as follows:

Sensei John Robertson 6th Dan.

Martin Robertson 5th Dan.

Yvonne Robertson 3rd Dan.

Sharna Robertson 3rd Dan.

For more information see the following link BZJFA

Wednesday 15 February 2023
After the devastating earthquake last week in Southern Turkey and Northern Syria the ZJF (The Zen Judo Family) has made a donation to the DEC (Disaster Emergency Committee) appeal on behalf of the members. See the Facebook page for more information.

Covid-19 Lockdown and Training 2021
At last Clubs have been able to start regular full training again, after the Governments Covid-19 lock downs in 2020 from March to September and again in November 2020 to May 2021. Not so many members now but at least we survived.

Sunday 23 September 2018
One of the things that I notice recently running a Judo Club is the number of times I am contacted by potential students about joining. They are always very enthusiastic and say they will be there on the next training day, but nine times out of 10 fail to appear. How they plan to learn a martial art from home is a mystery.

New Custodian Appointment April 2018
I have great pleasure in announcing that Sensei Jim Dart 4th Dan ZJF (Chief Instructor Kenshindoryu Nippon Budo Kyokai) has been appointed Technical Advisor to the Zen Judo Family Custodians (Yudansha Panel).

Saturday 24 March 2018
A one day IGAS martial arts course at Lee-on-Solent. I have been asked to take a session on this one. What will it be I wonder? Well have returned in one piece and it seemed to go down well.

Monday 26 February 2018
Just returned from another interesting and informative martial art course at the Kenshindoryu Nippon Budo Kyokai dojo at Rodes in Northampton with Sensei Jim Dart and special guest instructor Sensei Jose Caracena 5th Dan on Tenjn Shinyo Ryu Jujitsu.

Have You Had to Use It?
People who don’t train often ask me ‘Have you ever had to use it?’ To which my reply is that you never know how many times you weren’t attacked because you were self confident / self assured / aware of your surroundings. So you ‘use’ your skills every day.
Sensei Jim Dart 6th Dan (Kenshindoryu Nippon Budo Kyokai)

New Head of The Zen Judo Family 9th Oct 2017
Sensei John Robertson 5th Dan has been promoted to Head of The Zen Judo Family on 9th October 2017 following the retirement of Shihan Phil Watts 6th Dan.

Martial Arts Course 22nd Oct 2016
Course hosted by The Zen Judo Family and International Gentle-Arts Society at Bognor Regis Zen Judo Club.
Instructors were Bognor Club Assistant Instructor Sensei Martin Robertson 4th Dan; Sensei Dave Bennington 4th Dan Chief Instructor at Havant Zen Judo Club and Shihan Jim Dart 5th Dan. Kenshindoryu Nippon Budo Kyokai.

Celebration of Life for Peggy McCarthy 21st Oct 2016
Today I along with Yvonne and Sensei Martin attended the ‘Celebration of Life’ for Peggy McCarthy, wife of Dominick ‘Mac’ McCarthy which was held at Crawley, as representatives of The Zen Judo Family Yudansha and wider Zen Judo Family, both in the UK and abroad.

It was great to have the opportunity to talk to both Richard and Adrian (Peggy and Mac’s Son’s) and catch up with other former Zen Judo students and friends of the family, including Sensei Val Churchill, Phil Watts (past and present heads of the ZJF) and Sensei David Ross (who I remember from my early years) and Mike, Sally and Tracy Meek (who I had heard about over the years from Val).

On behalf of the ZJF we presented a cheque to the Alzheimers Society as per Peggy’s family wishes.

“The black belt is not a mark or symbol of the end of the journey to ones mastery of the arts; rather it is the mark that one is done packing for the journey and may now take the first step in their true journey. This is a journey which can not ever be complete, only travelled ….”