Bognor Club was founded on the 1st March 2004.
Club Affiliations:
Bognor Regis Zen Judo Club is part of The Zen Judo Family (ZJF) and affiliated to The British Zen Judo Family Association (BZJFA); Kenshindoryu Nippon Budo Kyokai and International Gentle Arts Society (IGAS).
Club Formation:
The Bognor Club was started on the 1st March 2004 by Sensei John Robertson with only 3 students, this first training session was a family session with Myself, Yvonne, Martin and Sharna on a very small 18 x 18 ft canvas mat (we had to take it in turns to throw).
We quickly realised that we needed a much larger training area for safety and a month later the club purchased and took delivery of a brand new 21 x 30 ft canvas mat from Millom Martial Arts.
The first full training session was held on the 5th April 2004, with around a dozen students present.
The Club Environment:
We practice Judo in a nurturing non-competitive environment. There is a syllabus of throws (set of techniques) to learn, which are designed to ensure no-one gets hurt or is pushed to do anything they don’t feel comfortable with.
We aim to build ability and confidence, each individual progressing at their own speed, with an emphasis on relaxed co-operation.
Judo, which means ‘Gentle Way’, should be about technique rather than strength, yielding to use the strength used against you, and that is what we try to learn.
The Zen Judo syllabus is based upon traditional martial arts training where the focus is on mastering technique rather than focusing upon competition.
- Our Origins & Time Line (The Evolution of Zen Judo):
- •Dr Jigoro Kano (1860-1938) founded Kodokan Judo in Tokyo in 1882.
- •Kenshiro Abe (8th Dan) & Bill Woods (2nd Dan) founded the British Judo Council (BJC) in 1958.
- •Kenshiro Abe (8th Dan) founded Kyu Shin Do.
- •Dominick McCarthy (8th Dan Zen) founded The Zen Judo Family (ZJF) in 1974 (Petersfield Zen Judo Club) Love Lane, Petersfield.
- •Roger Lewis (4th Dan Zen) founded Chichester Zen Judo Club.
- •John Wingham (2nd Dan Zen) & Jo Winslow (4th Dan Zen) founded Felpham Zen Judo Club.
- •John Robertson (1st Dan Zen) founded Bognor Regis Zen Judo Club on 1st March 2004.
- •Bognor Zen Judo Club becomes the honbu dojo for The Zen Judo Family after the closure of Peterfield Zen Judo Club on 29th May 2015.
- •Sensei John Robertson 5th Dan promoted to Head of The Zen Judo Family on 9th October 2017 following the retirement of Shihan Phil Watts 6th Dan.
- Sensei John Robertson promoted to 6th Dan Zen Judo Family and British Zen Judo Family
The Club Instructors:
John Robertson Chief Instructor:
Sensei John Robertson 6th Dan (ZJF) and 6th Dan (BZJFA). Starting Judo training with his wife, daughter and son at the age of 36 at Felpham Zen Judo Club and has been a judoka (member) of The Zen Judo Family for over 30 years. This has included 20 years as an assistant instructor at various ZJF Clubs in West Sussex and Hampshire.
John was promoted to Head of The Zen Judo Family on the 9th October 2017.
Martin Robertson Assistant Instructor:
Sensei Martin Robertson 5th Dan (ZJF) and 5th Dan (BZJFA). Has been a judoka for over 30 years having started at Felpham Zen Judo Club back in 1990 with the rest of the family. Martin also holds a 1st Dan in ZNKR Iaido.
Yvonne Robertson Assistant Instructor:
Sensei Yvonne Robertson 5th Dan (ZJF) and 3rd Dan (BZJFA) also started Judo at Felpham Zen Judo Club and has helped run the Bognor Club since its start in 2004.
Assistant Instructors:
Sensei Richard McCarthy 5th Dan (ZJF)
Sensei Dave Bennington 4th Dan (ZJF) and 1st Dan (BZJFA).
Jon Taylor 2nd Dan (ZJF).
Laurence Dennis 1st Dan (ZJF).