Unique Judo Opportunity with Mr Gleeson

Mr Gleeson, our Judo teacher, reports on the latest Special Training Event:

It’s with great pleasure, as they say, that I can announce that we had yet another Special training event on Sunday 21^st May. Twenty two on the mat, a great turnout! After a bit of a run of bad luck with injures and competitive commitments, Gergo Berendi stepped up as our VIP assistant and helped out with the session. Gergo, won Gold in the Cadet, u21 National Champs last year. He’s an up & coming player, certainly one to watch in the future! He’s also studying at the University.

The idea of these very unique judo sessions is to allow our school judo players to, not only practise with others from different school improving their  skills and developing their social network but also to practise with a top level athletes training at the University. I personally select players who have the depth of performance to show judo in its best light to our students. As I say, it can be difficult as these athletes are training hard in pursuit of their own goals. Commitments for international training camps, competitions or injury from all this can affect my planning. It is a great experience for our young judo players however!

The University of Bath as a national judo training centre is, in my opinion one of, if not the best in the country! The facilities alone are truly amazing! You’ll be hard pushed to find such a ‘dojo’ outside Japan – I should know as I sent nine years training there! The uni programmes cover a range from early secondary school to Olympic level!

We had a lovely selection from all the schools that Gleeson Judo goes to. Some have been before, for others it was their first time. It’s a great chance for the young students of judo to meet each other, practise with others they may not have before and of course with future, who knows, International champions, Olympians...

I have to say, the turn out from the parents was also very heart warming. It’s lovely to see such interest in the efforts of their offspring on a Sunday morning, watching them fight each other. These sessions feel very much like a family event these days (this is our seventeenth). All the hard work that goes into the school classes really comes together here and creates a fantastic atmosphere. Everyone puts a lot of effort in and I think gets a lot out of it too! It certainly is good fun for all!

Our next Special, is booked for the 25^th June. If you’re in the judo club, keep that morning free! Don’t miss out on your chance to experience this unique judo opportunity!! There are no other events like this held for school clubs, that I know of! Invitations will be going out a little nearer the date. The less experienced are welcome to come and watch in the first instance, in preparation for taking part.

I am looking forward to seeing you all there! Thanks to everyone who came, particularly parents for getting up and at it so early on a Sunday morning! I do hope you enjoyed the experience too? 

I hope you all have a great half term break, see you all soon and again, thank you!