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Jigoro Kano (1860--1938)
Founder of Judo

BJA Club no 1139

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Plymouth Judo Club the official club for Plymouth - A brief history

Learn a bit about us!

The Plymouth Judo Club is one of the oldest established clubs in the South West of England, dating back to the very early nineteen fifties when the very word judo seemed mystical and frightening. A group of individuals used to meet at an evening class for judo in the old Plymouth Public School for boys (now part of Plymouth University) with an instructor from the marines. When these evening classes finished some of the players decided to form a club, so they moved to the Good Shepherd hall opposite an old police station in the Octagon area of Plymouth, which they shared with the local youth club. After a couple more moves they found premises in the Virginia House Settlement on the Barbican where the club was established & was to be their home for over thirty years. During this time the club went from strength to strength with both a senior & junior section that was the envy of the whole of the South West winning countless county, area & national honours.

Early courses at the club saw visitors including Teizo Kawamura from Japan, British internationals Doug Young, Alan Petherbridge and Geoff Gleeson the national coach,

With the coming of the ferry to Roscoff from Plymouth a good relationship with clubs in Brittany was established in the seventies and many club exchanges took place during this time.

Virginia House was redeveloped in 1988 and their plans precluded a judo club forcing a search for new premises. They found and moved into their new premises in Embankment Lane, Prince Rock, in the August of 1988. The building had been a very large kitchen where meals for local schools were cooked and distributed to the schools at lunchtime. A great deal of work was needed to convert the building and this was undertaken by just a few of the dedicated committee members to make the club we have today.

The new premises were officially opened by Dame Janet Fookes M.P. on the 14^th April 1989 and boast a large practice area, toilets, showers, changing rooms and an office. A soft drinks & coffee bar with a small lounge area compliments the dojo.

Today Plymouth Judo Club is one of the few clubs in the country that hosts it’s own annual open championship. Click here for more information.

We look forward to welcoming both old and new members to the club!

For Training times click here

For location map click here

Alan Kimber (6th Dan).

All of our coaches are qualified BJA Club Coaches who are fully insured and regularly attained training courses, they all are CRB checked completed Sports Coach UK good practice and child protection in sport, and carry up to date first aid.