Samurai ready to move into their new home (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Samurai ready to move into their new home

2:00pm Friday 11th May 2012 in Sport

SAMURAI Judo Club will finally move into their new purpose-built £250,000 home this week after five years of hard work.

Though the new dojo at the Gilt Edge Leisure Centre is not yet fully complete, the club will be able to start sessions.

The centre piece of the new facility, which has been financed by the club’s hugely successful competitions and fundraising efforts, is a full Olympic-sized mat contest area on a specially-built spring floor.

A side training area will be even more heavily sprung, allowing for extra throwing practice.

In addition to changing rooms and showers, the final building will also have a video analysis room, a social area, a viewing gallery and a cafeteria — making it one of the best judo facilities in the country.

A formal opening is scheduled to take place in July. Kidderminster Karate Club will also move to the new venue.

Head coach Andrew Haffner said: “The key word is legacy. This facility will be around for the next generation of coaches.

“It’s going to enable us to do so much more than we can in our current surroundings. We’ll have fond memories of the old place, but this is purpose-built and in a different league.”