Report submitted by Samurai Judo Club

Samurai Judo Club have been able to re-open the club after the April 12 relaxations and the first order of business was the presentation of third level black belts to long-time members Rachel and Sally Moon.

The Moon twins, now 26 years old, joined the club when they were eight years old. Success soon followed: both became British Champions and they won a whole string of international medals, including both winning European Cup medals and Commonwealth Tournament medals and Sally also winning gold at the Commonwealth Games. In total they have over 300 medals between them. They had a period away from the club, but returned with fresh enthusiasm in 2019. Both had gained their black belts at age 16 and the second level black belts a few years later, but neither had realized that the Samurai club was quietly putting together the portfolio for their third level black belts. They came to the club on Tuesday night thinking they were there to teach kata, but were ambushed with their new grades.

In addition to getting back into training, Sally and Rachel have also done some coaching and in particular have taken young British medalists and British Kata Champions Sophie Davis and Cerys Jones under their wing. The club therefore felt it would be a nice touch for their protégés to present their judo licences with the new grades stamped and signed. Sally (on the left) had her licence presented by Sophie and Rachel, on the right, by Cerys.

Judo competitions are expected to start in the autumn and Rachel and Sally will be in the thick of things, including working towards their fourth level blacks. The club has been chosen to hold a National Women’s Black Belts Grading in November and could in theory field five third level women black belts, probably the only judo club in Britian which could do so.

Under the latest covid guidelines, the Samurai club is now able to run sessions for bubbles of up to fifteen players under 18 years of age. Already, nearly 70 of their players in that age range have signed up to return. All other members who were under 18 on 31st August last year are welcome to return, and new members are also welcome. As well as taking all precautions, the Samurai are helped by their purpose-built premises, which have superb ventilation and an extremely large mat area. For details, telephone 0776 1122977 or visit the Samurai website on www.samurai.org.uk or their Facebook page.