BJC (MAC) Eastern Region Open Championship, Essex. 1981.

Photo taken by Gloria Syrett, at a McDonalds in Central London 2nd October 1981.

On the 3rd October 1981, nine junior members of the Bushido Judo Kwai and one member from Seghill Judo Club, competed at the British Judo Council (MAC) Eastern Region Open Judo Championships at the Chafford Sports Centre, Rainham, Essex. Our squad were, Thomas Syrett, David Stringfellow, Alan Gourves, Sharon Holman, Samantha Dodds, Michelle Wafer, Michael Stoker, Joanne Batey, Barry McSherry and Susan Campbell we won three gold and four silver medals with David also winning a gold for Seghill Judo Club.

Linda Dawson Our First Female Shodan

Photo, W.S Wood 6th Dan Examiner BJC (MAC), congratulating Linda on her promotion to Shodan. Since the formation of the Bushido Judo Kwai in 1976, we have only had three of our females promoted to Shodan, Linda Dawson was the first. Linda started her judo career in March 1976 at Marine Park Judo Club in Wallsend and won her first medal, a silver at the British Judo Council (MAC) Northern Open Championships, In May of that year she was a founder member of the Bushido Judo Kwai, two of her biggest competition successes came at the British Judo Council (MAC) National Championships at Alexandria Palace, London on the 16th October 1976 when she won a bronze medal in the ladies under u60k event and a silver medal in the ladies u61k event, at the International Budo Federation Championships in Frankfurt West Germany on the 29th October 1977. In July 1979 Linda then 1st kyu, was in the squad who attended the 21st Stage International De Judo De Bordeaux, in France under the direction of Michigami Shihan 9th Dan. In December 1979 Linda successfully completed her grading, consisting of contest and kata and was promoted to Black Belt 1st Dan.

30th Birthday Party.

Photo, Left to Right, Eddy Kenny 6th Dan, Peter Doherty 2nd Dan, Chris Dawson 6th Dan, Joyce Kenny 5th Dan and Jack Hearn 8th Dan.
Special Guests at the 30th Birthday Party of Wallsend's Bushido Judo Kwai (1976)

Bushido Judo Kwai, Judoka of the Year 2010.

Photo, Callum McInnes and Instructor Chris Dawson, Taken by Duncan Stuart.

Callum McInnes age 9, joined the Bushido Judo Kwai on Tuesday 16th March 2010 and from then showed enthusiasm and commitment for one so young. To qualify for this award Callum has won our monthly trophy more times than any other member and is currently at the top of our medal table. In the Judo competitions that he has competed in he has shown a very high standard of technique. At our recent grading Callum was awarded 5th Kyu (Yellow Belt).Callum is a student at Holystone Primary School and also plays football for Whitley Coast Soccer Under 9s.

Bushido Judo Kwai Members to attain Shodan

Serhiy Huziyenko Shodan

Photo, Serhiy Huziyenko 1st Dan and Bruce Carnaby 5th Dan (Examiner)

Serhiy Huziyenko joined the Bushido Judo Kwai on the 4th March 2008, at that time Serhiy held the grade of 2nd Kyu (Blue Belt), in the December of 2008 he entered a grading but unfortunately sustained a broken elbow and was out of judo for some time, however he was back in December 2009, when he was graded to 1st Kyu (Brown Belt). So it was on the 4th December this year that after completing his contest and then his demonstrations of Nage no Kata and Katame no Kata, that Serhiy was promoted to 1st Dan (Black Belt) by examiners Chris Dawson 6th Dan and Bruce Carnaby 5th Dan.
This makes Serhiy the 20th member of Bushido Judo Kwai, to attain the grade of Shodan since the founding of our club in 1976.

Open Judo Championships 27th November 2010

Top Photo Taken by Scott McInnes, Callum McInnes, Chris Sayers, Jessica Cairns.

Middle Photo Taken at our Dojo, Medal Winners

Lower Photo Taken by John Sayers, Callum McInnes scores ippon on his way to Gold



The Northumberland Clubs For Young People held it's Open Judo Championship at the Parks Sports Centre, North Shields on Saturday 27th November. Seven members of Wallsend's Bushido Judo Kwai competed at this event and won three golds and one silver. Gold winners Callum McInnes aged 9, Jessica Cairns aged 9, David Beck aged 12 and the silver went to Chris Sayers aged 10. These awards were won by people spending many hours of dedicated training in the Sport. The Bushido Judo Kwai is based at Wallsend Boy's Club.

Michel Brousse and Chris Dawson, Bordeaux 1986

Photo, Left Michel Brousse 5th Dan - Right Chris Dawson 3rd Dan.

In the summer of 1986 i attended the 28th Stage International De Judo De Bordeaux,France, held under the direction of Michigami Shihan 9th Dan.
It was on this course that i met Michel Brousse 5th Dan and with whom i trained all week, apart from being a brilliant judoka his English was immpeccable, so i didn't have to struggle with the translation as i had in previous years, Michel even invited Bill Wood and i to his home for lunch on the Wednesday afternoon, with his wife.
The last time that i saw Michel, was in January 1990 when he was giving a course in Essex, that Andrea Mullen 1st Dan and i attended.
Michel now 7th Dan is Professor of Sport at Bordeaux University and author of The Roots of French Judo and Judo Sport and a Way of Life, with David Masumoto.

Judo Theory Quiz at Bushido Judo Kwai

On Friday the 19th November, junior members of Bushido Judo Kwai competed against each other, in what was the first judo quiz in the clubs history, this consisted of twenty questions to be completed in fifteen minutes.
The winner was Sean Vallely with 15 points and Robert Stuart as runner up with 14 points, very well done, to all who took part.
PHOTO
Sean Vallely (right) Winner
Robert Stuart (left) Runner Up

BUSHIDIO JUDO KWAI & NDLB JUDO CLUB.

PHOTO
Tom Jickells (in the specs with his hand raised), standing against the back wall
Referees left to right, Chris Dawson, Unknown, Ron Suddaby and Ken Holmes.

This was taken at the NDLB Judo Club, Hull, Yorks in the late 1970s, NDLB was a very well respected judo club, as were it's two instructors Tom Jickells and Jim Tanser.
I first met Tom and Jim in May 1977, when the Bushido Judo Kwai received an invitation to a championship that NDLB were holding, this resulted in a long and happy association between our two clubs, so much so, that there members joined us in the British Judo Coucil (MAC).
I am sure that past members from both clubs, will have happy memories of traveling back and forward to each others events.
GREAT TIMES.

Chris Heaney, Passed Member

On the 18th October i was walking along the sea front close to Cullercoats, when a van pulled on to the pavement in front of me, to my surprise the driver was Chris Heaney.
Chris who was a long time member of the Bushido Judo Kwai and had reached the grade of 1st Kyu, moved south to Salisbury Wilts with his work and was in the area for a short visit, to anyone who knows Chris, he is looking good and doing well, the last time he was at our dojo to train was on the 23rd December 2008.

Bushido Judo Kwai and Peter Beardsley

Tom Dugdale,Ryan Evans and Callum McInnes formed the Bushido Judo Kwai Squad, who performed their judo display at Wallsend Boys Club's Annual Dinner, at the Gosforth Park Hotel on Thursday 14th October. This is our third appearance at this event.

Pictured with Footballer Peter Beardsley are Callum McInnes,Ryan Evans and Tom Dugdale

Jack Hearn & Chris Dawson.

PHOTO,
  Jack Hearn 8th dan and Chris Dawson 6th dan at Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, May 2002.

In 1961 i began my judo career at the Hokojun Judo Club in North Shields, however it was not until Sunday 11th September 1983 when for the first time we trained together and that was at the National Sportcentrum, Papendal, Arnhem, Holland, under the direction of Shizuya Sato 8th Dan (IMAF).

Le 23rd Stage International de Judo de Bordeaux,France 1981, Maitre Michigami

DAN GRADE OPEN, JULY 1981

GOLD,         Dawson,   (England)
SILVER,     Gallard ,     France)
BRONZE,   Mansen,    (Holland)

Ben Kelly receiving his award

Ben Kelly(16) from Wallsends Bushido Judo Kwai, won the silver at the Westgate Judo Club, Graded Tournament at the Westgate Centre for Sport,Newcastle, in his first senior championship on July 17th 2010.

Photo, Ben receiving his award from Eddy Kenny 6th Dan ( British Judo Council )

Second Generation Judoka

On Saturday 7th May 1988 members of Bushido Judo Kwai travelled to London to take part in the British Judo Council (M.A.C) National Judo Championships, which were held at the Latchmere Leisure Centre, Battersea SW11.
The above photo shows five members of our junior squad, they are left to right, Chris Woods, Steve Beck, Steve Ellerby, Elliott Makin and Steve Compton.
On Friday 14th September 2007 Steve Beck brought his young son David to join our club, David has done well since then, most recently on June 20th 2010 he won promotion to 3rd kyu (san, brown) and on July 17th 2010 David won a bronze medal at the Westgate Judo Club, Grade Tournament in Newcastle upon Tyne when he produced one of the most spectacular techniques of the day.
David is the only second generation member that we have.

Steve Ellerby would win promotion to Shodan in 1997 and Steve Compton in 2000

Bushido Judo Kwai Senior Squad, Circa 1977

Photo Taken By Robertsons of Gosforth.
The Bushido Judo Kwai Senior Squad. This photo was taken in our dojo at Rosehill Residents Hall ( The Hut ) Churchill Street, Rosehill, Wallsend. Circa 1977.
Back Row Left to Right, Steve Milsted, Terry Branighan, Bob Patterson, Chris Dawson, John Harvey, Chris Jones, Steve Makin,
Front Row, Stella Cairns, Linda Dawson, Jill Stephenson and five novice members whose names are unknown.
Early in 1979 we moved to St Marys Church Hall, McNamara Road, Rosehill, at this time in our club's history we had huge support from Wallsend Councillors Bill Rickleton, Molly Brown, Tom Healy, Brian Flood and Jim Cousins. Then in June 1987 we moved to our present home at Wallsend Boy's Club, Station Road, Wallsend.

International Budo Federation, Junior Champioship Frankfurt Germany 1977

In 1977 the club had seven junior members selected to represent the area, at the International Budo Federation, European Schools Judo Championship, to be held in Frankfurt West Germany,they were Lorraine Birmingham, Jan Russell, Kevin Dobie, Brian Green, Steve Makin, Paul Davis and Stephen Brown.
We departed by train for London early in the morning of May 6th, after a few hours sight seeing, including a visit to Downing Street we made our way to LHR for our flight to Frankfurt, arriving early evening at the Haus Der Jugend Hostel our home for two nights.
The British team mamager Nobby Clarke had us at the competition venue in good time. Our big success came with Stephen Brown when he defeated the previous years champion, to win the gold medal in the boys under 27k event,a tremendous moment for him and all of the team, despite a good effort from the rest of our squad there would be no more medals.
When we arrived back home, Linda our secetary had arranged for us to go to the BBC for an interveiw and this was shown on Look North that evening.

Bordeaux France, July 1978.

Presentation of Awards at the 20th International Judo Course, Bordeaux, France.
PHOTOS
Top Left, Ladies Kata Competition, Gold, Mazieres, Corbari
Presented by Maitre's Laffose 6th dan and Pelser 5th dan.

Top Right, Mens Dan Grade Open,   Gold, Chris Dawson, England.  Silver, Steve Warton, England.
Presented by Maitre Michigami 9th Dan.

Lower Left, Mens Kyu Grade Open, Gold, Winter, Silver, Name Unknown

Lower Right, Mens Kata Competition, Gold, Names Unknown.
Presented by Maitre's Paries 6th dan and Monducci 6th dan.

And the moral is, Think before you speak

In the late 1970s we had a junior member called Thomas Syrett join our club. One year the family went on holiday to a holiday camp and one evening during their stay Tom put his name forward to try and win the Young Man's Award. He was called up by the compare for a short interview, one of the questions was "do you do any sports?", Tom said that he practiced judo "oh judo" said the compare and with a cocky tone said to Tom "do you think that you could throw me?", at that very moment Tom threw the compare with a supurb ankle sweep.
Well timed photo but i dont think that Tom won the award.
So what do you think, Waza-ari or Ippon ?

My First Judo Trophy 1962

This is the first judo trophy that i won, it was at the British Judo Council Area Championship, which was held at the Hokojun Judo Club, Trinity Street, North Shields in October 1962.

Wallsends Bushido Judo Kwai 1978

This was the last junior squad photo taken in our dojo at the Rosehill Residents Hall 1978.
I have listed as many names that i can remember, Ian Milsted, Christine Stark, Pauline Curry, Carl Burgess, William Seymour, Jan Russell, Lorraine Birmingham, Micheal Clark, Michell Thompson, Heidi Falkous, Lesley Stokes, Allyson Laurie, Bobby Woodhouse, David Hunter, Paul McSherry, Alan Gouves, Karl Davis, Ivan Glen, Ray Clark, Andrea Gouves, Stephen Preston, Barry McSherry, Steve Hudson, Susan Askew, Maxine Brown, Stephen Colins, Shed Coulthard, Joanne Birmingham, Kevin Hunter,Robert Cartwright, Stuart McBean, Malcolm McBean, Diane Preston, Joanne Batey, Michael Thompson, Graham Mills, Joanne Shubler and Susan Campbell.
Very soon after this photo was taken, we moved to our own dojo at St Marys Hall, McNamara Road, which we had purchased from the church for £3000.00.

Master Haku Michigami 9th Dan in London 1980.

Bushido Judo Kwai junior and senior members competed at this competition in 1980, winning four gold, three silver and three bronze medals. Guest of Honour was Master Haku Michigami.
Winners were, Judith Armstrong 15, Gillian Brown 15, Stephen Hudson 14, Les Jones 16, Thomas Syrett 13, Mark Conway 12, Barry McSherry 10, and Chris Dawson.
Our success ment so much more with the presence of Michigami Sensei, who also presented the awards.

Photo of Michigami Sensei taken in London 1980.

Stephen Milsted

Stephen Milsted was a founder member of the Bushido Judo Kwai, back in 1976 he was training to become a chef at Fenwicks of Newcastle.
At this time we were involved in the selection of a junior team to compete at the European Schools Judo Championships in Frankfurt, West Germany, which was organised by the International Budo Federation, we had seven of our junior members selected and it was our hope that as a club we could cover all of our members expenses, to do this we needed to raise £700, quite a tall order in 1977.
Linda our secretary set about organizing some fund raising events, while Steve Milsted decided to do a run from Morpeth to Newcastle and this brought us up to our target figure.
Steve later qualified as a chef and moved to the Intercontinental Hotel, Flensburg, West Germany, he purchased us a shield which would be presented to the junior member, who finished the year at the top of our medal table and this was called the Stephen Milsted Award, the first to win it was Jan Russell in 1978 and the most recent Johnny Lawson in 2010.
Only three members have won this award more than once and they were, Barry McSherry, Chris Woods and Steve Ellerby.
Steve Milsted now lives in Doncaster, Austrailia.

Photo, Steve Milsted during the Morpeth to Newcastle run.

Johnny Lawson, Winner, Stephen Milsted Award.

Johhny Lawson has had a very successful start to his judo career, since joining the Bushido Judo Kwai he has won the Most Improved Judoka Award, this is the first time this award has been presented now on May 3rd which is the clubs birthday, Johnny has finished our year in the number one position on the medal table and was presented with our clubs highest accolade The Stephen Milsted Award by Instructor Chris Dawson.
Johnny who is age 12 is also a student at the St Thomas More School in North Shields.

Photo,
Johnny Lawson and Instructor Chris Dawson.
The Stephen Milsted Award.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates 2007

Once we had decided to visit Japan, we thought it would be a nice break if we stopped off in Dubai for two nights, there would only be four of us, as Barry was going to meet up with us in Kobe.
We arrived in Dubai at around 1.00am and took a taxi to our hotel, which was the Hallmark on Al Maktoum Street we checked in dropped our bags off and found a bar just down the street.
In the morning after breakfast we set off for the Dubai Creek where Mala negotiated a price for a dhow (boat) and the four of us set off for a picturesque glimpse of Dubai's trading heritage, later we arrived at the Burj Al Arab but because we didnt have a booking, we had to go next door for lunch, this stop over was a really good experience and something that i would not have wanted to miss.
The following day was less hectic but that evening we did find the best buffet that i have ever experienced, thus ending a great stop over.
So now all thoughts were on Japan and what that would hold for us.

PHOTOS Mick and I on the Dubai Creek.
Lunch at a very nice hotel with Brian Batey, Mick Clark, Mala Young and Chris Dawson

The Relaxing Side of Japan

While we were in Japan we were fortunate to visit several none judo sites, such as the very moving A-Bomb Dome at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, where the first atomic bomb was dropped in 1945,in complete contrast we saw the fabulous Golden Pavilion in Kyoto which was built 1358-1408.
Himeji Castle was so impressive, as you can see from the photo taken by Brian Batey.
Our big life saver was The Old England in Kobe, where we found the best fish n chips and cold beer also in Kobe was the Kobe Tower at Harbour Land, one of my favourite places.
Photos, Harbour Land, Kobe, Barry McSherry and I
The Old England Restaurant, Kobe.
Himeji Castle, Himeji.
Golden Pavilion, Kyoto.
Peace Dome, Hiroshima

Japan Visit Continued, 2007

While we were in Japan we really tried to fit so much in between our training schedule.
On our second day in Tokyo we went off in different directions. It was a hot sunny morning, when i made my way by train to the Imperial Palace, the reason i chose this location was to see the Nippon Budokan ( Martial Arts Hall, ) which was built for the 1964 Summer Olympic Games judo events, it was here that Master Michigami saw his student Anton Geesink defeat Akio Kaminaga to win the 1964 Olympic Gold Medal in the Open Division,the All Japan Judo Championships are also held at the Budokan.
After leaving this tranquil place via Hibiya Park, i found the Sumida River and followed it's path for a few miles, before returning back to the Kodokan ending a long but interesting day.

Photo, Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan.
Sumida River Walk, Tokyo

Japan Judo Masters Kata Championship

Yamasaki Sensei had invited us to the Japan Judo Masters Kata Competition at the Budokan in Himeji, as he was judging he asked Akitoshi Sogabe to pick us up at our hotel and take us to Himeji, Sogabe Sensei is the Japanese Womans Olympic Team, Judo Coach.
It was Friday 19th October, with very heavy rain for our journey to Himeji which took over an hour, when we arrived at the Budokan, Hiromi Noguchi 7th Dan President of the Judo Masters Association introduced himself to us and also invited us to enter the Kata Competition the following year.
We were privileged to watch superb display's of Nage no Kata, Kime no Kata, Ju no Kata and Itsutsu no Kata.
The next day we returned to the Budokan to watch the shiai competition, in which Akitoshi Sogabe won a silver medal in the mens u81k event.
Photo from the Budokan, Himeji, Japan.

Butokukai, Kyoto Japan

When I decided to visit Japan the Butokukai was my main point of interest. Up until the end of World War II, the Butokukai was the special training college for the Martial Arts Society in Japan. Two of the worlds greatest judoka Haku Michigami and Kenshiro Abbe were both students there having also attended the Busen.
From July 1978 through to July 1986 I trained under Michigami Sensei 9th Dan at his summer judo courses in Bordeaux, France, also attending one course in 1985 when he came to England. I was also fortunate to see Kenshiro Abbe and Bill Wood perform Kime no Kata at the British Judo Council National Championship and display at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square,London on Saturday 1st December 1962.
When we arrived at the Butokukai Kyoto it was an ambition realised just to walk in the footsteps of these great men and to imagine what it must have been like all of those years ago.

Top Photo, Chris Dawson at the Monumental Stone of the Martial Arts School (Busen)
Other Photos, Entrance to The Budo Centre, Kyoto, Japan.
Butokuden Brian Batey, Barry McSherry, Mick Clark, Malcolm Young and Chris Dawson.

Dojo at at Butokuden

What a coincidence this was ! ! !

While we were in Japan it had been our intention to visit the Kodokan in Tokyo, so much so that Brian Batey had organised Japan Rail Passes for us at a cost of £118 each, this turned out to be a very good deal. Yamasaki Sensei organised the visit for us. We left Shin Kobe station early morning on the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) an experience in itself. When we arrived at the Kodokan we were met by a young 4th Dan who took us in for registration then into the Kodokan Judo Museum, we spent quite a while in here as there was so much history to see including Jigoro Kano's training gi photo's and artifacts.
Shunsuke Yamasaki had booked our rooms which were single and very basic but at £17 pppn we were very greatful.
We made our way up to floor 7F and entered the main dojo, there was no tuition available so the others got straight into some randori and I mixed in with some very old Japanese judoka who were practising kata. After about thirty minutes that came to an end and I made my way back to where the others were, as i approached them I heard an English voice saying "hello Chris" as I turned to my great suprise and pleasure, it was Stephen Blower whom I had not seen since we competed against each other in London some 25 years previously, what a coincidence that we should both be in this dojo half way around the world on the same evening. Steve had been living in Japan for about 13 years and had infact married a Japanese lady, anyway we had about ten minutes randori and then I had the same with Steve's friend James Barringer who was originally from Totonto Canada. Barry McSherry had also been at the same championship as a junior that Steve and I had last seen each other all those years ago. When we finished our session, we all went off to a restaurant in the Roppongi district to end a really memorable evening.

PHOTO, Stephen Blower and I, October 2007, at the Kodokan.