Beckermet Children Learn
Judo
from Former Commonwealth Champion
When former Commonwealth Judo Champion,
Janice Knight, arrived in
Beckermet approximately two years ago to teach at the village school she was
disappointed to discover that children in this area had little chance to
play Judo. However, knowing that every crisis is an opportunity, she quickly
persuaded business groups including InBiz and EMTI as well as the Copeland
School Sports Partnership team to back her idea to bring Judo and personal
protection to schools and local community groups.
As we discovered when we visited the after school Judo Club she set up it
has attracted a very eager following from boys and girls alike and she has
firmly instilled the vitally important ethos of looking after their
opponents and making sure that they do not get hurt. In recognition of the
fact that the school works with BJA qualified coaches and are linked to a
club that has achieved Club Mark status, the British Judo Association sent
Daniel Griffin BJA School 2 Dojo programme coordinator and National PESCCL
coordinator, with Graham Bayley BJA Regional Development Officer,
Janice was originally a member of Portsmouth Judo Club, where she gained various international honours representing Great Britain for 10 years. She is now a 4th Dan, level 3 qualified BJA coach, a qualified BJA examiner, and the pinnacle of her competitive career was when she won the Commonwealth Games title in 1988. Her personal coach is Dennis Penfold 7th Dan, former British International and European Silver medalist.
In the picture above Abigail receives a presentation on behalf of the club from Daniel Griffin, watched by Graham Bayley, Janice Knight JudoKnight coach, Sarah, Nicola, Fraser, Sam, Joshua, Dennis, Tony Kirkbride Whitehaven Judo Club coach and club secretary, Mrs Eyre Head, Jack, Tom, Billy, Jack, Roan, Thomas, Eliza.
Sarah throws Joshua
Janice demonstrates on Tom to Billy
as Abigail throws Eliza in the foreground
Janice watches Sam throw Jack