Rochdale Judo Club News
What’s happened and happening at Rochdale Judo Club . . . . .
RE: New RJC Membership/Participation Incentive Scheme
Dear Member/Parent
Rochdale Judo Club prides itself on continual development and listens to the opinions of its members; as a result and with effect from 1st April 2014 a subtle tweak on the charge of mat fees has been agreed:
Any paid up member, Junior or Senior will now get a £2.00 discount for a second consecutive training session during the same week. For example, a Junior member paying £4.00 on Tuesday can now train for just £2.00 on Friday – Similarly a Junior member paying £4.00 on Friday can now train for just £2.00 the following Tuesday.
Seniors sessions are structured slightly differently with regular training being held on Monday and Thursday; however with the addition of Wednesday night classes the situation will be that those members that pay £4.00 on Monday could train for £2.00 both Wednesday and Thursday in the same week. Similarly this arrangement applies for those paying £4.00 on a Wednesday for the next two consecutive sessions and likewise for those paying £4.00 on a Thursday.
The club has put in place procedures to monitor and regulate these changes and sincerely hope they meet with your approval.
Non-members will remain to be charged at the rate of £5.00 per session.
Regards – RJC Committee.
ALL ENQUIRIES – Via the website or directly on 01706 869818.
ROCHDALE JUDO CLUB Yoga comes to Rochdale Judo Club!
From Tuesday 17th September daytime Yoga classes commence at the Club running from 1pm – 2pm. The classes will run each Tuesday booking is not essential but if you could email expressions of interest to us that would be advantageous. Email
Eddie Thomas (2nd Dan)
Rochdale Judo Club is delighted to announce that Eddie Thomas a valuable member of our Junior Coaching team has been awarded his BJA 2nd Dan Black Belt – congratulations from all at the Club Eddie on this great achievement!
NEW: From January 2013
Every Wednesday from 8.15pm – 9.15pm we have an new Combat training program co-tutored by Damien McClaughlen (7th Dan Karate) & Warren Schofield (6th Dan Judo). The classes are suitable for all levels of ability from 14 years of age upwards, new innovative and beneficial to all.
New IJF Rules clarified
Courtesy of the Neil Adams Effective Fighting website and the great man’s presence at the recent referee & Coaches conference held in Malaga please find below some visual aids supplied by the IJF.
http://refereeusb.judobase.org/live/hidden/app/index.html
See also: http://www.facebook.com/NeilAdamsJudo
Adult beginners Course at RJC
Commencing, new adult beginners course at RJC, every Wednesday 7pm-8.15pm £5 per sessions Contact Warren Schofield on 07527 861 928 Mick Arstrong 07935 936 739
Bill Perry awarded 6th Dan
It is with great pleasure the Club can report that William (Bill) Perry has been awarded the grade of 6th Dan. Bill has only relatively recently become a member of Rochdale Judo Club but has spent a lifetime in the sport most notably at Bury Judokwai. Bill would have been granted this honour some time ago had the BJA not revised the criteria months before he was due for consideration. He understands though that the changes were for the good of Judo and brought the BJA in line with the EJU and IJF criteria.
In recognition of this outstanding achievement it has been decided to award Bill the Clubs “spirit of Judo award” – lifetime honorary membership of Rochdale Judo Club.
Hearty congratulations go to Bill from all at the Club.
Maurice Clarke
60 years in Judo January 2014 and a member of RJC for 60 years. Maurice is a trustee and president of the club, you can find him every Monday and Wednesday still practicing the art of judo. truely an inspirition to us all. Well done Maurice
Warren Schofield
Judo Stalwart Nears 50 Year Landmark in Rochdale: Rochdale Judo Club stalwart Warren Schofield is maintaining his extensive responsibilities as he nears his 50th year in the sport. As one of the sport’s most influential figures in Lancashire, Schofield, 66, is a trustee and the Chairman of the long-running Rochdale outfit.
Schofield achieved success as a player, winning numerous British titles as well as training with and competing against some of the most accomplished names in British judo. A well-known and respected figure within the sport, the veteran 6th Dan rose to prominence as a coach when he guided 3-time Paralympics gold medallist Simon Jackson MBE to his first Games success in Seoul in 1988.
“I started judo after watching Rochdale Judo Club do a display at the local youth club” said Schofield. “My old coach Maurice Clarke still practices twice a week at the age of 77 and his old mate Jack Mitten trains with him and he’s 79.”
Rochdale Judo Club was established in 1950 and has thrived under the guidance of ardent judo people such as Schofield to be regarded as one of the leading clubs in the North West.
Schofield’s longevity in the sport is a testament to his unbridled passion and commitment to maintaining an accessible facility for people to practice the Olympic sport.
Dave Duffy
Dave Duffy is the former NW Regional Developement Officer for the British Judo Association, he Coaches with Schofield at the club having first met the esteemed veteran in 1974. “I first met Warren when I was 10 years old and a junior player, he was 27 then and graded me to orange belt in 1974 at a grading held at the old Matthew Moss Judo Club in Rochdale,” said Duffy.
“Fast forward to 1983 and I joined to Rochdale Judo Club as a senior player having first gone there as a 13 year old in the junior ranks, Warren was the Head Coach. “From then on I worked with Warren quite often at the Club and then as his assistant when he became Greater Manchester County Coach. I can honestly say that the County Championships that were arranged in that era were the best we ever had in the area. As a result of this Warren was promoted to North West Area Technical Director and took me along as his assistant. The learning curve that I experienced working with Warren in these capacities undoubtedly helped me gain my previous position as BJA National Coaching Manager and I will be eternally grateful.”
Knowledgeable Coaches
Schofield is regarded by his peers as one of the most knowledgeable coaches in judo and seen as a great ambassador for the sport. Duffy believes his years of service have helped guide and encourage judo players of all levels. “Many, hundreds, thousands even have benefited from his efforts,” he said. “Warren has been the Chairman of Rochdale Judo Club for many years over 2 separate stints; these were punctuated by his change of focus by founding several satellite clubs in and around the Rochdale Judo Club catchment area. These included Littleborough, Oulder Hill, Heywood and Saxon who over the years have had their own success stories with players such as Simon Jackson MBE, Sophie Cox and Faith Pitman as well as a whole host of less well known players of some standing.
“Warren himself is a 2 time National Masters Champion and I think the key to his longevity is his passion. Warren can sit quietly in the background observing, but let anyone dare to even threaten to harm the reputation of Rochdale Judo Club in any way and you have that glimpse of the old Warren again.”
The club continues to have a very healthy uptake of new players and attracts a wide range of players. Duffy added: “There is a mix of people at the club on a senior night now from teenager’s right through to 2 old boys in their late 70’s, novices to Dan grades, it’s a great club and Warren has been instrumental in building and maintaining it.” The British Judo Association is the National Governing Body for the Olympic Sport of judo in Great Britain.
Contact Us
Whether you are looking for Judo, an activity for fitness training, to learn a form of self defence or martial arts you can achieve all of these goals. For further information on Rochdale Judo Club be sure to get in touch with us by using the ‘Contact Us‘ page form, via the number listed above or why not drop in to one of our sessions. We welcome students of all ages and all skill levels, and look forward to speaking with you in the near future.
Thank you for your time reading this – don’t be a stranger!