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In 1975 Dougie Powell of East Mersea Youth Camp, started the club at East Mersea Village Hall on Sunday mornings,
children from East and West Mersea would cycle to the hall in all weathers for Doug's street wise judo lessons,
they would practice there moves on straw tatami(mats) soon the club moved to the Youth club at Mersea School
where the numbers grew, this sport of judo was proving very popular, Dougie was helped out by many a local man,
to name a few, Colin Kirby, Richard Watsham, Simon Perry, Richard Morgan and many more all giving their time for
free to teach the children of Mersea. Kate Dawson started judo with Dougie in 1983,
when Kate turned senior along with her twin Debbie (Dawson)Spence and Jason King, Dougie thought it was time to
hand the club over to his now more experienced trio, Kate and Jason achieved their Black belts aged 19yrs.
Jason left and moved to Brighton and Debbie gave up to start a family.
Over the years the club has produced many great players some going on to win the Amatuer Judo Nationals(Peter & Paul LeMarquand, Kate Dawson, Jason King, Ed Parker and Josh Whiting)
The club has a exchange to Middelharnnis(Holland) with our good freind Iman Kars who was ranked no3 in the world.
All members hold a All England Judo Federation licence.
Our club focus is traditional judo as a martial art and not just a spectator sport, we enforce the disciplines and beliefs of its founder.
Dougie was awarded the M.B.E. for services in youth work and judo, what a great honour for Dougie and Mersea Island Judo Club. |
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