This year we re-opened the club at Parity Martial Arts & Wellness on a Thursday evening. After the first month we have had enough participation to start a Sunday morning session also.

We are offering kids and adults sessions. Both are ideal for beginners, especially the adult session. Unlike many clubs, our adult section is heavily focussed on adult novices, so if you have never done it before, or not since being a kid it’s perfect for you. Equally, we have good attendance from experienced Judoka who have been great at sharing their knowledge.

Our new venue has an incredible soft mats, so are perfect for novices. The large mat area allows plenty of room for plenty of people.

The Thursday 6:30pm kids session is already really full and the Sunday 9:30am session filling up fast.

Adults are at 7:30pm Thursday and 10:30am Sunday, both are great with a perhaps more “chill” vibe on Sundays.

We have also had some visitors from both near and far, which is amazing after such a short time re-opened.

Huge thank you to everyone who has supported our re-opening, especially Jon and Jo of Parity who have been incredible partners in bringing the club back into operation.

With our 2025 restart, we are also back on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/15s95SxLU4/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southamptonjudo/

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@southamptoncityjudoclub3365

and latest is… TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@southamptonjudo

Which is where we posted this video, which has already had over 1000 views! It rather nicely highlights how amazing our first month back has been!

@southamptonjudo

#Judo Thursdays and Sundays #CapCut

♬ original sound – 𝐂𝐨𝐛𝐫𝐚 𝐊𝐚𝐢

We are really pleased to announce that we are offering Judo on Sundays as well as our Thursday sessions.

Kids are from 9:30am, then after them Adults take to the mat 10:30 till 12 noon.

This means each session is approximately £5,00 per session which is amazing value given the quality of our new venue.

Dear all,

The club remains closed for the foreseeable future.

Having looked at the BJA guidance, government guidance and the state of the pandemic in UK we will not be opening the club at this time.

Unfortunately, the infection rate and death rate from COVID-19 is still high, with declines stalling. As the lockdown eases, infections are likely to increase. We do not want to be a vector by which the disease spreads so are not able to open.

Wearing of masks seems impractical for Judo, and the heavy breathing at close proximity is likely to transfer the disease. Especially given the small size of the dojo.

Our hope is that the wider adoption of mask wearing and improvements.to track and trace will start to have a positive impact and make returning to Judo possible for us.

At this stage hundreds are still dieing tragically each week from COVID-19 in the UK. We do not want to risk anyone and at this stage doing Judo is a risky proposition that can be avoided.

We encourage everyone to follow the government guidance and “stay at home”, “work from home” and limit contact with others. The better we all do this the sooner we can safely return to Judo.

We are through the first wave of the pandemic, and as Judoka we know too well how dangerous it is if you let your guard down when you think you have the win, but the contest is not over.

Stay safe everyone!!

Regrettably, with the current COVID-19 pandemic situation we have decided to do the responsible thing and suspend our club operations until we have more information.

The last thing we want to do is close our club after only recently reopening our doors. However, we believe that the correct thing to do in the current situation is to protect our members and the wider community by suspending the club for now.

Although government guidance is not clear, what is clear is that the pandemic is still in it’s early phases and anything we can do to limit the damage it will do; we should do. We are not wanting to be a vector by which it spreads.

So we close our doors again, for now!

Staying healthy is important and we might slip some solo home training ideas into our facebook, twitter and web site.

As a club we would like to encourage everyone to be socially responsible; wask your hands, avoid situations that are likely to encourage spreading COVID-19.

But also, please consider your friends, neighbours and wider community. Is everyone around you healthy? Are their at risk people in your area? Could they do with some support or assistance?
Now might be the perfect time to let those around you know that you are there and happy to help if need be. I am sure around all of us there are unwell, elderly, at risk people. Maybe let them know they are not alone, offer to pop down the shops for them or just check they are ok over the next few days/weeks.

Stay well everyone, we will update as the situation changes.

This month marked the return of the club which is thanks to some of our members who have been persistent and enthusiastic in their efforts to get us restarted! Thank you!!

February 10th had us back at St Marys Leisure Centre in Southampton for the first time this year and it was nice and busy for a first session, with a mix of old faces and new; black belts and novices.

We are now operating Monday 7pm and Wednesday 7pm, with both sessions being a mix of throwing and groundwork randori and technique.

As a club we have always focussed on “playing” Judo and this is the current plan for 2020. We will provide a fun place to “learn by doing”, with terrible music from Lance (bring your own if you have some ideas) and smiles being preferred over bruises.

We have along with new people had visits from Gary Hill of Southampton University Judo Club and of course from Fleming Park Judo Club. Southampton has a great Judo culture of freindship and having these visits is always appreciated.

Numbers are still lower than we want, but only a few weeks back lots of our regulars are missing still and people have not regained the Judo habit.

In March we will continue to operate the same days, times and format.

In March we will decide next steps for the club in terms of structures, finances, registrations etc. If you are interested in supporting us, please let us know and better yet join our Admin Group on Loomio.

Finally, please help the club by spreading the word that we are alive and well and open twice a week. Facebook posts, twitter messages, chats with friends all help.

Lance
(Coach)

Hi Everyone!

Small update, Judo will start at 7:00pm on Monday and Wednesday.

The format will be a mix of standing and groundwork, randori and technique. Focus is on playing Judo not being “taught”.

Our club is relaxed and fun; we train at the level each of us can enjoy. Taking breaks is mandatory and felxible; you get to play as hard or as easy as you like.

We play music (you have been warned, it is not always good, often it is loud and more than likely very cheesy), we warm up, we play, we try new throws, we discuss international Judo.

Beginner, returner or experienced black belt… we can help you enjoy a little Judo in the evening.

Drop by, say hello and jump on the tatami and enjoy!

Starting Monday 10th and Wednesday 12th of February 2020, Judo is back!
Starting at 7:30pm and running till 9:00pm back in our old home St Marys Leisure Centre, Southampton.

Thanks to the efforts of some of our members getting together and pushing forward we have been able to restart the club!

Starting next week we will be back providing a place for adults to play Judo and learn some Judo technique. The format will be familiar to our regulars, so please do share the news that we are back.

Stay tuned for more details, but you can plan to be there for a prompt 7:30pm start next Monday!

If you are on Facebook you can RSVP via https://www.facebook.com/pg/SouthamptonJudo/events/