Report Submitted by Samurai Judo Club

Harry Ashen and Sophie Davis have become the latest Samurai players to gain their senior brown belts and join the current race for black belt.

Harry and Sophie, both 14 years of age, are both British Judo Champions, Harry in contest judo and Sophie as British Kata Champion, although she also took silver in the contest British Championships last time it was run in 2019.

Alex Collins was promoted to senior blue belt, the next colour down from brown, and Abi Guest, Sam Smith and Max Robinson were all promoted to senior green. Sonia Cunningham went to senior orange and Bekah Guest, Alyssa Westwood and Elliot Harris all went to senior yellow belt.

The Houghton family are celebrating judo promotions after dad Chris gained his senior blue belt whilst daughters Hannah and Isobel received their yellow belt and middle red belt respectively.

Also in the under 16 years section, Mateo Allen went to junior top green, whilst Isaac Sobolowski, Edward Martin and Alannah Martin went to top orange. Moving to middle orange were Alex Spencer, Max Baker and Anna Baddeley. Fresh from an excellent performance at the recent Shiai Night, Zac Westwood was promoted to orange belt. Emily Robinson, Nick Deeley and Hannah Palmer were all promoted to top yellow whilst Archie Minkin, Finn Doherty, Emilia Lane, Jasmine Southern and Luke Vessey were just one behind with middle yellow. Ethan Lorriman gained his yellow belt.

In the next colour down, the red belts, Nicholas Beddoe and Roman Lennon both went to top red belt. Middle reds were gained by Ben Rutter, Jacob Rutter, Jacob Morgan, Oliver Thompson, Lola Black, Lola Dyoss Jones, Verity Brown, Isla Thompson, Isobel Houghton and Esme Lorriman. Gaining their red belts, the first judo grade, were Harry Webb, Ruben Perkins, Betsie Averill, Ben Bugg and Jenson Moule.

In the under 8 grades, Oliver Royle, Henry Thompson, Isaac Thompson and Jonah Brown all went to the third of the “sho grades”, whilst Luke Morgan and Phoebe-Grace Todhunter both gained their first sho grade.

For details about starting judo, telephone 0776 1122977 or visit the Samurai website on www.samurai.org.uk or their Facebook page. The club can take new members of all ages now (minimum age 6) and are looking to expand, with the target of having 200 members by the end of the year.