Interest grows in sport of Judo
With interest in the sport of Judo growing in the local area, a new club has been established in Drouin.
The club had initially started training with four members, using the Drouin South Fire Station as their Dojo as all four members were volunteer fire fighters with the Hallora and District brigade.
With increased interest the club quickly outgrew the space available within the fire station. The club has grown its membership to 16 since it was registered with Judo Victoria in June.
The club have sourced a new Dojo in the form of St Ita’s school hall and training is held every Wednesday night from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.
Training is not all about the grappling style of Judo but is more biased towards fitness and flexibility while having fun.
Members of the club are in good hands, training under the watchful eyes of Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductees Sensei ‘Master’ Mike Keane and Kevin Prime.
Both are highly regarded within the Judo realm.
A farming accident in 1974 at just 15 years of age, where he lost his lower left arm, has not held Prime back, who has trained in Japan and the United States and operated his own Judo schools in Bendigo.
Keane’s achievements include 14 years as Australian Amateur Judo Association judo champion, captain of the Victorian judo team which went eight years undefeated, many times state and country champion, training in Japan, Singapore and Malaysia and achieving ranking of 6th Dan.
Not only has he achieved success in gaining high grades, representing his state and winning championships, he has also developed one of Australia's strongest Judo clubs in Melbourne (Mt Waverley Judo Club). His club has over the years had great success in area, state and national events.
He has coached for 40 years, including at many schools and sporting clubs.
For more information about Ju You Kai Judo Club, phone Master Mike Keane on 0408 563 393, Ron LOmbardo on 0407 771 568 or Dirk Norman on 0421 217 041.