About Us

Meet the Club’s Instructors and Our Time line & Evolution.

John Robertson Chief Instructor: Sensei John Robertson 6th Dan (ZJF) and 6th Dan (BZJFA). Was talked into starting Judo by his daughter and son at the age of 36 at Felpham Zen Judo Club and has been a judoka (member) of The Zen Judo Family for over 30 years. This has included 20 years as an assistant instructor at various ZJF Clubs in West Sussex and Hampshire. On 9th October 2017 John was promoted to Head of The Zen Judo Family. Martin Robertson Assistant Instructor: Sensei Martin Robertson 5th Dan (ZJF) and 5th Dan (BZJFA). Has been a judoka for over 30 years having started at Felpham Zen Judo Club back in 1990 with the rest of the family. Martin also holds a 1st Dan in ZNKR Iaido. Yvonne Robertson Assistant Instructor: Sensei Yvonne Robertson 5th Dan (ZJF) and 3rd Dan (BZJFA) also started Judo at Felpham Zen Judo Club and has helped run the Bognor Club since its start in 2004. Assistant Instructors: Sensei Dave Bennington 4th Dan (ZJF) and 1st Dan (BZJFA). Sharna Robertson 3rd Dan (ZJF) and 3rd Dan (BZJFA). Alex Barnes 2nd Dan (ZJF). Jon Taylor 2nd Dan (ZJF).

Instructors

Bognor Regis Zen Judo Club is part of The Zen Judo Family (ZJF) and affiliated to The British Zen Judo Family (BZJF); Kenshindoryu Nippon Budo Kyokai and International Gentle Arts Society (IGAS). The Bognor Club was started by Sensei John Robertson on the 1st March 2004 with only 3 students. The first training session was a family only training session with Yvonne, Martin and Sharna present on a very small 18 x 18 ft canvas mat. It was quickly decided a much larger training area would be required. A month later the club took delivery of a 21 x 30 ft canvas and the first full training sessions were held on 5th April 2004, with around a dozen students present. We practice Judo in a nurturing non-competitive environment. There is a syllabus of throws to learn, designed to ensure no-one gets hurt or is pushed to do anything they don't feel comfortable with. We aim to build ability and confidence, each individual progressing at their own speed, with an emphasis on relaxed co-operation. Judo, which means 'Gentle Way', should be about technique rather than strength, yielding to use the strength used against you, and that is what we try to learn. The Zen Judo syllabus is based upon traditional martial arts training where the focus is on mastering technique rather than focusing upon competition.

Our Origins: Time Line and Evolution of Zen Judo

• Dr Jigoro Kano (1860-1938) founded Kodokan Judo in Tokyo in 1882. • Kenshiro Abe (8th Dan) & Bill Woods (2nd Dan) founded the British Judo Council (BJC) in 1958. • Kenshiro Abe (8th Dan) founded Kyu Shin Do. • Dominick McCarthy (8th Dan Zen) founded The Zen Judo Family (ZJF) in 1974 (Petersfield Zen Judo Club) Love Lane, Petersfield. • Roger Lewis (4th Dan Zen) founded Chichester Zen Judo Club. • John Wingham (2nd Dan Zen) & Jo Winslow (4th Dan Zen) founded Felpham Zen Judo Club. • John Robertson (1st Dan Zen) founded Bognor Regis Zen Judo Club on 1st March 2004. • Bognor Zen Judo Club becomes the honbo dojo for The Zen Judo Family after the closure of Peterfield Zen Judo Club on 29th May 2015. • Sensei John Robertson 5th Dan promoted to Head of The Zen Judo Family on 9th October 2017 following the retirement of Shihan Phil Watts 6th Dan.

About Us

Meet the Club’s Instructors and Our

Time line & Evolution.

Made with Xara

Instructors

Bognor Regis Zen Judo Club is part of The Zen Judo Family (ZJF) and affiliated to The British Zen Judo Family (BZJF); Kenshindoryu Nippon Budo Kyokai and International Gentle Arts Society (IGAS). The Bognor Club was started by Sensei John Robertson on the 1st March 2004 with only 3 students. The first training session was a family only training session with Yvonne, Martin and Sharna present on a very small 18 x 18 ft canvas mat. It was quickly decided a much larger training area would be required. A month later the club took delivery of a 21 x 30 ft canvas and the first full training sessions were held on 5th April 2004, with around a dozen students present. We practice Judo in a nurturing non- competitive environment. There is a syllabus of throws to learn, designed to ensure no-one gets hurt or is pushed to do anything they don't feel comfortable with. We aim to build ability and confidence, each individual progressing at their own speed, with an emphasis on relaxed co-operation. Judo, which means 'Gentle Way', should be about technique rather than strength, yielding to use the strength used against you, and that is what we try to learn. The Zen Judo syllabus is based upon traditional martial arts training where the focus is on mastering technique rather than focusing upon competition.

Our Origins: Time Line and

Evolution of Zen Judo