Honours for experienced teachers at Blackburn club

The club, based at Queens Mill in Lower Darwen, boat a wealth of experienced teachers, coaches and instructors for their members to learn from.

Head coach Simon Jones said: “It is incredible to have such a wealth of experience at our club.

“We are extremely privileged to have such high-calibre and experienced coaches in one club in a small town like Blackburn.

“Over the years they have passed on their knowledge and expertise to anyone willing to learn martial arts, or the sports of judo or kickboxing.”

The awards went to:

Tom Hudson, who has been a judo coach for a 60 years;

Bill Chew, who has coached judo for 46 years;

Ray Parker, who founded the Blackburn club and who has taught kempo, ju-jitsu, kobudo and kickboxing for 48 years;

Jimmy McGillick, who has taught judo, boxing, martial arts and kickboxing for 41 years; l

Jones, who has coached kempo, ju-jitsu, kobudo weapons and kickboxing for 40 years.

Jones, Hudson and Parker have all travelled to Japan to pass on their expertise and develop their knowledge of their respective sports.

But the continued efforts of 81-year-old Hudson amaze everybody at the club.

“Tom is incredible,” said Jones. “He still comes down and does what he can at the club.

“He still manages to do groundwork, which is getting on to the floor and fighting lads who are a lot younger than him.

“He also still goes to the gym and does a lot of sit-ups and press-ups every day. He is an amazing character and we are lucky to have him.”

Jones believes the experience of the five senseis can only be a benefit to the club’s members.

“We have hundreds of members,” he said, “and they range from the age of five to about 80.

“There is a wealth of experience and knowledge for people to learn from.

“We have got a good record — we have had a lot of champions over the years.”

Anybody who is interested in seeing what the club is about is invited to drop into Unit 38 at Queens Mill.