I started Judo in the mid seventies, was about 9 or 10 years old at the time. I wanted to be Bruce Lee as he was massive at the time, I was to young to see "Enter the dragon" but the little bits I managed to see made me realise Martial arts was cool. Fortunately this was the 70's so you couldn't just jump on the internet and find a Kung Fu club. There was a Judo club near our house so I started Judo instead, which I think Judo was definitely the right path for me.
I got my first grade in Judo, my 1st Mon in September 1976. By the time I was in my early teens my instructor already had me assisting him in teaching the younger children. This was at the Hartley centre Judo club in East Ham, which sadly no longer exists as the building has been knocked down. It's sad to see that it has gone as the dojo in the Hartley centre would be such an important part of my childhood and young adult life. If I had a pound for every minute I spent in that place I would have a good bank balance but unfortunately it didn't reward me financially but it certainly added a lot of value to my life balance. We called ourselves the Hartley Hares and to this day I still consider myself as one of the Hares.
I was 21 years old when I achieved my 1st Dan, which was 36 years ago and back in the eighties people would really be amazed at this lad from East London who had achieved such a grade in this mysterious ancient art from Japan, peoples knowledge of Oriental arts was far more limited in those days.
I also spent part of the nineties teaching at the Whittingham Judo club in Walthamstow until that building was also knocked down, I know that a pattern is forming but I had nothing to do with knocking down the buildings.
Around 2010 I became involved with a Judo club in Lewisham and soon after also become involved with the Tokei centre and started training under sensei Barry Carey 6th Dan. I now teach and train solely at the Tokei.
Fortunately I have found a group of like minded Judoka at the Tokei who share my view on making Judo accessible to everyone that is interested and not letting barriers get in the way. I have also undertaken many courses like Adaptive Judo to assist my coaching and to help me make my Judo teaching as accessible as possible.
I have also just completed a course, which has qualified me as a Mental Health First Aider, which is a subject close to my heart as I suffered issues with my Mental Health a few years ago and I think my Judo family were a very major part of me getting through those issues and getting back to a good place.
That question I asked at the top I think is very to the point, I don't think your ever to old to start Judo and I don't think you ever get to old to stop being a Judoka. Bury me in my gi but hopefully after another 50 years of Judo training.