Coverack Ju-Jitsu

Once upon a time martial arts were practised in isolation – people chose a martial art and stuck with that one, rarely crossing over into other disciplines. At the time, such frivolity would have been frowned on.

Thankfully, times have changed. Most martial artists are now free to develop their experience across the arts to make their skills as rounded as possible.

As a practitioner of martial arts, and as Master of Coverack Ju Jitsu Club, I have always been a strong believer in feeling free to try out other disciplines. I was lucky to have begun my training with a forward thinking instructor in Grand Master Den Butler, and thanks to his openness to my training across disciplines, I’ve been able to experience a huge range of different martial arts, which has influenced my approach today. Not only have I always offered to share our art with other clubs, but we also actively encourage our own students to enjoy training in other disciplines too.

Over the years, we’ve always worked closely with the Killer Bees, sharing our mutual knowledge and experience to broaden our individual skills. We’d love to expand on this and share with other clubs too.  If you’re part of a club that shares this way of thinking, why not get in touch.

It’s been a while since I last posted, but it’s still been all go for Coverack Ju Jitsu Club.

We’ve just got back from a brilliant week at our annual summer camp, joint hosted by the Killer Bees and our club.

Held at Perran Sands Holiday Park up on the north coast of Cornwall, our third summer camp saw 5 days of activities and martial arts with some of the UK’s most respected peers across the arts, including myself and Gareth

Trevor Roberts, Cornwall
Black belt in shoto-kan karate, judo and 5th dan in Japanese Ju-Jitsu.

Gareth Smith, Cornwall
3rd dan Tae KwonDo. http://www.taekwondocornwall.co.uk/

along with…

Raphael Dos Santos, Cornwall
Black belt second degree in Brazilian Ju Jitsu and Judo, head coach of Cornwall BJJ-UK. www.cornwallbjj.com

Mark Weir, Gloucester
A highly experienced mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, ranked no.1 in the country since 1999 and described as being ‘the most experienced active fighter in the UK’.

Frances Miller, Somerset
5th dan black belt in Taekwon-Do. Competed in the TAGB 9th World Championships and the PUMA World Championships winning bronze and silver medals. http://evoma.co.uk/instructors/francis-miller

Clive Harrison, Gloucester
Master Clive Harrison 8th Dan is one of the most experienced professional tae kwon do instructors in the country, with over 41 years experience in martial arts.  http://www.cliveharrison-tkd.co.uk/

Bob Sykes, Huddersfield
7th Dan black belt with 36 years active involvement in a huge array of martial arts, Karate and Kickboxing. Editor of the UK’s leading martial arts magazine ‘Martial Arts Illustrated’. Bob trains with many of the world’s leading authorities in the martial arts and has established himself amongst the world’s elite practitioners.

A typical day at summer camp consisted of a 7am start with a run to the beach, a spot of training and a swim.  Back for breakfast, then onto various organised activities, including walking, cycling on the Camel Trail and surf lessons on Fistral beach, Newquay. At 6pm each evening we had a two hour seminar with one of the experts listed above.

While I was hosting my seminar on the Tuesday evening, as we reached the end, Bob Sykes presented me with a letter which, much to my amazement entered me into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame. This great honour has put me alongside some of the people I’ve looked up to and admired for many years, great people who are at the top of their respective fields. I am very much looking forward to going up to the ceremony in Staffordshire next month to receive my award.

Finally, I am really looking forward to seeing the next issue of Martial Arts Illustrated magazine, which will have a big feature on summer camp. This is due out on 9th October – grab your copy!

Its been a nice, restful, long break from it all, but…….time for that to change!

1st session back will be Thursday 10th January – 6 pm for the juniors, 7.15 pm for the senoirs, at the Lambeage Hall in Coverack.  Can’t wait to see you all there ready and raring to go – and remember we are always pleased to see new people if you fancy coming along to the next traning session.

We will be working hard over the next few weeks towards our first grading.  Onwards and upwards!

The first of the regular weekly classes was held last Thursday, 13th September.

It was a great success, with 28 juniors and 12 seniors taking part.

I am pleased to say that Seacore have donated some money, and I have purchased more mats, to fill the floor area.  I’d like to say a huge thank you to Seacore for this.   Hopefully the new mats will arrive in time for the next class, on Thursday 20th September.

More mats = more room for new students, so come along and fill it up.  

This Sunday, the 26th, we are holding the final drop-in style Ju-jitsu session in Coverack before the classes start in September.

Come along to the Lambeage Hall in Coverack on Sunday afternoon, between 1.30 and 5.30 to get on the mats and have a go!

Master Trevor Roberts will be taking the session.  See you all there.

Photographs taken by Donna Sharpe

The first Ju-jitsu taster session held in the Lambeage Hall was brilliant.  The mat was full all afternoon, everyone that took part did so with enthusiasm, and may I say a lot of skill!

A big thank you to Grand Master Den Butler, Master Clive Harrison and senseis Gareth, Rod and Neil from Tae Kwon Do Cornwall.  And of course to all of you who came to watch, bring children and get involved.

Photographs will follow soon.

We are now planning and looking forward to the next session in August……   Please watch this space!

Great news!  We are going to be joined by 9th Dan Hanshi Den Butler at the Lambeage Hall on the 21st July for the Ju- Jitsu taster session.

Also, we will be welcoming four black belt members of Tae Kwon Do Cornwall – home of the Killer Bees.  Its all set to be a varied and interesting look into the world of martial arts.

On Saturday 21st July I will be holding a ju-jitsu taster session in the Lambeage Hall in Coverack.

Come along and see what ju-jitsu is all about.  There is no obligation to sign up for classes – which are due to start in September – but I bet you’ll want to!

I’ll be there from 1.30 – 5 pm on the 21st to meet any new faces, and catch up with my students of old.

For anyone who wants to have a go on the day, please come dressed in a loose top and jogging bottoms.  If you want to buy a ju-jitsu gi/suit in readiness for classes to start, the club colour will be black.

Thanks for stopping by!

I hope that there will be enough interest to start up a local club again. Ju-Jitsu is a brilliant way to keep fit whilst learning self discipline and self control.  It’s as great for kids as adults, and is enjoyable too. You don’t have to be big or strong and it’s a non-aggressive sport.  At the moment I’d just like to get an idea of numbers, so please register your interest here.

In the meantime, I’ve got loads of stuff planned, including attending seminars and training weekends. I also hope to put on events locally, including a ‘taster session’ to give you an idea of what it’s all about, so watch this space for updates.

Finally, if you’d like a demo – whether it’s a school fete or a WI afternoon, drop me a line.

– Trev