International Budo Federation
British CombatSombo Association
46th Annual Summer Camp
For 45 years the annual Summer Camp has been running ot was
first held at St Mary’s Bay for the last few years it has been at the Army
Cadet Camp Dibgate Folkestone. This year we could not get the Camp because of
the Olympic Games it seems foreign teams had been allocated some ACF
Accommodation and we were left out. So we altered the course to a 3-day event
and the venue was the Swale Martial Arts Club Sittingbourne. Those who did not
mind roughing it slept in the Dojo on Mats but this added to camaraderie.
The Instructors for the Camp were John Clarke 5th
Dan Judo, Master of Sombo, Colin Carrott 4th Dan Judo, Master of
Sombo, Ian Parker 3rd Dan Judo.
The main theme of the Course was Judo with a little bit of Sombo; many
had attended the course to improve on their Judo and Sombo Grades.
Every year we have an Annual Bash this where Jacket
Grapplers (Judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Sombo, Kurash) turn up to fight each
other the session is about 2 hours starts with Ground Work and then finishes
with Up Standing, all accompanied on by the pumping music of Status Quo. This
was started by Martin Clarke some 30 years ago and has always been a popular
part of the Camp with people from far and wide attending not just fighters but
Coaches and players to old to fight who want to be reminded of their past
glories
John Clarke is now the Senior Coach on the Camp taken over
from his father Martin Clarke as Martin did in the late 1970’s from his father
John (Nobby) Clarke. The 3rd generation of Clarkes and waiting in
the wings is John sons Lewis who only 12 years old is training with the Adults
could he be 4th generation lets hope so.
Everyone was successful in their grading’s with the exam
done over the whole 3 days but the grading every one was waiting for was the
Black belt Grading late Saturday afternoon.
Vinney Drogoff Bedford Grappling Academy was attempting his
1st Dan /Degree Black Belt. Vinney comes from Lithuania and is a top
class Sombo Player and fighting ability was well worthy of a Black Belt in Judo
in fact if he joined an organisation that did not believe in the Tradition of
Judo believing Judo is just a Sport is would have obtained the coveted Black
Belt some time ago. The IBF believes that the theory, moral and philosophical
parts of traditional Judo are as important as the competitive side if not more
important. So those who are going for a competitive grade have to show:
1)
Competition Record
2)
Theoretical Knowledge
3)
Kata (Sequence of pre-set movements)
For Competitive 1st Dan Black the Kata required
is Nage No Kata Competitive 4th Dan Goshen Jutsu Kata. Non
Competitive Grades would be expected to do Kata to a higher standard and each
Dan Grade level would be expected to perform all Kata’s done in previous
grading’s.
All Kyu Grades
(student Grades) are also expected to perform certain section sections of the
Nage No Kata (Formal Display of 15 throws done left and right) including juniors
The Grading panel for the Dan Grading were Martin Clarke 8th
Dan, Trevor Davies 6th Dan, John Clarke 5th Dan, Colin
Carrott 4th Dan and Ian Parker 3rd Dan a candidate only
passes if there is 100% agreement by all panel members
Vinney performed some extremely good techniques which we
expected an International standard Sombo player
his hard part was the theory and Kata but with hard work he passes to 1st
Dan successfully.
Ashley at 31 years of age has a wealth of experience in
Sombo, Judo and Kurash, starting his Judo at the age of 5. His father Keith
Costa is also a 3rd Dan Judo and is one of the IBF’s leading Junior Coaches.
His training at the Young Judo Club/Warriors Grappling Academy Sittingbourne
has been invaluable; coached by Martin Clarke and in latter years by his son
John. Ashley is proof that learning Kata, theory etc. doesn’t hinder your
competitive ability in fact it enhances it. As mentioned before Ashley had to
do just the Goshin Jutsu Kata, which he done perfectly but Martin Clarke
insisted that he do Nage No Kata as well, he selected 26 year old Danny Carrott
as his UKE (Throwing Partner) who also is an International Judo, Kurash, Sombo
Player. Both had never worked together on the Nage No Kata and both had not
done it for some time. Yet they presented a very passable Kata, once again
proof that if you understand Kata you do not forget it.
Kata teaches you the discipline of correct perfection
of technique and the realisation that
something’s in life can never be perfect, this in it self can enhance your
skill level.
Results of Grading:
Ashley Costa 4th Dan
Andy Smith Brown Belt
George Watt Brown belt
Keith Brown Blue Belt
Mike Rudkin Green Belt
Keith Hadkin and Ollie Bruton Orange
Belt
Richard Seaman Blue Belt 4 tabs
Lewis Clarke Blue Belt 1 tab.
Vinnie Dragan 1st Dan
Adam Dodds Brown
Any one Interested in Judo/Sombo contact
John Clarke on 07825224940
