Brian Jacks is one of my judo heroes, as a young man I was lucky enough to be coached by him on my weekly Monday night visits to the Budokwai in Gilston Road, South Kensington. At that time Brian was the head coach at this World famous club and still an active international competitor at the highest level. He also used to run the annual Guinness School of Sport training camps these were residential courses based at Crystal Palace. I was fortunate to be invited to a few of these. Brian was a tough taskmaster and we would be reduced to shuffling physical wrecks 3 days into these camps with 7am starts and running up and down the grandstand steps at Crystal Palace (with partners on our backs). His own phenomenal fitness and agility meant that we knew he could double whatever he gave us and that's a good starting point for respect! His sense of humour was epic and some of the funniest memories I have of judo have him in a starring role (and not many are repeatable). I have never seen anyone with a more competitive mindset and beyond his judo career this fighting spirit provided the fuel that drove him on to become a TV star and household name as a champion on the 'Superstars' shows. I met him for the first time (in 38 years) at the Heart of England comp and bought his excellent biography. I might get to read it now as my mum has finished it! And the best bit? Brian Jacks is coming to Pinewood on Tuesday 10th October, he will be running a masterclass from 7pm to 9pm. This will be open to all of the club from intermediates through to upper advanced class as well as any Wednesday night seniors or wrinkles. We are keen to see all of you and your parents there on the night and it will replace our usual advanced classes. We are keeping the cost down to an affordable £5 for any of you under 21 and £10 for seniors. Brian will also have some of his biographies with him for sale and you will be able to buy them ahead of the official launch later in the year. I'm praying he doesn't start me doing his infamous bunny hops again!

Some things change but somethings stay the same said Matt Divall tonight and he was right. Tonight another cracking session from Paul Knight. Great to see Bracknell and Pinewood stalwarts Moose and James Gilmore unexpectedly plus the Micklefield crew. This picture sums it up (smiley happy people)

Dear upper advanced class here is Bin Job I tried giving him the single step walk that you tried last night but he was unimpressed. He was delighted with the full Go Tsunoda multi step walk however!

Top job from all the Monday night Intermediates tonight!! Great effort from all! A big thank you to Terry and Gary for supporting. Just a reminder to the upper Intermediates class that we have two sessions a week - try and get along to the Thursday night Intermediates class from 5.15pm - 6.30pm as well! Twice the joy! Twice the benefit!!

Lots of luck to Jason and Stuart leading a small raiding party to the Crayford & Metro Competition today. Go get em

Next Wednesday this is a great Randori opportunity for Cadets and juniors please add your name in the comments section below if you are coming.

A good days judo was had yesterday at the Heart of England Championship in Walsall. With the results as listed below:- Pre Cadets Andrew Miyamoto U 32 Bronze Jay Bennett U42 Bronze Tobias Chapman U42 Gold Ruben Lord U46 Bronze Phoebe Deacon U57 Bronze Cadets Noah Jones U42 Bronze Kieran White U50 Bronze Harry Woodhead U55 Gold Olivia Coxon U57 Silver Junior Harry Woodhead U55 Silver Kiera Bateman U57 Gold Olivia Spellman U63 Silver Senior Kiera Bateman U57 Silver Olivia Spellman U63 Gold Etienne Keeler U66 Bronze

Congratulations to Nekoda Davis for winning a bronze medal at the World Judo Championships in Budapest - Great Britain's first medal of the championships. Special congratulations to her club coach Jo Crowley and to all the British Judo Performance Team. All the best to the rest of the GB team to come, including Pinewood's own, Ben Fletcher who fights in a few days time.

Felt I had to put this up as a great example of skill. This was at the Senior World Championships yesterday in Budapest, Hungary. In white, Hifumi ABE of Japan and Georgii Zantaraia of Ukraine in Blue. Zantaraia is a star of world judo, however on this performance and aged just 20, think Mr Abe is probably going to be around for sometime. Beautiful example of use of kumi-kata (the grip), ashi-waza (ko-uchi-gari) and massive commitment and drive when throwing...amongst other things! Oh!...and Abe is still a junior https://www.facebook.com/347687625378359/videos/846598808820569/

Don't forget Regional Randori is this Wednesday 30th August from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. This is a great chance to get Randori experience with new partners. It is aimed at pre Cadets through to Juniors with a minimum grade of 7th Mon. Coaches are very welcome to join their judoka on the mat and there are no mat fees.

A massive thank you from all of us to Paul Knight, Alasdair Matthews, Peter Fricker and David Rance for giving up their bank holiday to raise an amazing £800 at the boot fair today. Car parking, taking money on the gate as well as the barbecue. As Churchill once said..... "Never in the field of judo club fund raising was so much owed by so many to so few"

I had a word with Marius who was kind enough to delay the start of the Worlds until I get back from Butlins. It now starts on Monday 28th through to Sept 3rd (sorry for any confusion and thanks Marius) Tick Tock here it comes Senior World Championships in Budapest, starring Pinewood's favourite son Big Ben Fletcher at -100 kg A mixed team event is also being run alongside the individual weight groups which should be exciting, good luck to all of the other GBR judoka competing :- Kelly Edwards -52 Belly Livesey -57 Nekoda Davis -57 Amy Livesey -63 Alice Schlesinger -63 Sally Conway -70 Gemma Howell -70 Natalie Powell -78 Ashley McKenzie -60 Aaron Turner -73 Max Stewart -90 Here is a link that works!! http://judolive01.lb.judobase.org/live/