At what club do you train?

Chelmsford & South Woodham Ferrers

When did you start training?

October 1994

Why did you choose Ju Jitsu over other martial arts?

My children both did Ju Jitsu and were both blackbelts and I always thought that I would like to try it. The head of the association at the time (Terry parker) said that my arthritis shouldn’t be a problem so I had a go.

Did you do other sports/martial arts before Ju Jitsu?

Yes, I played all sports at school and was in most of my school teams. I played netball till my late twenties when I started my family.

Tell us about your first Ju Jitsu class.

I felt shy, embarrassed and had the added pressure that both my children were training as adults in the same class but I really enjoyed myself and came back for more.

When did you think about getting your Black Belt?

Everyone who starts a martial arts class dreams of becoming a black belt but I never seriously thought about it till I got my brown belt and I realised it was within my reach.

Was it difficult to attain?

Yes, but then getting a black belt shouldn’t be easy. It meant double the effort and swotting at home but my sensei encouraged me all the time.

What does a “black Belt” mean to you?

When you get your black belt it means you have only really learnt the basics, there is so much more to learn. It also means that I can pass my knowledge onto others in the class

Ever had to use Ju Jitsu for real?

No never. I like to think that I would never get myself into that situation and my first line of defence would be to talk my way out of it. If that failed I would use it.

Do you enter martial arts competitions?

Yes, I have a gold for groundwork, a bronze for random attacks. When I competed in South Africa I got a silver for the pairs demo and a bronze for the team demo.

Has Ju Jitsu changed your life in any positive or negative way?

Definitely in a positive way it keeps me fit and supple and keeps my mind active. I have also made a lot of friends within the sport.

What do you see as the advantages of Ju Jitsu?

All of the above and a lot more.

How much time does your training require?

I train for 2 hours twice a week and I also teach on Sunday morning. There are also the numerous courses that I attend throughout the year.

If you could advise a beginner on one thing about Ju Jitsu what would it be?

I would say come to a class, join in, see what we do and most of all enjoy yourself.


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