The 6 best judo clubs in London
Thinking about starting judo in London? Thankfully the busy capital of England boasts plenty of clubs for you to pick from — maybe too many? So, to ease your research here are our top picks for learning judo in London.
Sobell Judo Club
Established in 1973 by Alan Fromm and based in Finsbury Park, North London, The Sobell Judo Club is one of the oldest judo clubs in the country. Since its founding, the Sobell has upheld a fantastic reputation as one of the busiest judo clubs in the city. The Sobell offers a complete teaching structure, welcoming newcomers via a comprehensive beginners induction program and then supporting their entire journey from newbie through to international competitor — with some members previously competing at the Olympics as well as major events on the WJF Circuit and IJF Tour.
The most interesting thing about the Sobell is that they are one of the only judo clubs left that still teach leg grab techniques as part of their regular syllabus. This is because they are affiliated with the World Judo Federation (WJF) as opposed to the International Judo Federation (IJF). This means that they are not governed by IJF rules, which do not allow the use of leg grabs. Because of their independence, they also put a heavy amount of emphasis on ne-waza (groundwork), offering a 50:50 split between standup and groundwork. This means that the Sobell is an especially great choice for students who also train in BJJ, wrestling, or MMA and want to round out their overall grappling skills. That being said, despite being independent of Olympic-style judo, this has not stopped members from being active competitors with many members competing across both the WJF and IJF circuit. Therefore, the Sobell Judo Club is a unique melting pot where new judo and old judo come together.
The Sobell is currently led by one of its original students, Sampson Sampson who holds the rank of 9th Dan and also runs a popular YouTube channel teaching judo techniques.
The Budokwai
Established in 1918 by Gunji Koizumi, a visionary Japanese immigrant, The Budokwai stands as the oldest martial arts club in Europe. Koizumi created the Budokwai as a society to teach judo, kendo and other Japanese arts to members of the public aiming contribute to his adopted country during the tumultuous era of the First World War by promoting the disciplines of Jiu-Jitsu and Ken-Jutsu (sword fighting).
Though it offers judo classes for students of all ages and experience levels, the Budokwai has become well known as a highly competitive club, with both British-based and international judoka often traveling to the dojo to test themselves against one another in preparation for competition. Over the years, The Budokwai has been instrumental in shaping high-level competitors, many of whom have ascended to podiums at prestigious World, European, and Olympic competitions.
Ealing Judo Club
http://www.ealingjudoclub.com/
Opening its doors in April 2003, Ealing Judo Club is a community-focused club led by Jo Crawley, a 4th Dan Judoka. However, do not let the word ‘community’ fool you. Ealing Judo Club has a great reputation for developing judoka from young students into seasoned competitors, with many of its students going on to compete at the highest level in judo, including the Olympics. Attending a night at Ealing Judo Club is sure to deliver a session that is both technically and competitively inspiring.
Stratford Judokwai
https://www.stratfordjudokwai.org.uk/
Founded in 1972 and situated in East London, Stratford is one year senior to Sobell, staking itself as one of the old guards of London Judo. Well known for strong rounds of randori (sparring) and a lively atmosphere Stratford Judo Club has been serving the judo community for over half a century and has produced many national and international British Squad members.
University of London Judo Club (ULU)
ULU is an established judo club situated in central London. Catering to students of all experience levels, it is led by Joe Doherty, a 5th Dan and former British Squad member and World Masters Champion. Linked to the University of London Student’s Union, the club is often filled with university students looking to try their hand at a new skill, or experienced judoka who have recently begun studying in the area. Regardless of your experience level, ULU can provide a fantastic evening of judo.
Tokei Judo Club
Also formed in 1973, Tokei Judo Club has a long history of serving the wider judo community and is known for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere; often organizing training events abroad. The club is led by a collective of judoka, Neno Avelov, a 4th Dan and former Bulgarian squad member, Simon, a 3rd Dan and Police Judo National Champion, Richard Kurosawa, 3rd Dan and Nicole Simpson, 1st Dan.