Last month United Judo clubs based in Bexleyheath, Dartford and Gravesend sent a team out to Berlin to take part in a friendly inter-club team competition.

This is the fourth event the clubs have embarked on following previous visits to Spain and Ireland.

The squad was made up of seven 6 to 13 year olds who would get their first chance to compete against non-British judoka.

The trip was organised with the assistance of David Rumble, who emigrated to Berlin some years ago, who was United Judo Coach Dave Quinn’s first Sensei.

Dave Quinn who took the team to Germany, explained how the trip came about: “I got in touch with my first judo coach, now living in Germany, who told me about his good friend and colleague, Lothar Nest’s (a 9th Dan) sports school and dojo and also the World Judo Museum.

“This was an ideal venue as all the participants could learn a little about their history of judo and who had competed on the mat in the past”.

Dave also paid tribute to those who made the trip possible: “A special thanks goes to our International Dan Grade friend, David Rumble and Lothar Nest for making us so at home and putting on a special buffet. A good time was had by all. Who knows where the Club will be next year!!”.

For more information about United Judo Clubs visit their website at www.unitedjudo.com.