There has always been a special connection in the UK between Coventry and judo.

From the great Neil Adams to our most recent World medallist and recent world number 1 ranked Chelsie Giles; Coventry has helped produce some of the greatest Great British judoka.

At the recent Commonwealth Games, Coventry played host to the judo competition which saw our home nation judoka dominate, with England topping the medal table with 13 medals.

Now Coventry has a new judo club as Chelsie Giles officially opened Yamato Judo Club last week.

Co-Owner and Head Coach Anna Maria Carbone and President and Co-Owner Mark Davis along with their team welcomed the likes of Giles, fellow world number one Lucy Renshall, Grand Slam gold medallist Emma Reid, Paralympic gold and silver medal winning coach Ian Johns and the great Yoko Tanabe to the clubs official opening last Tuesday evening.

The club, which caters to members young and old with sessions running on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, is set to become the “biggest judo club in the Midlands” following its opening.

Based in the heart of Coventry city centre, the club already had over 60 members before it officially opened its doors on the 25^th October and plans to be a “judo club for the community” with discounts available for anybody on low income.

Speaking following the club opening, Davis said: “It’s been a huge effort to get to this moment, but one we are all extremely proud of. Having two businesses of my own, I had just 25 days to turn the venue from a blank shell into a judo club.

“Having two daughters who have achieved so much through judo, I wanted to give back to my community so when Anna told me of her wish to own her own club, I wanted to join her, so invested in it.”

“Anna has a vast amount of experience having been coaching for over 15 years and is great with the children. There is nobody else I would want to be on this journey with.”

Follow Yamato Judo Club

Website – http://www.yamatojudo.co.uk/

Facebook – Yamato Judo Club

Instagram – @YamatoJudoClub

Watch out for further news from British Judo by checking out our latest news section. You can also catch up via our official social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.