Devizes Budo Club (Wiltshire) hosted friends from Mayenne Judo Club (France) and VFL Waiblingen Judo/Ju Jitsu Club (Germany) over the weekend as part of the official Town twinning.

The Martial Arts extravaganza was held at the new home of Devizes Budo Club at Rowdeford School, Devizes.  Club members and visitors were treated to Judo from British Judo Association (BJA) award-winning coaches Mark Burbidge and Jason Parsons with additional instruction by Richard Hopkins, Julian Davies and Vincent Landau, 6^th Dan Judoka.

Tae Kwon Do instruction came from Richard Browning 6^th Dan whilst Aikido was performed under the guidance of Roy Chandler 5^th Dan.

The final instruction was in Ju Jitsu by Giuseppe D’Amico from Germany who topped the other coaches by holding the grade of 7^th Dan.

Richard Hopkins who put the itinerary together for the weekend stated that ‘I understand any potential reticence to open up your home to unknown visitors but it can and in my case, led to a lifelong friendship.  Feedback from hosts and visitors alike was that this year’s exchange was one of the best ever’

The weekend also featured ten pin bowling and a visit to a Waterpark for the Young visitors whilst the Adults enjoyed a visit to the World Heritage Site at Avebury and a meal at a prestigious local restaurant.

The 2018 edition of the annual exchange which started in 1974 will be held in Waiblingen in the south of Germany.