Thanet Judo in Kent is launching a series of high-impact randori and fitness sessions specifically aimed at young people in a bid to attract more participants to the sport.

The sessions will consist of plyometric training which helps to increase reaction times through explosive exercises. The format is accessible to children and Coach Travis Squire was taught the techniques by Visually Impaired (VI) Olympian Sam Ingram. It will be the only club in the area to run such a session, which aspires to be similar to that run at the ExCel training centre in London.

“Since I took over we have expanded the club and really turned it around. Our focus now is on getting more young people to participate in the sport.”

The club has been running since the 1960s and Squire has been running classes for ten years. Over the next decade it is Squire’s wish to focus on developing more elite players. “In recent years we have enjoyed success and in every tournament we go to we bring medals back,” said Squire.

Squire personally developed British Championship player Bradley Love. The next big star to come out of the club will be 12-year-old Joshua Escudier who has just been nominated for a triangle award and qualified this year for the A band. The South of England silver medal holder and member of the Kent Squad has won every competition he has entered this year by ippon. His last victory was gold in the Southend International which has selected him for the Junior British Championships later this year.

Session one includes standing randori from 11am – 12.15pm and includes a 20 minute break before plyometric training from 12.35pm to 1.50pm. It is only appropriate for over eights.

The sessions run on the first Saturday of every month, with the next session beginning on Saturday 6 July.
Contact Travis on 07545326609 or email travis.squire@googlemail.com for further details.