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A Japanese judo master,
who worked at Newcastle University in 1989, recently returned
to the city for the first time as he revisited Lakeside Judo Club
to stage a masterclass.
Sensei Shunsuke Yamasaki,
a distinguished 7th Dan from Konan University in the city of Kobe,
Japan, originally coached and trained at the club for six months
while he worked at the University.
The 55-year-old former
Japan international, who has recently been coaching in France,
visited British Judo Head Coach Patrick Roux in London before
making the trip North.
Sensei Yamasaki chairs
the judo section of the Konan University and has carried out numerous
studies on the Olympic sport including an analysis of the training
theories in Kodokan Judo.
Newcastle University
student and Lakeside Judo Club judoka Luke Blackburn is currently
teaching English in Japan and visited Sensei Yamasaki earlier
this year.
Club Secretary Alan
White said: “We were honoured to host Sensei Yamasaki and after
all these years it was a pleasure for everyone to see him and
talk about old times.
“He’s a fantastic servant
to the sport, a tremendous coach and has a lifetime of knowledge
which is apparent as soon he steps into the dojo. Luke relished
his visit and learned a lot from spending time with him.”
Liz Burdis, British
Judo's North East Development Officer, said: “Lakeside has a special
relationship with Sensei Yamasaki and both parties have stayed
in communication over all these years.
“The club invests a
great amount of time in nurturing their judoka and such opportunities
are a fantastic way of seeing what can be achieved in the sport.”
Lakeside Judo Club
train at Lakeside Centre, Killingworth, NE12 6SA. Men and women
train on a Tuesday and Wednesday at 19:30 – 21:00 while boys and
girls train on a Wednesday at 18:30 – 19:30.
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