Why are we crowdfunding?

I'm attempting to raise funds to buy the mats required to open a new judo club in the Dorchester area, after the closure of Dorchester Judo Club.

Dorchester Judo Club was founded in 1952 by Mr Kubo, and Mr Bill Chinchen. As a child I was fortunate enough to have been taught by Mr Chinchen, and held both him and his wife in high regard until their passing.

The club was somewhat successful until 2020, but the financial implications of the Covid pandemic hit the club hard.

Having already departed from Dorchester Judo Club for personal reasons, I made repeated attempts to take on the responsibility of the club from the previous coach. The decision was made by its administration to close, and allow another organisation to occupy the premises, and its assets lost in the process. 

I aim to fill the gap left behind, by offering coaching to anyone who wishes to participate.

I've been a Judoka for over 30 years, and I've been fortunate enough to have had some really amazing experiences in the sport; I've trained with past and present Olympic and Para-Olympic medallists, World Champions, and International coaches.

I undertook the British Judo Association's Level 1 coaching qualification in 2019, Level 2 in 2022, and in 2023 I successfully completed Level 3, which qualifies me to coach at a performance-level. I was also nominated by the British Judo Association to undertake the International Judo Federation's Undergraduate Certificate in Judo Instruction programme, of which I am to complete in September.

My goal is to be able to provide coaching and equipment at the lowest possible cost to those who may not have previously had access to the level of coaching I am able to provide.

How we’ll spend the money raised

The money raised will be used to provide the mats required for training, with any surplus being used to provide underprivileged players with the clothing necessary to take part. 

Community impact

I believe the project would benefit both the local, and extended community, by providing an environment that fosters an inclusive ideology, promoting both the physical and technical development of Judo, as well as the social aspect of being part of a local club.

Alongside the physical benefits of Judo, the moral virtues promoted by the sport (courtesy, courage, friendship, honesty, honour, modesty, respect, and self-control) provide valuable guidance, especially for younger people, on their journey throughout their lives. 

(Another, and often under-promoted value of Judo, is the ability to land safely from a fall, which would serve as a valuable foundation for younger people, and a safety-net for those of more advanced years.)

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!

4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!