Dear Oxford Judo Member (or potential member),
For those who have not already heard, I have the very pleasant duty to announce that our Head Coach, Chris Doherty, was awarded his 6th Dan by the Directors of the British Judo Association (on behalf of the European Judo Federation) just before Christmas. This is a great, and extremely well-deserved, achievement on Chris’s part and one of which I know he is immensely proud.
Oxford Judo is also proud both of Chris’s achievement – and to have him as our Head Coach. He has been instrumental, over the last ten years, in guiding the club (or rather clubs as OJ is a federation of the Oxford University and Oxford City Clubs), from relative obscurity in the wider judo community into a force to be reckoned with. He has also helped judo to win the recognition it deserves within the University as a major international and Olympic sport It is no coincidence that we were voted sports club of the year by the OU Sports Federation twice in the last three years. Nor has he been idle in the competitive arena, having won a number of medals, including golds, in national and international masters championships.
We should not forget the contribution made by Chris’s wife Carol, herself a BJA 4th Dan, in this voyage nor their daughter Jordan, who first started training with us as a five year old and is now one of our most gifted competitors and experienced younger coaches. One cannot think of Oxford Judo without thinking of the Doherty family.
Long may this continue – and well done Chris.
Tony Buley
Chairman
Oxford Judo