Almonte Judo Club celebrates 50 years !!!!!!!!!!
The Almonte Judo Club has operated uninterrupted since 1968, and kept many of its finest traditions since its inception. Times have certainly changed, the judo uniform (judogi) has improved dramatically, we no longer colour dye belts, rules have changed, the venue (dojo) has been modernized, and we boast a large surface area of Olympic calibre official tatami. (high density foam mats) We communicate and promote our Club via the latest in social media tools, have introduced e-commerce and on-line registration, and have seen somewhere in the neighbourhood of 1,000 students pass through our doors over the years !!!
The Club has always carried the reputation of having a low cost and very affordable program for all family members – this continues strongly to this day. Membership topped 90 students this current season, and we attract participants from not only our great town, but all outlying areas stretching from Lanark, Christie Lake, Middleville, Tatlock and Clayton in the west, to Pakenham, Arnprior, Renfrew and Calabogie in the North, to Carp, Kanata, Stittsville and Ottawa in the East, and Appleton, Carleton Place and Smiths Falls in the south.
Along with strong support from the communities comes a great loyalty from our judo families, some now in their second generation within the Club ! We have nurtured young students to the level of Black Belt, watched our competitors compete at the Provincial and National levels, enjoyed numerous visits from Olympians, and watched hundreds of young and old students weave their way through school, adulthood and chosen careers.
There are so many reasons to celebrate, and not enough time to sit back and enjoy. Our Club members have been active in numerous competitions, training for higher belt levels, and dedicating their time toward the betterment of our Club for future generations to enjoy.
Wednesday night in Almonte has become synonymous with judo, and where other sports and activities have come and gone, judo remains a staple in the diets of Mississippi Mills residents and beyond. We thank you for your continued support !!
