Summit Judo Club

Summit judo club was formed in 1972 at the John Hunt of Everest school by Len Dunce and Derek Brownett. Both had practised at the Basingstoke judo club under sensei John Gowland. Derek retired from judo due to health problems in the mid 1980’s.

Len continued running the club and is still very active coaching and organising within the club to the present day. The club organises the judo for the Basingstoke Festival of Sport each year with our twin town of Euskirchen in Germany, and has done so since the very first visit 17 years ago.

The club is run on a recreational basis, teaching discipline, etiquette, fairness, confidence and respect, through the sport of judo, to children and adults alike. Currently we have around 60 members.

We encourage players to take part in various competitions and support them at all times, and coach competition techniques as well as basic judo.

We have four British Judo Association qualified coaches and four helpers, three of these are working towards their coaching awards, all are CRB checked, and all are certified first aiders.

We also have a Welfare officer who can deal with any problems that may arise concerning the wellbeing of club members.

Len Dunce - Founder and Head Coach - 1st Dan

Len started Judo late in life in 1969 aged 28 at Basingstoke judo club under John Gowland as a bet. He became fascinated with the techniques and the mechanics of judo, and gradually crept up the various grades.

He started teaching rolls and breakfalls to his son in his back garden on some foam mats covered with a tarpaulin, they were soon joined by neighbours and friends on a Saturday afternoon ‘’ for a bit of fun’’ and it turned out to be the start of a very busy sporting life. Having gained his coaching certificate in 1981, Len was very busy with the running of Summit which had about 50 members and ran twice a week. Weekends were for competitions, Hampshire squad training or courses.

Len gained his Personal Safety Advisors certificate and ran self defence courses for ladies for Hampshire county council alongside the judo club, during this time he studied for his black belt and finally obtained it in 1991.

In 1984 he became a judo referee and covered events for the southern area and the army.

He has now retired from refereeing and spends his time at weekends with his family or organising hosting for the festival of sport if there isn’t a judo course to be arranged or attended or a meeting to go to.

Len has been nominated several times for coach of the year and for services to sport at the Basingstoke sports awards and is very proud to have been nominated.

I think he won the bet that said he was too old for judo.

Paul Hamilton - Club coach - 1st Dan

Eric Jones - Club Coach - Examiner - National C Referee - 2nd Dan

Eric Started Judo in 1974 after he took his sons to Basingstoke Judo Club run by John Gowland to help with bullying that they were experiencing at school. At the time Eric was a keen footballer but had so much fun at Judo hung his boots up to concentrate on improving his Judo.

Over time he has helped many students including his sons to progress further in judo. Mark is currently a 1st Kyu and Paul has represented Great Britain, is a 2nd Dan Pro Coach and still competing.

Eric Joined Summit J.C. in 2001 when he returned to Basingstoke after 11 years in Devon where he ran several clubs in that time.

Eric is now a Full Time Professional Coach running Eric Jones Judo Academy he teaches in schools around the Reading area 5 days a week.

He also finds time on a Friday to help teach the Junior and Senior sessions and some weekends he referees at various events all voluntarily.