Annual Awards Day - Part 2

Peter Smith
4 days ago
2 min read

On Saturday 15th November, our club got together for our annual awards meal at Nicola’s Ristorante on South Road, Waterloo.

This night was a special one for me personally. I had the honour of receiving my Eighth Dan. The belt is not just for my efforts, it's been achieved with help and support from coaches, training partners and students.

Sensei Jane Saunders presented the Hachidan belt, and I’m deeply grateful to her and to the NAKMAS committee for the award.

I’m genuinely humbled. Thank you to all the ju jitsuka who’ve shared the mats with me - the ones who've pushed me, taught me, helped me on the way.

A number of our club members were also recognised for their work and spirit, especially over this past year.

The formal 2025 awards were:

Coach of the Year: Shihan Peter Smith

Student of the Year (Senior): Joe Park

Student of the Year (Bootle): James Walker

Student of the Year (Litherland): Ella Rowley

Special Mention: Bonnie Heath Holt

Special Mention: Rheuben Hardy

Kancho Award: Sensei Jane Saunders

We also handed out some of our more light-hearted certificates - the ones that celebrate the things that make a club feel like a family. Those awards were:

Scarlet Pimpernel: Aidan Hollingsworth

The White Rabbit: Sensei Jane Saunders

Perpetual Motion: Joe Park

Best Tiny Tim Impression: Emma Steven

The Bone Breaker: Shihan Peter Smith

The Dance Studio (L20 9DL) and The Sports Park (L21 7LA)

To all our students: thank you for showing up, and making this club what it is. To all the families and friends who support you - and us coaches - thank you. Without you, we simply couldn’t teach or learn ju jitsu