Hi folks, my name is Paddy Ryan. I have been involved in sport since I was 15 years old, and I was a founding member of the Waterford Judo Club.
A very good friend of mine John Kinsella who joined the club some years after it was founded, asked me if I could do some history of the club for Damien Jackson who is the son of John Jackson (another founding member of the club), and takes care of the website on the club.
Well here it goes so forgive me if I get some name’s and dates wrong.
A friend John Jackson who was involved in the Enterprise Boxing Club with brothers Dennis and Jimmy had a chat about forming a Judo club. We spoke to a few lads held a meeting, the venue I can’t remember and in 1964 our Founder members photo was included.
Our first club house was Temperance Hall, Parnell Street. Billy Kelly R.I.P was the caretaker at this time, he was very helpful and a smashing guy. Our very first mat was lots of cardboard laid on the floor covered with a canvas. The mats had to be laid down and took up before and after each session because lots of other people used the hall.
A year on, our mats were upgraded. Mr. Upton (who was a committee member) got some mattresses from the Paper mills where he worked at that time. Out went the boxes and in came the mattresses. By god some great sessions were held on them mats.
We were trying to learn Judo from books, No chance! So we got some guy’s down from Dublin for a weekend. It cost a lot of money to put them up in a hotel, so that was the end of that! Then, a guy I met at some of the grading that we took part in said he would come and do some coaching sessions for us. He also said he would bring some other coaches with him but only if they stayed in the club members houses. No hotels!
Paddy McMahon was his name, he was from Limerick and the start of a great friendship between our clubs had begun.
Temperance hall closed, which was owned by the clergy, St. Johns Church, Parnell Street. We then moved to the Bishop Foy Hall, for I think a year. Many thanks to all the people involved.
Then, on the move again, next stop was Thomas Hill. The former Crystal Dance Hall. This was run by Billy Mulcahy. We rented the downstairs room. Joe Williams, Christy Barret, Eamonn Casey, John Jackson, Bobby Phealan, Brendan Sheen, Harry McGrath, Michael Power and myself put down a wooden frame and filled it with sawdust, and covered it with canvas. And this is where it all really started to take off for the Waterford Judo Club. What a mat! Blood, sweat and tears were the order of the day and night for many years to come.
We would always have to travel for grading and they were tough. I will always remember the day John Jackson and I were going for our brown belts. We both had to fight nine lads one after each other and you had to win eight of them. And then you had to do a Kata Demo.
Order of belts
White
Yellow
Orange
Green
Blue
Brown
Black 1 Dan
We both got our brown belts that day and sure it was tough. We did a lot of travelling in them days, but most of it was enjoyable. The training was tough, but we were fit, and loved it. I would advise parents to get children to take part in sport, especially Judo. It develops your mind as well as your body.
Sorry if I let out anyone or got dates wrong as it was along time ago.
Yours in sport,
___________________
Paddy Ryan.