Meet the Coaches
David Hawkins
Dave is a 4th Dan and a BJA Level 2 coach. He has been a judoka since the age of 6 in 1979, having joined LEJC which his Dad Ray Hawkins founded
Gary Mellors
Gary is a 2nd Dan, technical 3rd Dan and a BJA Level 2 coach, which he attained around 2001. Gary started judo at the age of 29 in Eastwood as a white belt, training with 4th Dan Paul Young.
Mark Smith
Mark is a 2nd Dan, technical 3rd Dan and a UKCC Level 2 coach. He has been a judoka since 1976 starting at Derby Judo Club.
Daren Trueman
Daren is a 1st Dan and BJA Level 2 Coach. He has been a judoka since 1985 when he joined Long Eaton Judo Club.
Steve Watson
Steve Watson is a 1st Dan BJA Instructor coach. He started as a judoka as a child in Stanley Common, and came back to the sport as a senior when his children Adam and Matthew joined LEJC in 2004.
Adam Watson
Adam is a 1st Dan BJA Level 1 Coach. Adam started judo at the age of 5 at Long Eaton, his goal to keep fit and learn a martial art. Adam has been competing since a young age and is also a coach at the University of Nottingham Judo Club
Jane Trueman
Jane is a 2nd Dan and UKCC Level 2 coach. She joined Long Eaton Judo Club, founded by her parents, in 1985.
John Thacker
John is a 5th Dan and a BJA Level 3 coach. He started judo in 1970. He is is a member of the BJA Council alongside the Conduct & Complaints commission. He is also the current (as of Feb 2018), Masters Commonwealth Champion.
Rob Sharpe
Rob is a 2nd Kyu and a BJA Level 1 coach. Rob started judo in the 70's carrying on into the 80's. As an adult he picked up again around 2014, when he first started bringing his daughter to classes.
Jamie Spencer-Pickup
Jamie is a Level 1 coach
William Blakeman
William is a Level 1 coach