Roy Court Career Profile
One night at a Cardiff pub in 1976, I met a judo coach who invited me along to a judo club on a session evening to join in the warm up.The reason for this was because, I was training every evening running the roads and this session would give me the opportunity to train indoors. At this present time I was coming to the end of my football career (Age 27). After a few weeks, just sitting there after the warm up, I got bored while waiting for them to finish. So I myself purchased a judogi and joined the Cardiff Central Youth Club. I became so involved in the sport of judo, that I started going through my promotion grades, then I became involved in helping with the juniors, in the session prior to the seniors, (this was good because it was a mild warm up session for me). I was now hooked and a coaching opportunity came my way, of which I welcomed, this meant a full weekend course at the National Sports Centre for Wales under the watchful eyes of Mr Terry Edmunds. What a weekend, being 11st 7 lbs and matched for throwing practice with Mr Andrew Burt 95kgs all day was a fitness feat in itself. But I passed my first judo exam this enabled me to coach my own sessions at the Cardiff Central Judo club. I then went on to receive my Black Belt, then my senior club coach award and I also passed examinations in Self-defence, recording, timekeeping and becoming an official examiner. These 5 or 6 years was a busy time, but I also became involved during this time in teaching a student with downs-syndrome the sport of judo, this word got around and others came asking if they could also join. Providing they were willing to learn the sport of judo I did not see any problems. Also during these years I formed and coached at a new club called the TY Celyn Judokai of which I was head coach for 4 years.With more people with disabilities, wanting to join my judo sessions, I needed to research more into this. So I wrote off to a place in London who I heard gave grants for research into projects concerned with people with disabilities. I was fortunate to receive a research grant for £200-00p. This was used to look into the ways of coaching and attending disability awareness courses and also writing to a few schools to find if they were interested in becoming involved in the sport of judo. I also discussed the sport of judo with many disability organisations. I know had sufficient knowledge to progress with this idea which would give all, regardless of disability the opportunity to participate in the sport I liked.From here I set up a couple of special needs classes at the Cardiff Central Judokai2 schools sessions were organised and 1 evening session, there were multiple disabilities in these classes, which made me want to do further research. Through the research and the finding of other people involved, a day was arranged in Weston-super- mare, I travelled from Wales with 30 students, this I thought was going to be the start of something big. Over the next couple of months having heard nothing from the people I met in Weston, I decided to further my knowledge by speaking to other sports organisations who were dealing with specific disability groups. In this time I met Marilyn Godfrey a development officer for the sports council, with other coaches from various sports a new organisation called WISP (Welsh Integrated Sports Plan) was formed. We travelled Wales has a group running come and try it days in our individual sports, this became so successful, from this with the help of the WJA a grant was applied for from the sports council to run road-shows throughout Wales specifically for the sport of judo.( Sessions were run in 17 centres throughout Wales) with 750 students participating. Also my knowledge and experiences were passed on to the local area club coaches, who attended these sessions. Although I became involved in coaching other sports to people with special needs, judo was the sport that I wanted to specialise in. Again thinking about the way forward, I again wanted to further my research, I found that in Holland they were running competitions for people with all disabilities, so again I received a research grant for a 10 day period to travel to Holland and observe and participate in the systems there. This was so successful, I was invited to enter a team from Wales the following year, I have been to this competition for the past 7 years with teams from Wales, During these 7 years I have also taken teams from Wales and the UK to competitions in Germany/Finland/Sweden/Belgium and France. Over these years I have met the countries coaches and National Organisations and been instrumental in coaching students from these countries in clubs throughout Europe. In the year 2000 I organised the first European special needs judo event, in Cardiff, with 12 countries participating with over 200 competitors. In October 2002 I am organising an International Festival Tournament in Clacton on sea England. This event will be the first on an International Special Needs Judo basis, to take place in England. Also during the past 23 years I have designed a grading system for special needs students in Wales, I have spoken at many disability conferences and given talks to students in the UK And Europe on the project of Judo for people with Special Needs.I also was instrumental with a coach from Holland in setting up and delivering the Special Olympics Sports Rules for Judo. I have also been involved with my fellow coaches in Europe in helping put together a set of competition rules, that can be used universally at all our competitions.At this present time I am coaching weekly Integrated Sports sessions in JUDO/POWER-LIFTING and FOOTBALL. In the past years I have also designed and put together a Disability Awareness Course specifically for the sport of judo, I have delivered this course in Wales and many areas in England and Scotland. I have also written a JUDO MANUAL which will be of use to all participating in the project i.e. Coaches/judoka/referees/ officials and volunteers.This project in Wales over the past 25 years has attended and given Judo displays at various venues and fetes annually, Royal Welsh Show / Swansea Show plus many large sporting days, at venues throughout Wales. Over these years I have had a lot of help from many individuals John Perrins / Dr Nick Whitehead OBE / Mrs Wendy Williams MBE / Mr Nigel Walker/Mrs Marilyn Godfrey plus officers and coaches from throughout Wales and the WJA. These are but a few, but there are many more throughout the UK and Europe.Over the past 10 years I have also received students from UWIC, who attend my sessions for practical experience in working with special needs students, has part of their degree courses. I have taught and helped many international students from around the world for the university, these students have been taking their masters degree's.
Events over the years 1976 Started my Judo Career. /1981 Club Coaching award./1982 1st encounter with students with disabilities./1983-1984. Research grant given to me to look into judo for the disabled. / 1986 Award of 1st Dan. /1990 Gave a demonstration with a team from Wales at the World Disabled Games in France. / 1990 Senior Club Coach Award./ 1991 Qualified in Timekeeping/Recording and became a BJA Examiner. / 1991 Became a BJA Self defence instructor. / 1992 Became the WJA Liaison Officer for Special Needs. / 1993. Run a Judo roadshow in 14 centres around Wales for Special Schools. / 1994 British Institute Sports Coaches Coach of the year (coaching disabled performers) ./ 1995 Welsh Sports Hall of Fame (award). / 1995 Attended competitions with teams from Wales and the UK to various European countries. /1996 Received an (Individual) Understanding Disability Award from South Glamorgan. / 1999 Devised a Disability Awareness Course for the sport of judo. / 1999 Attended judo events with Wales SN Team to Belgium/Sweden/Finland. / 2000 Started writing a manual on the project. /2000 Published the Judo Manual. / 2000 Run the Wales Judo SN Open in Cardiff. 14 European Countries attended./ 2000 BJA Commission member / 2001 Helped form the Special Olympics Judo World Sports Rules. / 2001 Designed an information web site for judo, on special needs. / 2002 Technical Advisor to the Irish Judo Association. / 2002 Appointed Technical Delegate for the Special Olympics World in Dublin in 2003. / 2002 Technical Delegate for the 1st Special Olympics European Judo Championships in Tongelero Belgium./ 2003 First South Wales Echo Community Sports Champion Award. / 2004 Participated in International Judo Tournaments in Holland and Slovenia with UK Disabled Judo players. / 2004 - Self Defence co-ordinator in schools throughout South Glamorgan. / 2005 – Organisor of all Special Needs Judo Tournaments throughout Great Britain. / 2005 – Gave seminars in Milan twice/ Florence and Sicily ITALY and participated in the Ravenna Festival. / 2005 – Appointed technical delegate for Special Olympics World Games in CHINA 2007. / 2006- Judo Disability course tutor for Denmark Judo Association and Denmark Disability Federation, February 2006. / 2007 Technical Delegate for judo World Special Olympics Summer Games in Shanghai China. / 2007 Appointed Head coach BJA SN Judo Team. / 2008 Head Coach for the BJA SN Team in Beverwijk Holland. / 2008. Attended a Competition in Ravenna Italy with a Wales SN Team.
At Present I am the: Welsh Judo Association Liaison Officer for Special Needs./ Judo for ALL Co-ordinator and disability awareness tutor (UK). / I am also a coach at 3 judo clubs in Cardiff. / BJA Commission Member. / Head Coach BJA SN Team. / Sports Council for Wales Sports Leadership tutor. / Welsh Weight Training Association Club Coach. / Football Association of Wales Coach. / St Johns Ambulance First Aid at Work Certificate Holder.
Over these past 30 years I have given seminars and run courses at many events and conferences throughout GB and Europe.
I have helped to set up SN Judo clubs in Australia/Brazil and the USA.