On October 28th 1952, 110 people attended a meeting in Rosemount Junior Secondary School where it was decided to form the Aberdeen Judo Club. A proposed constitution was read by Mr A.W. Chubb and, after a lengthy debate, it was unanimously accepted.
The Club has gone on to thrive over the years, producing many fine players such as Bill Robertson, Bill Ross, Harry Black, Bill Berry and George Aspinall, who became the Clubs first Black Belt in 1965. George later emigrated to New Zealand and represented New Zealand in the 1972 Olympic Games. Bill Berry, now a 7th Dan, is Vice Chairman of the Scottish Judo Federation and also Chairman of the Aberdeen Sports Council.
More recently we have Samantha and Vincent Wilson, brother and sister. Sam and Vince have gained medals at both national and international level. Both won gold medals two years running at the Canada Cup in Toronto. Jason Moore is past Scottish and British Police Champion.
Over the years the Club has played host to a number of distinguished guests. Anton Geesink, Ushiro Watanabe, George Kerr, Andy Bull, Dave Starbrook, Brian Jacks and Nigel Donaghue to name but a few. Anton Geeshink officially opened our new Club Premises at Smithfield Hall in the early 1970's.
Aberdeen Judo Club has had many homes over its first 50 years. Starting with a school hall, it then moved to the basement of a 'public house' in the city centre. Later, the Club relocated to an Army Nissen hut in Hayton, where older members recall that snow and ice had to be cleared from the mat before practice. Several years saw the Club occupying an empty Territorial Army drill hall and a room within the Bon-Accord swimming baths before it settled in its present venue at the Aberdeen Beach Leisure Centre where the club has enjoyed excellent training facilities for the past 16 years.