Dave Follows and Sam Asplin first founded Totnes Judo Club in 1986. The dojo was at the Mansion, in Fore Street. The club struggled in that year, and was forced to close. Then came Nigel Ohlsen in 1987, he reopened the club and gave it the name it has today (the name means the way of the samurai warrior). In 1988 Nigel had to move away, so Jackie Horswill whose children were doing judo at the time stepped in to take over the coaching. Jackie kept the club going, and the memberships began to increase. In 1991 Simon Ward joined the club and started to help with the coaching. 1992 saw the start of Ronin Do Judokai in Kingsbridge, Jackie was the coach at the leisure centre, and after three moves around Kingsbridge the dojo was well established, with memberships growing.
In 1995 Simon took over as senior coach at Totnes. He then became Devon county judo coach in 1996, as well as Totnes coach. In 1997 we moved the dojo to the newly built Totnes Pavilions sports centre, where Ray Brown took over the running of the junior class.
1999 sadly saw the closure of the Kingsbridge club, due to Jackie moving away. (This club is now back up and running, but is no longer under Ronindo). We continued to do well for the next few years and grew the club to over 70 members. We were successful in the southwest and gathered quite a few medals and titles.
In early 2004 Simon left us to start his own club, in his hometown of Torquay. As he was the competition coach most of the competitive players moved with him. Loosing most of the established players was a blow to the club. This meant that Ray was now the only coach and was faced with the task of rebuilding the numbers, a process that continues today. We still have a healthy junior membership, from which to grow our own youth team and the embryos of a women's squad. What will really lack at the moment are senior men, as due to numbers they tend to drift in and out. So if you are looking to start or rediscover Judo, Ronindo is the club for you, we can all grow together.
Ray has been studying Aikido with Danny da Costa and achieved his Shodan in August 2004 and became a Bristish Aikido Board Instructor in August 2005, the club therefore has taken on a more martial aspect of Judo and Aikido.
Danny DaCosta joined us in February 2005 and teaches once a month on the first Friday of every month. Danny teaches his own brand of Judo using the Ki aspects from Aikido, to improve power without strength. Danny is a 6th Dan BJA Judoka and a 4th Dan Shin Gi Tai Aikidoka and brings to the club his vast experience as a former European Senior and World Masters champion.
We are a small, friendly club and all are welcome, whether you are
new to the sport, experienced or want to return after time out, whether you
wish to train for recreation or competition, you will be made very welcome.