TV presenter Steve Backshall helps Wycombe Judo Centre celebrate 30 years of success

TV presenter and Cookham resident Steve Backshall joined members of High Wycombe Judo Centre for the milestone celebration on Saturday, April 22 and took the lead in senior and junior judo masterclasses.

A judo player himself, Backshall shared his knowledge with other members of the club and Wycombe MP, Steve Baker, also joined in on the action.

The site– which is also home to the well-established Booker Gym Club – was the first purpose built judo centre to open in the country and has gone from “strength to strength” ever since, now home to more than 100 members.

Senior coach, Bill Nobbs, said: “[Steve Backshall] is an absolutely fantastic guy he had so much time for the children and parents - and they all loved him.

“Steve Baker came along too, he used to do Judo at university. It was a really exciting day and we had a massive party afterwards with about 130 people.

“It was the first purpose build judo centre country ever. They used to work in sports halls and that sort of thing.

“The aim of judo is to teach children discipline and self-affirmation. We don’t know how long it is going to be around here but it has grown from strength to strength and we have grown the gym too.”

A number of other sporting clubs use the centre as their base, including Handy Cross Runners, Booker Gym Club and various other martial arts classes.

After the masterclasses Backshall signed judo belts and took photos with the members – which was followed by a party attended by around 130 people.

MP Steve Baker – who took part in judo at university – hailed the centre saying: “Judo is a great sport for fitness, strength, discipline and personal resilience. I hugely enjoyed the masterclass, even given the emphasis on excruciating Jiu Jitsu strangleholds, which I hope never have to use.

“Wycombe’s Judo Centre is a fantastic regional asset which sustains this much-loved sport locally and nationally”