WYJC was founded in 1973 by Sensei John Culley, 3rd Dan Judo (photo right).  It was also Sensei Culley who designed our Club Badge way back in 1973.

 

Our first Dojo was in St. Peter’s Collegiate School Hall, North Street, Wolverhampton.  Just over a year later, we had to move due to the School-site being used to make way for the 'expanding' Wolverhampton Polytechnic.  The Wolverhampton 'Poly' eventually graduated to become the University of Wolverhampton.   St. Peter’s Collegiate School relocated to Compton (a suburb of W/ton).

 

1974:  We moved into a Victorian factory building in Union Street (still central to Wolverhampton), where we occupied the whole of the first floor.

On the second floor was the home of the Wolverhampton Boxing Club.  The Boxing Club venue was also shared by the original Wado Ryu Karate Club run by Sakagami Sensei.

 

However, due to a government compulsory purchase order, we all had to move out of Union Street (to make way for the new Novotel building - situated just off the Ring Road, behind the New Wolverhampton Law Courts).

 

 

 

 

The black&white hotograph (left) is of St. Peter's Collegiate School Hall was provided by David G. Worton (one of the early members of WYJC) and was taken at the time when the Hall was being demolished.

 

1976:  We finally moved to Hilton Hall Community Centre in Lanesfield and this became our home and permanent Dojo and regular Judo Classes have been delivered at Hilton Hall Community Centre for all of those 32 years. 

We have always been a 'Community Based Judo Club' with our motto being 'Judo for All'.

 

WYJC is a not-for-profit Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) run by a highly experienced 'Team' of Volunteers and Coaches, who are fully committed to providing high quality, safe and enjoyable judo coaching, teaching and training opportunities for ALL.

 

2008 September 9th:  WYJC was presented with the Sport England Club Mark Award Certificate by 3 times Olympiad & Chairman of the British Judo Association Mr Densign White.  The certificate was presented to the Club Coaches with over 100 Members being present for the Award.

 

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2008 October 3rd: Sadly, we have had to move out of Hilton Hall Community Centre due to the closure of the Hall by the City Council.  We are working hard behind the scenes to ensure we get back in there as soon as possible following extensive repairs and refurbishment work .

 

2008 October 16th:  We moved into our temporary NEW home for WYJC at Hurst Hill Primary School Gymnasium, until we can get the 'go-ahead' to move back into Hilton Hall. 

 

Following the closure of Hilton Hall we teamed up with other users of the the Hilton Hall site and formed a community action group to put forward a 'Hall Rescue Plan Proposal' to the Wolverhampton City Council in order to 'Save Hilton Hall From Permanent Closure'. 

 

We have now secured a Long-Term Lease on Hilton Hall, but are now in SERIOUS Need of Sponsorship and Funding to pay for the work to refurbish and modernize Hilton Hall.  To find out more about Hilton Hall Community Centre please go to hiltonhall.com.  You can also see our progress in picture form by visiting http://www.flickr.com/photos/hiltonhall or Click onto the Hilton Hall Link Button below:

 

2009 June 4th:  The Lease for Hilton Hall was signed, sealed & delivered to Hilton Hall Community Association (WYJC being a founder member) and work commenced on the Hall on Thursday 4th June 2009.  We are confident that we can raise sufficient money, sponsorship, materials and man-power to get the Hall re-opened over the next year to eighteen months.