The Judo History of Peter Hutchins by Faith Hutchins

Peter was in the Merchant Navy from 52 to 54, and started judo in the winter of 54.  He had done a bit of boxing before, really liked wrestling and considered judo to be the best option. ("You don't get smacked in the face!")

 

His friend's stepfather had a cafe on Stepney Docks; an elderly man from the dockside offices said boxing was soft and invited them to his judo club at Maryland Point,  Stratford.  The first viewing gave Peter the idea that the participants of judo were insane. The second week he was talked into a return visit when his friend went onto the mat.  These mats were coconut and not nearly so forgiving as the mats of today.   By the third week Peter was invited to go on the mat where ground work was being practised.  When he refused the sensei asked if he was 'chicken' giving him no option than to take part.  There he learnt his first lesson in judo when he was beaten by a much smaller man.  You do not take size for granted.  Peter gained his 5th Kyu (then yellow) which he believes was from Bill Woods, before he was called up for National Service in February 55.

Two years later he went back to the Kyu Shin Kwai club and got his 4th Kyu (orange) grade.  But by then he was courting and eventually married, so it was another 3 years before his return to judo.  This time it was the Repton Boys Club where judo was practised along with other sports.  He was embarrassed by grades lower than his, there were no licenses at that time, and went to a grading at the LJS: (London Judo Society) to prove his status. Eric Dominic was one of the grading officers and requested that Peter not keep bouncing players off the walls as they had just been decorated.  His fighting was scrappy with little judo technique although he won his contests and proved his 4th Kyu. Peter still wore orange when he reached the semi finals, along with two black and one brown belt, of a club competition for a silver cup.  His name was put on the top of the cup and he believes he is still the lowest grade listed on it.  By now his 2nd child was born and family commitments took priority.

There are two memorable occasions in Peter's early judo days. Competitions were few and far between then and most were on American Air Force Bases. One memorable occasion was at a Cambridgeshire Base where contestants were sorted by sitting either side of the mat and fighting whoever was opposite, round robin style. The last man to win was the overall winner.  Peter found himself up against a huge barn door of a man, and he was wearing a black belt. Peter was a 12 stone weakling wearing orange, and expected to get slaughtered, there were no weight comparisons then.  However he was not too concerned as the Americans hosted with free drinks and refreshments and as the first fight of the day he'd be first up at the bar.   Having tried for years to do Harai Goshi he later found that this was the throw he had used to beat this giant of a man and since then it has been his favourite technique.

On another occasion it was a Sunday unofficially for Dan grades only, but Peter and his friend, both 4th kyu decided to go along.   They went into the centre dojo and a 2nd Dan ordered Peter to fight him, there was no respect for lower grades. Peter succeeded in taking his opponent in seconds with Deashi Barai.   This was when he learnt his 2nd lesson; the black belt bounced him all around the room.  At the end of the fight Peter thanked his superior and said that they both knew who the best man was!!  Over the next couple of years Peter progressed through 3rd (green) and 2nd (blue) kyu.

During this time a young teenager by the name of Brain Jacks was at the LJS and Peter had several sessions with him and told the boy's father that the lad would go far. There were several players whom Peter encountered at this club who went on to become BJA players of distinction and notability.

He returned to judo after a couple of years and at the age of 28 he went back to the LJS to try for 1st kyu (brown). Each man was required to take a line up of every other man, which found Peter fighting a friend also going for his 1st kyu, twice.  Peter won all of his contests, which meant his friend lost twice to him, in Peter's line up and his own. A 3rd examiner was called in and he asked Peter and his friend to fight again.  They did not take the contest seriously and allowed each other throw for throw.  The 3rd man asked if they had understood what grade they were fighting for, as neither had seemed to want the grade, neither would get it.. Both were then awarded 1st kyu.  Later in the pub they realised one of them could possibly have got a Dan grade if they had fought hard enough. They realised that to earn a grade you must really be eager for it, half hearted you get nothing.  Peter considered that to have been his last chance of ever getting a Dan grade as all the other participants were younger men in their early 20's.

Peter continued with his judo until he contracted TB and was informed that his breathing was not strong enough to continue.

In 1980 Peter had become permanently disabled with both lungs and a very serious operation which saw him in intensive care for a couple of weeks. This changed his once active life, and meant that he was physically unable to work.  Although his breathing improved slightly the prognosis was not good, and doctors told him he would not get any further recovery.

Then in 1984 Peter's youngest son by his second wife Fay, then 6 years old, showed a keen interest in starting judo having heard his father's tales of the sport. This boy was Adam. It was difficult finding a club then as web-sites were virtually unheard of, so it was word of mouth that found Peter watching his young son on the mat. A friend of the sensei, John Workman, noticed Peter and realised that he had some knowledge of judo.  He asked Peter if he would like to assist at his club.  This club was Timberlog which was later to become an Akitas club [Ed's note - this was actually Adam's second club after beginning in Kyu Shin Khan, an IBF club].

Timberlog was a BJC (MAC) club and the association accepted his 1st kyu from his early judo days.  He was doubtful of his abilities with his restricted breathing but became obsessed with getting a Dan grade. The sport of judo requires just minutes of breathing strength as against other sports which need prolonged activity, and it suited Peter's capabilities.  The first BJC grading which Peter attended was at Clements Hall, a week after coming out of hospital with further breathing problems.  He was in front of Bill Woods for a refereeing examination, and was asked to referee the players who were trying for Dan Grades.  He got the Regional Refereeing grade.   Three weeks later in March 1986 Peter put himself into the Area Grading. His theory was judged in two parts, at The Mill, Rayleigh, and again at the official grading, where he also got his club coach award.  He surprised himself when he got the Dan grade, but the BJC is a very technical association and Peter had learnt his techniques to a very high standard. Peter felt that he had been given some leeway because of his disability but was told to go away and learn to be a Dan Grade.  Getting the award was just the beginning of living as a Dan Grade he was to find, and later gave the same advice to any of his students at whatever grade they may have attained. Later in November that year he became a National Referee.

 

It was September 1986 when Peter was asked to do a ladies self-defence class at evening school in  Beauchamps  School, Wickford.  On the conclusion of the course Peter was asked to start a judo club which he eagerly agreed, and so Beauchamps Judo Club was formed.  This club was to be the figure head Akitas club which continues after almost 18 years in Wickford, and now in Southend.

 

Starting with just 8 juniors Peter remembers the first lesson he ever gave at Beauchamps, when, having concluded the night's class he asked questions of the boys to fill in the remaining few minutes.  One question was, "Why do we talk in Japanese for judo?" One youngster raised his hand and replied, "Because you can't talk English properly"; repeating a comment Peter had jokingly made early on in the lesson. This caused a giggle for the parents who were now present and is an anecdote Peter repeats from time to time.

The school were trying to run the club in a very unsuitable fashion and Peter and Fay decided that it was time to find their own premises.   They found St. Andrews church hall, next to Wickford Police Station, and with a loan from Fay's parents, paid the first quarters rent and purchased jigsaw mats, (these being the cheapest option, although some of these are still in use today).  Within a year the loan was repaid and the club, which retained the Beauchamps name, was running a waiting list for youngsters who were eager to take part in the club's activities.  Over the next 15 years Peter had large classes on two nights a week and when the club was moved to the Wick Community Centre all the members moved with him, which was most gratifying.

Bill Woods was running a club at the sports centre in Rainham and asked Peter to take over on occasions when he was unable to.  This club was a few years later to become another Akitas club, going under the name of Chaffords at that time.  With this additional club Peter was now at one Akita club or another on five nights a week.  He produced many very good players, obtaining medals from all over Europe, and the club was well known internationally under the banner of Beauchamps. Peter has trained many seniors to Dan grade status, most notably son Adam as 2nd Dan, son Ricky and daughter Jenny as 1st Dan's.

A county coach award at the annual Summer School at Swanage in 1989 saw Peter in1990 get his 2nd Dan at the same venue.   Four years later he made 3rd Dan at the Summer School, and four years after that he got his 4th Dan. In the interim he went to  Lowestoft in September 93 and was made an International Referee, and he was also made a National Coach.  Peter served on the Board of Examiners of the BJC (MAC) for a few years and eventually decided that he would give his players more ambition by joining the British Judo Association (BJA) which is the recognised Olympic body of judo, and whose grades are recognised worldwide.  The association recognised his 4th Dan when he demonstrated his knowledge at the Northern Home Counties (NHC) base at High Wycombe.

Peter has attended many courses over the years with judoka of distinction.  Notably Junji, Shinomia, Roy Inman, Dave Starbrook, Dave Bevan, Bill Woods, Bob White, Steve Blower and Mike Illot among others, and has run many courses himself, demonstrating techniques learnt from many sources.  Peter considers himself to be still learning and believes that no-one can become a perfect judoka; there is always something to be learned from others.