Pelkhil School hosts Bhutan Judo Association on campus and membership is open to all. BJA is a sports association affiliated to Bhutan Olympic Committee, Judo Union of Asia and International Judo Federation. Members include both recreational students as well as the national team. Members include both girls and boys, with ages ranging from 5 year-olds to 50 year-olds. Do not hesitate to sign up if you have the interest to learn the gentle art of Judo!
Pelkhil School introduced Judo for the first time in Bhutan in 2010. More students joined from other schools in the valley.
The first sensei was Michihiro Yamasaki, who established the foundations of Judo in Bhutan. He was with the club for almost 3 years. Sensei Yoshihiro Horiuchi took over from 2014 until 2016. He was appointed by JICA Bhutan. Assistant Coach Pema Dargay coaches all the new members. After that was Sensei Miyu Uchida and Sensei Yusuke Utashiro. Currently, Sensei Yuki Fukui is the national Judo coach.
His Majesty the King was a keen practitioner of Judo as the Crown Prince. In 2011 during his visit to the Kodokan Judo Institute he received an honorary black belt. His Majesty also expressed his keen interest to spread Judo throughout Bhutan.
With the generous support from His Majesty and HRH Prince Dasho Jigyel U. Wangchuck, the President of the Bhutan Olympic Committee, interest towards Judo has grown slowly but steadily in Bhutan. In 2013, the Pelkhil Judo Club received affiliation with the Bhutan Olympic Committee and was upgraded to the Bhutan Judo Association. The certificate of affiliation was issued in 2015. As an opening event, the Nepal national team was invited to Bhutan for a joint training camp and friendly tournament.
Students train 3 times a week for about 90 minutes each session. Used judo gi or dress is provided for free by BJA, and new ones are available on sale.
BJA conducts at least 2 national tournaments in a year. Members also participate in regional tournaments in South Asia at least once a year. Our members have participated in tournaments and received training in Nepal, India, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Russia, Argentina, Morocco, Hungary, Kuwait, Switzerland, etc.
A small monthly fee of Nu.200 is charged for the program. Interested individuals are requested to contact the school office to find out about schedules and timings.
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