Dr Colin Draycott – a Stalwart of British Judo Interviewed for “Budo” Magazine in 1993 by Yoshiaki Kano, with Japanese- April 2021 To-English Translation by Brian N
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Issue No. 48 Dr Colin Draycott – A Stalwart of British Judo Interviewed for “Budo” magazine in 1993 by Yoshiaki Kano, with Japanese- April 2021 to-English translation by Brian N. Watson. Edited by Llŷr Jones Contents Introduction • Dr Colin Draycott – A Stalwart of Thanks to a post on social media by 1984 Olympic Extra-lightweight bronze medal- British Judo – by Yoshiaki Kano (in- list Neil Eckersley, the Kano Society became aware of an interesting article on a terviewer), Brian Watson (translator) stalwart supporter of British judo, Dr Colin Charles Draycott IJF 8th dan. The inter- ̂ and Llyr Jones (editor) view highlights Dr Draycott’s deep technical knowledge of judo as well as his keen • Obituary: Hana Sekine – by John perception of Jigoro Kano-shihan’s psychological theories on the system. The Goodbody reader’s attention is particularly drawn to Colin’s most discerning observations which, for convenience, are highlighted in bold and underlined text. • Hana Sekine: Judo’s Centenarian Passes Away – by Jo Crowley • In Memoriam – Henri Courtine – compiled by Llyr̂ Jones • Points to Ponder – compiled by Brian Watson & Llyr̂ Jones • Judo Collections at the University of Bath. Publisher’s Comments The Kano Society mourn the passing, very late on Friday 8 January 2021, of Hana Sekine (née Koizumi, aged 100). Hana had an incredible heritage and lived a very full and vibrant life, though she had recently fractured her hip. Everyone who came in contact with Hana held her in the greatest regard, and with her passing the last connection to the founding of The Bu- dokwai has been severed. Colin Draycott of Great Britain at the Judo Event of the 2008 Summer Olympics held from 9-15 August at the Gymnasium of the University of Science and Technology, Beijing The Society also note the sad passing of Guy Auffray 9th dan (aged 75) on 11 Jan- uary, Bill Berry MBE 7th dan (aged 85) on Colin Draycott (born 31 August 1942) started doing judo in 1955, gaining his 15 February, and Henri Courtine 10th dan 1st_dan in 1962 at the age of 19, and his 4th_dan in 1967. He is a five-time (aged 90) on 20 February 2021. Recall national medallist, who fought in several Home Internationals and was also a from Bulletin 47, that Auffray, a sublime 1964 Olympic trialist. Brian Watson, a regular contributor to the “Kano Society technician, was the judoka featured in David Finch’s personal favourite photo- Bulletin” recalls he first saw Colin compete in the British Olympic team selection graph from all the ones he has taken at finals at Crystal Palace. Watson himself was competing against Syd Hoare on elite judo tournaments over the course of the middleweight mat and Draycott was competing on the next mat against Tony 50 years. A stalwart of Police Sport Bill Sweeney. Both Hoare and Sweeney went on to represent Great Britain at the Berry was Chairman and Honorary Vice- 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. President of Judo Scotland, a Senior Ex- aminer and a National ‘A’ Referee. Colin has taught judo at colleges, universities, Leicester City and the County Po- lice. In the 1960s he was also a Senior Referee at four National Police Judo Contributions Championships. In the early 1980s, along with Brian Cox and lifetime friend Tony This on-line publication, “The Bulletin”, is MacConnell, he helped to form and finance the Kendal Centre of Excellence – the backbone of the Kano Society’s activ- home for 24 full-time judo players at any one time, many of whom went on to ities. All contributions are very welcome. become Olympians and World medallists. Stay safe everyone Diana Birch Page 2 Draycott has devoted much of his time over the years to Draycott: No, and he wasn’t British either. I didn’t know his coaching, sponsoring and mentoring individual players, nationality. He said that he gained a 4th dan in Mombasa, whilst also selflessly supporting the British Judo Association Kenya. He was an interesting man who had lived in several (BJA) and the extended judo family. He is a Patron of the countries. I was the youngest member of his class. The oth- British Judo Trust, a Director of the International Judo Feder- ers were over twenty, so all my training partners were adults. ation (IJF) Ethics Commission and Sport Director of the IJF Nevertheless, since I had trained quite hard at athletics and Veterans Commission. He is presently an 8th dan, and out- swimming, I eventually became strong enough to hold my side of judo he is a Chartered Civil and Chartered Building own against them, but for the first three months or so, I Engineer. spent most of the time taking break falls. Kano: I was surprised to hear that you opened your own dojo The article that follows is from a 1993 interview that Colin at 16. Why did you do that? undertook whilst visiting Japan a number of years ago. Brian Watson again remembers travelling to Osaka, at that time, Draycott: Cycling there and back to the dojo took me two with Kisaburo Watanabe, Mr. Yoshiaki Kano1 and Colin and hours, which was tiring. After I gained 3rd kyu, I thought of interpreting for him at the interview held at the Royal Ho- opening a dojo in the village where I lived. What I actually tel. Shortly thereafter the interview was published, in the did was hire a room above the bar in a pub. I did not have Japanese language, in the monthly “Budo” magazine that re- any tatami, so I spread a canvas over an enclosed frame that portedly had at that time a circulation of c. 20,000. I had filled with sawdust. After we had trained for a while though, cracks started to appear in the ceiling of the bar be- Background low, and the landlord asked us to leave. Colin Draycott – born in Leicester, United Kingdom (UK), on 31 August 1942, is married with a son and two daughters, I had many problems at first and had to change the location both of whom (1993) are students. He graduated with a of the dojo on four occasions. Although the other ten mem- Doctorate in Civil Engineering. His business interests in the bers of my village dojo were older, I gave the instruction. construction industry and sporting goods have taken him to Twice a year, we all contributed money to raise the neces- many countries. Currently (1993) he is Senior Vice President sary £40 in order to pay Kenshiro Abbe, a famous 6th dan, of the British Judo Association. His hobbies are playing the who lived in London, to visit our dojo. (The average Japanese guitar and conjuring. employee’s initial salary was about 20,000 yen in those days – so since the exchange rate in yen was over 1,000 yen, £40 Quotes from Colin was a little expensive.) Some five years later, things were Judo is a wonderful sport, one in which courtesy is empha- improving, and I was able to open a dojo near our village. sised and players have mutual respect for one another. I am There we had the freedom to practise two hours a day, seven glad that I had the good fortune to experience a judo career. days a week. Although I am personally opposed to the practice of award- ing money to players for appearing in judo competitions, I Kano: I hear you got your 2nd dan aged 22. This must have believe that for their livelihood, it is an inevitable occurrence, been difficult to achieve without a regular instructor. especially when a player retires from competitive judo. Pay- ments are already being made to contestants in the UK. I Draycott: It took me four years to reach 2nd kyu. I failed in sponsor and promote judo. Although the introduction of col- my first attempt to gain the 2nd kyu grade. This was the first oured judo suits is not popular with everyone, for the sake of time in my life that I had failed at anything, and it came as TV viewers and the general public, it is a welcome develop- quite a shock. I later entered several local judo champion- ment. ships and eventually won one that was held in Birmingham. st Establishes a Dojo at 16 To gain 1 dan, I had to perform Nage-no-kata, Katame-no- kata and contest against 24 opponents. (In Japan, one Kano: I believe you started judo at 14. What sparked your would need to be a 5th dan to achieve the same result.) A interest? nd year later, I entered a grading exam for 2 dan. All my op- Draycott: Judo differs from soccer, cricket and other team ponents were black belts. After performing Nage-no-kata, Katame-no-kata and contesting against a line-up of 11 op- games because it is a combat sport for individuals and as such, it interested me as it develops personal discipline. I ponents, I passed. started judo in 1955 when I was 14. I cycled 12 miles to the Kano: nd nearest dojo. Before starting judo, I had been active in ath- This was more difficult than taking a 2 dan grading in Japan, I think. letics and swimming. Not many people practised or knew much about judo in England in the 1950s. I did not regard Draycott: judo as a sport at first. It wasn’t until I had been practising In the early 1960s, Mr. Kisaburo Watanabe taught for several months that I came to recognize it as a sport. judo in London. Every Friday evening after work, I drove down to London, a distance of 120 miles, in order to attend his hard training sessions.