By Tara Fitzpatrick

A SENIOR judo coach from Alexandria has won the Judo Scotland Lifetime Coaching Achievement Award.

Jim Robertson,76, is still an active judo coach leading classes at Alexandria's Osaka Kwai Judo Club.

He started Judo 62 years ago in Bellahouston aged 14, and became a black belt 36 years ago.

Jim received his award at the Scottish Judo Federation Gathering in Inverclyde at the beginning of September.

The award was presented by judo world teaching expert Hiroshi Katanishi from Japan.

Osaka Kwai was founded by Jim's father-in-law in the 1940s and Jim has been a member since 1978 when the club was based at Church Street, Dumbarton.

The love for the martial arts sport has been passed on as Jim's three sons are now also judo fans.

Jim has trained most of the current coaches and is still teaching on the mat on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays.

He said: "Judo isn't easy but if you persist and work hard you'll get there.

"I think it's also good discipline to teach children. Although it's not just about kicking your back into gear it's also about having fun.

"The teaching has changed over the years. Back then it used to be much more serious now we try to make it fun.

"There are definitely more children involved in judo now than there were 30 years ago."

He says there is nothing to stop anyone from giving judo a try.

"I say if you can teach children you can teach adults. It's never too late, one of our coaches came into it about two and a half years ago and now he has his black belt."

Osaka Kwai's welfare officer, Fiona Gillan said: "He can be stubborn but the club love Jim and wouldn't have him any other way. I'm over 30 years his junior and he puts my fitness to shame."

When Jim began his judo career the mats were canvas with a wooden rail, under the mat was straw and in the bad weather extra straw was added.

Nowadays he says the mats are made of foam and fit together like a jigsaw which make teaching a lot easier.

"Because we have good mats we sometimes get asked to come to local schools in Alexandria," said Jim. "It's natural for the kids to feel a bit apprehensive at first but they soon get more confident."

Osaka Kwai are a not-for-profit organisation and have been based in the community centre in Alexandria for over 30 years. It is one of the oldest judo clubs in Scotland. For more information visit www.osaka-kwai-judo.weebly.com