Sensei Tom Owen
IN MEMORY OF
TOM
OWEN HEAD COACH OF EGH
JUDOKAN
Tom Owen started judo in 1963 at Penrhiwceiber in the Cynon Valley.
Whilst serving in the Royal Army Ordinance Corp he started coaching Judo in 1972.
In 1975 he took the bronze medal
at the AJA British Judo Championships, many argue it would have been the
Gold had he not given up his hotel room the night before to a fellow club
member. However, this selfless act was typical of Tom and his life is full
of such memories.
On leaving the services he settled in Church Village and joined EGH Judokan, he soon became the head coach. The club started in East Glamorgan Hospital (hence EGH), despite moving several times the club has always kept it original name.
The national body
for judo in the UK is the British Judo Association (BJA), for many years
Tom resisted all attempts to bring EGH into the organization on the basis
that he did not want his methods diluted by the “sports centre judo”.
However, in 1983 he bowed to pressure and entered a full EGH squad into
the BJA welsh team trials, of the 17 who entered 16 became full squad
members most as number one in their category. During the trials many of
the opponents sustained minor injuries and had to withdraw from the
competition, from that point on the club was nicknamed “GBH” by John
Perrins, the president of the Welsh judo association, and the name has
stuck within the judo world to this day. John Perrins tried to get Tom to
take on the role of Welsh Team Coach on many occasions, but to no avail,
as Tom would not dilute his commitments to EGH.
Tom’s style of judo was based
closely on the teachings of Japanese Master Kenshiro Abbe and his strict
discipline and uncompromising views on what was true judo never left him.
Tom instilled in his pupils a sense of achievement through dedication,
discipline and hard work and more importantly a respect and honour for
others. These teachings provided valuable life lessons for all who passed
through the club with many parents eternally grateful that their children
had this experience.
Over the last 30 or so years it is
estimated that somewhere in the region of 2000 boys, girls, men and women
from our local community have been taught by Tom and all pay testament to
the positive affect EGH had on them. Today there are men in their 40’s
who admit that Tom’s teachings, when in their teens, is still part of
their day to day life.
Under Tom’s coaching there have
been many national champions both Junior and Senior, but the true measure
of his success is the fact
that throughout the past 30 years it would be quite common to have over 60
juniors and 30+ seniors at the club twice a week, every week.
Tom would never accept any payment or reward for his coaching and ran EGH as a total non profit making members club, this made even more admirable knowing the very modest means by which he lived. This level of commitment and dedication has help shape the local community for the past 30 years.
Tom Owen passed away on the 24th July following a short illness; he is survived by his daughter and hundreds of past and present judoka of EGH Judokan.
Toby Lewis – EGH Judokan
EGH in the early days