Staff

Coaches/Staff

Mark Staddon - Head Coach

3rd Dan. Began judo, aged 20, in 1982 at St Pauls Way Judo Club in Bow, London. Won the Southern England Championship, green belt, in 1983 and a won a silver in ‘84. When St Pauls Way shut in ’85, I started Karate and Kick boxing but never lost my love for Judo – joining Ford Judo Club in 1999 when my daughters took up the sport. I was pushed and supported all the way to my 1st Dan by John Debono – gaining it in Jan 2003 and then on to my 2nd Dan in Nov 2007.
I got my my 3rd Dan in September 2022.
Although a couple of serious injuries have prevented me from getting any further, I now have my grade 2 coaches certificate and really do enjoy helping out with coaching the juniors and travelling around Europe to competitions with the Club.

Mark Cliff - Coach Grading Co-Ordinator

I started judo when I was at the age of four, back in February 2000 and I have loved the sport ever since. I have made some great friends over the years thanks to judo. I have had a great set of coaches like Bill Taylor and Mark Staddon that have help me to improve over the years as a player supporting me through competitions. I've been a level two coach for a couple of years now. I enjoy the coaching side of the judo, helping to develop the skill of the young beginners, juniors and even seniors. I want to give back to the sport and help all the Ford Judo Club members and visitors like the club helped me over my time here. I'm proud to be a part of this friendly family oriented judo club. I would recommend Ford Judo Club to anyone that was looking to take up judo.

John Debono - Coach Senior Examiner

Club Coach: John Debono
6th Dan, Qualified Senior Examiner, Area Referee Referee, level 2 Coach. Started Judo aged 8 years old. I received my 1st Dan in 1981, and during the 1980's I was a member of the London area judo squad. I came to Ford's in 1996 and since then achieved my 2nd Dan in 1998, 3rd Dan in 2001, 4th Dan in 2006, 5th Dan in May 2011 and my 6th Dan in 2021.

Mitchell Kennedy - Coach

I started judo at the age of 4. I was in the England Squad & have fought internationally. I am also a Bronze National medallist.
I enjoy being a coach at Fords because I love passing on my knowledge of judo onto other judokas who want to improve and learn.

Philip Thowney - Coach

I started training BJJ in 2007 and fell in love with grappling. However, as I developed my knowledge I realised that I was lacking in my stand up game. So initially I started training in Judo to complement my BJJ, and I did see significant improvement in my grappling abilities almost instantly. But I also found that I fell in love with Judo for itself and wanted to continue with both disciplines for their own sake.

I have since obtained black belts in both BJJ and Judo, and I am currently working towards my 2nd Dan in Judo. I enjoy the coaching side of Judo and seeing players develop their skills. I have recently completed my BJA level 1 coaching award and I am working towards my level 2.

I started Judo at 11 years old as my older brother had done it for many years and had opened his own club. I trained hard, travelling to other clubs in Wales with my brother and his friends. I was selected for the Junior Welsh team but eventually gave up judo around 18 years old - although I did continue to train occasionally at my local club.

After moving to London for work when my daughter turned 5, I brought her to Ford Judo Club. I then decided to return to the mat myself aged 38 and competed in several competitions including the Masters Commonwealth where I won a bronze medal.

Ford asked me to become a coach in 2024. I gained my qualifications and now enjoy helping our members, especially the little ones, to develop their judo talents and win contests and medals at competitions.