Last night in the dojo before work began
Out with the old..
After the last senior session before work began,
There was a quiet sadness in the air in the main dojo.
Mats taken up
Mats taken up
Mats taken up
The main mats were taken up and stored in the lounge and will become the foundation for the new mat to be laid on over the new boarding.
The base mat was quickly whisked away into members garages, back rooms and basements.
Club President Paul Adams takes time to reflect
Work begin
Mats taken up
Mats taken up
We felt a bit sad when we took up the mat and all traces of judo taken out. It has been the beating heart of the Swinton dojo for over 20 years and has seen many people learn, win, lose and try again.
Work began and the dojo was stripped bare. The old heating system ripped out from behind the wall mats and some windows were bricked up ready for a future development.
‘Is there no session on then’?
Olympian Nic Kokotaylo
Disaster
The floorboard was rotten and in places the builders could pull some of them up with their bare fingers. The joists were also rotten at the ends where they connected to the walls.
Luckly the wood was not wasted. Joint head coach James Doherty’s brother Chris had not long moved to a new house back in the North West Area. The floor joists were given new life in their garden as benches and a pergola. A new trophy base was also crafted out of the old wood to keep of the old building alive in the club.
Everything was taken out leaving the clay exposed under the floor. The false ceiling was dismantled as part of the planned development. It was a nerve wrecking time of the project. The old building had a few surprises up its sleeve; A whole new floor with a new foundation wall was needed amongst a few other things.
Putting it back together
At last materials were being brought in and not out. The builders hard work was at now being seen in a positive way. The floor joists were almost complete and the steel beams ready to go in on the newly opened wall. The side wall of the dojo was out, exposing the old utility room and very small changing rooms. Soon to be the new spectator area.
The first steel beam was almost in place. Building control insisted on much bigger ones than the architects (Justin Keleghan Plans To Build It Ltd) drawing. The steels are now strong enough support another floor or two.
Andy can now stop asking Brad from local company Kast Build and Design ‘HOW MUCH’? This comes as a relief to Hazel the club treasurer and qualified accountant.
All the floor and joists now firmly in place on top of a new foundation wall and underfloor insulation. Plastering complete ready for the new false ceiling to go in. The ceiling space has been exposed and would have been nice to keep some of the height.
The cost of heating could not justify keeping it this way. The new ceiling is in, plaster painted and the heating system is now being fitted.
Now for Ultimat
The team from ULTIMAT took over for a while to fit the boards over the old mat to give a semi-sprung floor effect. A new competition mat and bespoke wall cladding was soon to be fitted. Our local company who supplies all our kits and mats did a fantastic job form start to a fantastic finish.
ULTIMAT in action...
Back to doing what we do best.... teaching judo!
Under 8's
Under 8's
Under 8's
Juniors
Under 8's
Under 8's
Seniors
Under 8's
Seniors