Part 3

Part 3

Craig Fallon Opens new Dojo

In March 2005 the club received substantial Grant Aid and the dream of a brand new custom built Dojo started to become a reality.
The bulk of the funding for the £600,000 cost came from The Community Club Development Programme - a partnership between the Department for Culture Media and Sport, Sport England and the Governng Bodies of Sport (in our case the British Judo Association). South Lakeland District Council donated the land valued at £100,000. Additional help also came from Kendal Town Council, The Hadfield Trust, The Holehird Trust, Cumbria Community Foundation, Lakeland Ltd., Atlantis Kitchens, Kendal Quality Carpets, Lakeland Joinery, Cox & Allen, Time & Tide, Direct Design and Holmes of Natland.
After one or two setbacks the Dojo was eventually opened by World and European Champion Craig Fallon on June 3 2006.
Since then it has been host to many National Squads; has hosted the English Open Championships; and in 2008 will host the National Team Championships, not forgetting, of course our very own Lakeland Open.
Some Facts & Figures
The Training / Competition Area is 26m long by 15m wide and includes two full size Olympic Contest Areas.
The area is made up of 175 2m x 1m tatami.
The sprung floor is created by layers of tyres interpsersed with sheets of hardboard. It required 1,303 tyres to create the effect
The fold-a-way seating can accommodate up to 200 spectators
The Torii Arch, made by Lakeland Joinery, which is unique to any Dojo in the country weighs two and threequarter tons.