INSTRUCTORS

COACHING TEAM

The Sobell Judo Club has one of the largest coaching teams of judo clubs in London. Their combined experiences spans across a variety of countries, cultures and all levels of competition from regional to the highest level. All of our dedicated staff are DBS checked and fully first aid qualified. 

Read Bob's Story

Bob Bushnell first stepped on the tatami in 1981 at Quinta Judo Club under Ian Black before moving to the Sobell Judo Club in 1982. Since then, Bob has risen to the highly respected grade of 6th Dan. As club secretary, Bob manages the club and is responsible for taking on all beginners through the induction program. He has the task of working tirelessly with lower grades to strengthen their foundation and helping them with their grading syllabus. Bob is a leading member of the management committee of JEF (Judo Education Fund) a charitable organisation established independently to help fund judo educational projects. Bob is a founding member of JFAUK and currently serves as its chairman.



Sobell head instructor and Youtube star, Sampson, is Sobell's longest standing student. Since joining the club in 1984 he has become a world class competitor respected across the globe. 

8th Dan / Head Instructor

SAMPSON SAMPSON

 

Read Bob's Story

Bob Bushnell first stepped on the tatami in 1981 at Quinta Judo Club under Ian Black before moving to the Sobell Judo Club in 1982. Since then, Bob has risen to the highly respected grade of 6th Dan. As club secretary, Bob manages the club and is responsible for taking on all beginners through the induction program. He has the task of working tirelessly with lower grades to strengthen their foundation and helping them with their grading syllabus. Bob is a leading member of the management committee of JEF (Judo Education Fund) a charitable organisation established independently to help fund judo educational projects. Bob is a founding member of JFAUK and currently serves as its chairman.



As club secretary Bob manages the day to day running of the club. He is also responsible for getting every newcomer started via our beginners induction programme.

6th Dan / Club Secretary

BOB BUSHNELL

 
 
 

FARID NEMOUCHI

6th Dan / Senior Sessions

Former Algerian champion Farid is one of our senior coaches and has a reputation for developing explosive power and competitive judo. 

Read Farid's story

Farid began training judo at a young age in 1983 in his home country of Algeria, coming from a family of highly skilled judoka. Farid made a name for himself in his home nation and rose through the ranks to become a known national and international champion. In 1983 Farid spent time training and competing in France before eventually moving to the Sobell Judo Club in London in 1997. Farid uses his wealth of competitive experience to develop our senior judoka at the Sobell Judo Club. Farid's sessions are known for their intensity and their focus on developing explosive power, something key to enabling any judoka to top the podium. Farid is highly regarded by JFAUK and is currently serving as a national coach for the organisation. ​ Alongside his judo training, Farid also has plenty of experience in MMA and is widely respected in the London MMA and BJJ communities.



SAMUEL BETU

6th Dan / Junior Sessions

Former international 
competitor, Samuel has accumulated extensive experience in judo training and competition and draws on this experience each week to develop our students. 

Read Elena's story

Elena started judo in 2006 at the Sobell Judo Club, following in the footsteps of her children. Elena achieved her 1st Kyu in 2008 before achieving her competitive 1st Dan in 2009 at a national grading in Peterborough, aged 40. Since then she has risen to the well respected grade of 3rd Dan. A founding member of JFAUK, Elena is known for being an excellent technician and despite her light weight made a name for herself by often defeating heavier opponents with clinical displays of judo. ​ Elena uses for supreme technical skill to help build string foundations for our younger judoka to set them up for a strong future in judo.



Read Elena's story

Elena started judo in 2006 at the Sobell Judo Club, following in the footsteps of her children. Elena achieved her 1st Kyu in 2008 before achieving her competitive 1st Dan in 2009 at a national grading in Peterborough, aged 40. Since then she has risen to the well respected grade of 3rd Dan. A founding member of JFAUK, Elena is known for being an excellent technician and despite her light weight made a name for herself by often defeating heavier opponents with clinical displays of judo. ​ Elena uses for supreme technical skill to help build string foundations for our younger judoka to set them up for a strong future in judo.



Lightweight superstar Elena has made a name for herself due to her incredible technical prowess - something she uses to guide our younger students.

3rd Dan / Primary Sessions

ELENA DEL POZO

Read Bob's Story

Bob Bushnell first stepped on the tatami in 1981 at Quinta Judo Club under Ian Black before moving to the Sobell Judo Club in 1982. Since then, Bob has risen to the highly respected grade of 6th Dan. As club secretary, Bob manages the club and is responsible for taking on all beginners through the induction program. He has the task of working tirelessly with lower grades to strengthen their foundation and helping them with their grading syllabus. Bob is a leading member of the management committee of JEF (Judo Education Fund) a charitable organisation established independently to help fund judo educational projects. Bob is a founding member of JFAUK and currently serves as its chairman.



Cypriot national medalist and regular international competitor, Sam uses his competitive experience to aid our senior sessions.

2nd Dan / Senior Sessions

SAM SAMPSON

Read Geert's story

Geert began judo at Judo Club Itterbeek-Schepdaal in his home nation of Belgium in 1983, aged 10. In 1994 at age 21 Geert achieved his first dan. After a long break from judo, Geert returned to the tatami at the Sobell Judo Club in 2014 and achieved his 2nd Dan in 2017. Since joining, Geert has been an integral member of our team where he currently works with the Primary judo team and plays an important role in building foundational judo skills for all of our younger judoka.



Belgian judoka Geert uses his experience to help build a strong foundation for all of our younger students across  the primary and junior sessions.

1st Dan  / Primary Sessions

GEERT ENGLES

Read Fahd's story

Fahd began judo in 2011 at the Sobell Judo Club and has since achieved his 1st Dan. Fahd has stood out due to his ability to quickly absorb anything shown to him. He therefore plays a key role in assisting the junior judo team to help continue their technical development whilst at the same time introducing competitive elements to push their development further.



Moroccan born Fahd is one of our most complete judoka. An excellent all rounder, Fahd pushes our junior judoka to be the best they can be.  

1st Dan / Junior Sessions

FAHD DALAH

Sobell Sports Centre,
Hornsey Road, London,

Islington N7 7NY

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© 1973 Sobell Judo Club

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