History

Foundation

AUJC was founded by Jo Revalk, Yondan in 1956. Jo was a judoka from Holland who migrated to Adelaide in 1954 as a Sport and Physical Education specialist. The Club started training in ‘The Hut’ at the back of Elder Hall. Jo was a passionate and superb judoka with a focus on both the competitive and physical education side of judo. He took a team away to Intervarsity competitions right from the beginning, winning the Intervarsity Championship in the Individual category.

Jo enrolled at the University of Adelaide in 1955 to gain his Physical Education qualifications.  In 1956 as the founder and coach of the Adelaide University Judo Club he made a significant contribution to student health and fitness as well as expounding the true philosophy of Judo as founded in the 19th century by Jigoro Kano to his students.  The club expanded over the 1960s and he valued it “like a family” where long-term friendships were forged.

 

In 1961, women joined the Club and participated successfully in Intervarsity coming  2nd in Adelaide in 1962 and Di Niehuus the captain of that team, became Australian individual champion. The tradition of life partnerships starting at AUJC started at the time with Jo’s marriage to university student and blue belt Judoka, Jackie Barter.

 

Sadly, Jo was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the early 60s and continued coaching until the late 60s. Tragically he passed away in 1972, and is survived by his wife Jackie Revalk and son Johan Revalk, and his legacy lives on at Adelaide University Judo Club which he loved so much.

 

Jo always stressed that Judo teaches respect and honour of the partner, not to feel superior, constant self-awareness and a goal to improve, an ethos that was continued at the Club by subsequent coaches.

 

 Johan B. Revalk; 1933 - 1972    

Johan B. Revalk; 1933 - 1972              1958 IV Team (Melbourne)            1961 IV Team (Sydney)

 

Early Years

Hugh Willans, Nidan from Britain took over the Club in the late 60s, by which time training had moved to the University Gym on Mackinnon Parade in North Adelaide.

Hugh was a high level competitor winning Gold at the Australian National Titles, U73 division, in 1969, and he reached the semi-finals for selection for the Montreal Olympics in 1976, but unfortunately had to withdraw due to a major injury.

Hugh was awarded a University Blue by Adelaide University Sport for his achievements in Judo competition. Hugh came to Australia from the UK in 1966 from London and he had a major influence on the technical competition level of the Club. was a key contributor to the early development of AUJC. Hugh Willans passed away in Adelaide in Sept 2021.

 Hugh Willans (far right)

Cliff Adams, Shodan from South Africa took over coaching the Club in 1970. He built the technical foundation of the Club while he did his PhD at Adelaide Uni and returned to South Africa in 1973 when he completed his degree.

Cliff Adams Shodan

Current Era

Michael Headland took over the coaching of the Club in 1974 as a Green belt and set about rebuilding it to the level it was at under Jo Revalk. He worked diligently towards his Shodan, training with Hans and Marie Hol (Godan) at the Adelaide YMCA Judo Club in Adelaide City. Hans and Marie were very skilled judoka, coincidently also from Holland. The Club now draws a lot of its kata and technical skill and depth from previous work with Hans and Marie Hol who remain important figures in the Club’s history. The other really important figure in the Club’s development is Johhny Whipp, Shichi dan, who mentored Michael in the late 70s.

Michael eventually graded to Rokudan in 2000, having made a huge contribution to judo in SA. While Head Coach at AUJC, he served as Secretary, Development Officer, Grades Director and State Coach at various times through the 1990s and 2000s.

During his tenure, the Club moved from the University Gym, which subsequently closed in 2003, and Michael and the Club Committees at the time, oversaw several moves by the Club to different venues. First to the Games Room on campus at Adelaide University on North Terrace, then off campus to Thebarton in 2006, a scary, but eventually very productive period for the Club.

 

At the Uni Gym, Mackinnon Pde, flying in 1983 and after training in 1984!

   

AUJC Black Belts in the 1990s – Games room, Union House                                 Michael Headland, Head Coach 1992,  Australasian Hall of Fame 2019  

New Era Begins

Under Michael’s leadership the Club has grown to over 200 members and now trains in Thebarton, SA. In 2023 a venue was leased with a permanent mat area and club rooms as a home for AUJC at 34 Phillips Street, Thebarton. With amazing assistance from members who volunteered enthusiatically, the new dojo was set up and opened its doors in November 2023, with a grand opening in March 2024. In addition, AUJC maintains regular training sessions in Union House on-campus for students, staff and visitors. 

 

34 Phillips St Thebarton 2024            2024 Training with Gu-Ham Cho World Champion! 

Now in 2025 there is a team of Coaches who run classes at AUJC, with specialists in shiai, newaza, kata, beginners, older adults and fitness training, as we move towards a merger with UniSA Judo Club in 2026.

 

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