Coaches

Alan Lingham — Director of Coaching

Alan is also president of Canterbury Judokwai, and has been involved in the club — and Kent judo — for decades. He has many years of coaching experience, and has refereed at international events. He and his wife Jean won the British Judo Association award for Event Volunteer of the Year in 2018. In 2019 Alan was awarded his 6th Dan for services to judo.

Simon Durston — Head Coach

Simon began his judo journey around 1996 and went on to compete at both national and international levels Throughout his junior and senior years, he trained primarily at Goole Judo Club in the Yorkshire & Humberside region, a place that helped shape his competitive career.

He’s always been drawn to the physical and tactical nature of judo, a sport he values not only for its intensity but for its unique community—where top-level athletes and beginners train side by side, something rarely seen in other sports.

Now a 3rd Dan black belt (awarded in 2022), Simon is working toward his 4th Dan—knees permitting! As a coach, he’s passionate about helping others refine their technique and giving back to the sport that has given him so much.

Martin Apps — Head Coach of Junior Judo

Martin is a Commonwealth Masters silver medallist and two-times British Masters champion. A former British Army physical training instructor, he first stepped onto the tatami when he was six. He competed throughout Europe before taking a hiatus from the sport.

Since returning to judo in 2016, he has been rapidly adding to his medal collection with a stream of golds and silvers in Masters events. Martin coaches juniors at Prince of Wales Judo at Canterbury.