Judo Instructors
Richard “Razz” Hopkins is a Level 3 coach and 6th Dan. Razz proudly wears the coveted red and white belt of that grade. He is also the club “Kodansha” which is a Japanese term meaning High ranking Judoka – 5th Dan and above. Razz’s father was one of the founding members of Devizes Budo Club in 1957. Razz started at Devizes Budo Club in 1966/67 and competed from 1974 to 2009. Razz won National Veterans and British Masters in 1996 and in the national Team Championships he took Bronze in 2003. Razz also competed in the IJF Veteran World Championships 2009 finishing fantastically in 7th place. Razz was awarded his Coaching Licence in 1992 and has been a National C Referee since 2008. Razz was also a Games Maker during the London 2012 Olympics.
Jason Parsons 3rd Dan, joined Devizes Judo Club in 1995 at the age of ten. Jason started competing shortly after and later progressed onto the British Cadet and Junior squads in his teenage years. As a senior Jason won medals at the British Championships which gained him a place on the British Senior squad whilst also studying and training at University of Bath. Jason has also won other titles such as English Open Champion and British Universities Champion. Jason started coaching at Devizes Judo the age of 20, helping out on a casual basis. In 2010 Jason was named as one of the Western Area coaching team and in 2013 he became the Senior coach at Devizes Judo. In 2015 Jason, along with Mark Burbidge and Dave Duxberry, were awarded the Gold medal for being selected as national BJA “Coach of the Year” at their annual awards ceremony held in the Midlands. Over the years Jason has supported the coaching of the England junior squads, and officially became one of the England coaching team in 2017. Jason is qualified to UKCC Level 5 and completed an MSc Advanced Coaching Practice in 2020. Since November 2022 Jason has been England head coach working predominantly with cadets and juniors.
William Hickman 1st Dan, Level 2 Coach. William started training at the club in 2011 aged 8 after doing school judo with Jason Parsons. He has competed all over the country winning a few golds along the way and at County level. He was promoted to first Dan in 2021 and achieved his level two coaching certificate later that year. In September 2023 William started to teach Judo professionally in various schools around Wiltshire as a business with around 130 judoka on his books. In May 2024 William was elected as the Senior Coach at the Club
Edward Hickman 1st Kyu, Level 2 Coach. Edward also started training at Devizes Budo Club in 2011 aged 8 after originally doing school Judo with Jason Parsons. Edward missed over a year out of Judo (and other sports) with a nasty knee injury in his teens which curtailed his training. He persevered and got back to training at Judo and back into the Devizes squad and eventually the Western Area squad. He has competed all over the country winning golds at county level and a silver at the Kent International. He achieved his UKCC level two coaching certificate in March 2024 and is in training for his 1st dan later this year (whilst also managing to undertake a degree in Geology!) .
Harvey Creasey-Cottle, 1st Dan, Level 1 Coach. Harvey started his judo journey when he was 4 years old with School judo then was invited to join Devizes Judo club when he was 6 after School summer camp. He worked his way through the mons/belts until he gained his 1st Dan when he was just 17. He has now gone on to become a full time judo athlete with Team Bath, at the same time as studying for his degree in sports management and coaching. He has represented Devizes, Western area and Team Bath all over the country, including abroad.
Jerard Mckay 1st Dan, Level 2 Coach. Jerard started training at the club in 1982 at aged 12 under coach Rob Hayter. He started competing straight away winning County, Western Area and National medals all the way into senior Judo.