YORK judo doyenne Sheila Lockyer has added her opposition to controversial government plans which are threatening the sport's existence at a local level.

Ex-England international Lockyer, whose father Phil Edwards introduced the martial art to York, has backed a national Save Independent Judo campaign against proposals forcing all clubs into affiliation to the British Judo Association by 2008.

Lockyer, who has been involved in judo for 60 years, now acts as an advisor to the Old Priory Club which, despite its formation in 1947, could come under the threat of closure.

Old Priory offer judo instruction at Moor Lane Youth Centre on Saturday mornings for 30 pupils, mainly children, but the government have decided that all judo club members must belong to the BJA in two years' time.

Instructors will also need a United Kingdom coaching certificate if they are to teach judo in local authorities, schools, clubs and leisure centres.

The BJA currently boast 21,000 members while a massive 150,000 people prefer to practice judo at independent clubs.

Sixth Dan black belt Lockyer, who once fought for her country and later became a senior instructor and North of England manager, believes that the move towards a BJA monopoly is not in the sport's best interests or honouring its noble roots.

She said: "I've been a BJA member but found it too dictatorial. For me, they did not teach judo correctly.

"The emphasis is on fighting, not friendliness or improving people, but judo is the 'gentle art'. That is what it means in Japanese.

"You can teach around 90 to 100 throws but the BJA only use the short syllabus. Their emphasis is on fighting rough, it should be on fighting gently. Judo is a peaceful discipline but a war is being made of it."

There are also financial reasons for the independent clubs' objection to joining the BJA.

Memberships fees are greater, as are the costs of attending BJA gradings and gaining instructor qualifications.

Lockyer said: "The costs will be more than a lot of our kids at Old Priory can afford. We have also taught our own instructors in the past.

"Our current coaches Geoff Brown, my son-in-law, Neil Oatley and Trevor Elsy have all been trained by the club and others are on the way up but I assume that any instructors not affiliated to the BJA in the future would be unable to hold classes because of insurance problems. It would no doubt mean we could not teach self-defence in schools either."

Lockyer is also joining the independent judo clubs' crusade as a fitting tribute to the memory of her father, who died in 1978.

Phil Edwards' name is synonymous with the history of judo in this region and, at one stage, he was the only black belt in the North-East.

He went on to attain third Dan status and set up other judo clubs in Bradford, Harrogate and Sheffield.

His proud daughter said: "My dad was very keen on judo being a way of life and he would have been fighting this."

If you want to join the Save Independent Judo campaign, e-mail saveindependentjudo@tiscali.co.uk or call a co-ordinator on 01395 265532 or 01491 872294.

Updated: 10:24 Friday, April 21, 2006