WALTON Judo Club’s Anthony Vassallo has been honoured by the British Judo Association.

He has been awarded his sixth dan, in recognition of his achievements and services to the sport.

Vassallo started judo around 1972 in East London.

He soon proved he had a talent, achieving his first dan black belt only three years later.

He built up a reputation as someone to be respected on the mat, with his favourite Uchi mata technique bringing great success and being feared on the competition circuit.

In 1992, Vassallo took over Romford and Hornchurch Judo Club.

It proved a very successful era both for the club and for Vassallo himself as he won numerous national masters titles and continued working his way through to the top competitive grade of fifth dan, which he achieved in 2001.

The highlight of Vassallo’s competition career came in 2003 at the World Masters Championship, at the Kodokan, in Tokyo.

Representing Great Britian, Vassallo was unstoppable and helped the British team take bronze, adding to the individual gold medals he won in 2001 and 2002.

Having moved to Tendring in 2004, Vassallo found an available retail property in Connaught Avenue, Frinton, for his jewellery business, which he opened in 2012.

This allowed him to return to coaching, where he has added to the team at Walton Judo Club, initially helping out on Mondays and Thursdays.

He now runs the Thursday classes, for older teenagers and adults.