A martial arts club founded by a former prison officer who shared his jujitsu skills with colleagues so they could deal with inmates is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Roger Wilkes, now 75, is the founder of the Kyushin Ryu Ju Jitsu Association - a network of clubs across north Kent and two in West Sussex.

He started training in martial arts as an 11-year-old schoolboy in 1959 when he got involved with judo before moving on to karate in the 1960s.

Then in 1966, Roger started practising jujitsu to learn self-defence whilst he worked at Rochester prison as a prison officer.

He described it as a “double-edged sword”, as he would be “the first person to be sent in when some trouble was going on with the inmates”.

The Strood resident introduced the martial art to other staff, as well as firefighters and policemen.

In 1973, due to the number of people who wanted to get involved, the first training session was held in Rochester with eight people.

Roger, who is still involved and is a black belt 9th dan, has since seen the association “grow naturally” to have seven clubs, including in Detling, Hoo, Strood, Gravesend and Dartford, with thousands of members.

Together, they have produced 353 black belts and members have won medals and trophies in many countries.

He said: “I am exceptionally proud of what the club has become but it has grown naturally over the years.

“I take great pride in the fact that all the senior instructors in the association I have taught myself.

“Jujitsu is a sport where you are always a student and never a master which is why so many people love it because there's is always something to learn.

“Even recently I was judging two young men and they got a move wrong but I actually thought that could be turned into a jujitsu move.

“The sport has lots of benefits such as self-discipline, confidence and awareness."

To mark the anniversary, the association is holding a multi-national event.

An International Course and Competition featuring competitors from eight countries is being held at the Inn on the Lake Hotel, Shorne, on Friday and Saturday, September 22 and 23.

Friday will be a chance to do general training while the competition will be on Saturday morning, followed by another training session under the supervision of some of the “finest jujitsu coaches in the world”.

To round the event off there will be a presentation dinner.

Roger, who is known as the association’s Hanshi, or teacher of teachers, said past members were welcome to join the celebration and attend the dinner.

He added: “Whilst the event will not be the biggest in attendance it will be the most important in the association's history.”

To find out more email info@kyushinryu.com.