English Judo Blogs

As discussed at the IJA Annual General Meeting in May 2026, the IJA Executive Committee has approved a membership fee increase from 1st September 2026. The increase will help the IJA continue to support its judo activities and deliver the goals of the Strategic Plan 2026–2028. Membership fees will increase by €10.00 for the following categories: Under 12s: €40 Under 18s: €50 3rd Level Students: €55 Over 18s: €70 Pro-Rata Membership From 1st September 2026, new members will benefit from 16... Read more

Montreal, August 31, 2026 – Judo Canada is pleased to announce the composition of its Board of Directors following the organization’s 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM), held virtually on Sunday, August 30. Judo Canada’s voting members, consisting of its Provincial and Territorial Judo Associations, participated in the election of five positions on the Board of Directors. Five Board positions were up for election this year. Chair Donna Hanson, Treasurer Miguel Rueda and Director Ruth La... Read more

Canada’s only judoka on the tatami Sunday at the Lausanne Grand Slam (Switzerland),  Kyle Reyes  (-100 kg) was eliminated in his first match of the day. Disappointed with his performance, he plans to regroup physically in order to bounce back in the coming weeks. Facing Bulgaria’s Boris Georgiev in the opening bout, the Ontarian believes he wasn’t effective enough in grappling, and let his opponent close in on him too easily. That was all it took for Georgiev to secure the victory wit... Read more

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Montréal, August 23, 2026 –Canada’s judokas put on a spectacular showing on Sunday in their repechage match against France in the mixed team competition at the Cadet World Judo Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Unfortunately, despite their valiant efforts, the Canadians fell to the French after seven bouts. Zoe Element  kicked things off for the Canadians with a victory over Mamitantely Oceana Stefanie in the under-48 kg category.  Amir Temirbaev  (-60 kg) kept up the momentum by d... Read more

Matthew Molchanov  was the only Canadian judoka to advance to the final rounds on Saturday at the Cadet World Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The Ontarian made his mark as the day came to a close, winning his bronze medal match in the under-90 kg weight category. In his final bout against Nurradin Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Molchanov scored early, then proceeded to block all of his opponent’s attacks. He thus finished the day on the third step of the podium. “It was pretty much his... Read more

Five bouts, five victories, and one championship title in the Under 66 kg category: that’s how  Anes Mati’s  day went today in Guayaquil, Ecuador, at the Cadet World Championships. Late Friday afternoon, the Montreal-based judoka faced off against Giorgi Kapanadze (Georgia) in the grand final of his weight class. Mati scored two yukos, and was able to protect his lead until the very end of the bout to claim the top spot on the podium. Canadian Coach  Antoine Bouchard  commented, “T... Read more

The Welsh Judo Association is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Istvan Babos , a hugely respected figure within Newport Judo Club and the wider Welsh judo community. Steve passed away in hospital on 7 August 2026, just three weeks short of his 90th birthday, following a fall at home. Born in Hungary in 1936, Steve came to the United Kingdom as a refugee at the age of 20. He moved to Newport in 1958, where he joined Newport Judo Club and began an association with the club that ... Read more

Amaze Athlone Judo Club – Westmeath On behalf of the President Ms Sylvia O’Flynn, the IJA Executive Board, our clubs, and our members, we would like to welcome Amaze Athlone Judo Club to the Irish Judo Association. Head Coach Lydia Ritchie, 6th Dan, is very excited to establish a new judo club in Westmeath as part of the Irish Judo Association. Lydia is a well-known and highly respected figure within the judo community, working closely with the Veterans Commission and actively engaging with t... Read more

Team Canada’s  Roman Semyrozum  earned himself a silver medal in the Under-60 kg division Thursday, at the Cadet World Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The Montréal-based judoka ended the day with a record of three wins and one loss. In the gold medal around, Semyrizum faced off against Rassulkhan Gabit (Kazakhstan). The bout was hard-fought by both judokas and even went into overtime, but in the end, Gabit came out on top. Canadian Coach  Antoine Bouchard  commented, “It was a... Read more

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 Over the past year,  Catherine Toshkov  has enjoyed success in various continental open judo tournaments. After winning four consecutive bronze medals in the aforementioned events, the Montréaler reached a new milestone Tuesday, with a silver medal finish in the Under-63 kg division at the Lima Panamerican Open in Peru. In the final match, the Québecois athlete faced two-time Olympian Anriquelis Barrios (Venezuela); Barrios has defeated the Canadian last Friday in the repechage at th... Read more

In a hard-fought bout,  Keagan Young  had a bronze medal slip through his fingers on Sunday, the final day of the Lima Grand Prix in Peru. Facing off against Brazil’s Guilherme Schimidt for the first time ever in his career, the Ontarian judoka was defeated by yuko after 21 seconds of overtime in his bout in the Under-90-kg division. While Young finished the day in fifth place, it was his best-ever result at a Grand Prix tournament. “It was a close duel,” noted national coach  Antoine... Read more

The Irish Judo Association, through its Women in Sport Commission, was delighted to support female coaches in gaining valuable international coaching experience at the Valencia Training Camp in Spain in August 2026. For Iwona Osenkowska, a Level 2 coach currently working towards IJF Academy UCJI status, and Grainne Murphy, a Level 1 coach, the camp provided an excellent opportunity to further develop their coaching skills, broaden their experience and gain valuable insight in an internationa... Read more

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François Gauthier-Drapeau  took advantage of his participation at the Lima Judo Grand Prix in Peru, to add another medal to his collection. Gauthier-Drapeau claimed silver in the Under-81 kg division, where he lost in the final to David Lima (Brazil). Despite a disappointing outcome of that final bout, the Québecois athlete was pleased to return to the international podium. “It may be heartbreaking to lose in the final, but I have to admit that earning a medal feels good! It had been ... Read more

Julien Frascadore  (-66 kg) was the only Canadian judoka to see the day’s end with a ranking—seventh place—on the first day of the Lima Grand Prix on Friday in Peru. The Québecois athlete ended their day with a record of 2 wins and 2 losses. A silver medalist at this same tournament last year, the 26-year-old judoka needed overtime to defeat his first opponent, Willis Garcia (Venezuela), by ippon—notably clocking his first victory over Garcia in three career matchups. As a result of t... Read more

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The IJA is happy to announce that Higashi club will be opening a new venue in Clondalkin at the start of September, 2026. The address of the new facility is The Ninth Lock Centre, Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, D22NN84 For any further information regarding the timetable of the classes, or the fees, please contact Ivan Deliu at 087 613 0118 The post New club venue coming soon in Clondalkin first appeared on Irish Judo Association . Read more

Irish Judo Association Appoints Yvan Cebenka as Chief Executive Officer The Irish Judo Association is delighted to announce the appointment of Yvan Cebenka as its new Chief Executive Officer. Following a comprehensive and highly competitive recruitment process, which attracted many high-calibre applicants, Yvan was unanimously selected by the interview panel and has formally accepted the position. Yvan joins the Irish Judo Association from the world of Rugby, bringing extensive experience in ... Read more

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Join us for the 3rd Jita Kyoei Open Practice hosted at Shojin Judo on August 22nd from 12:30 to 3:30 pm Read more

Joshua Green – Commonwealth Games 2026 – Glasgow The Irish Judo Association sends the best of luck to Joshua Green as he competes in the Men’s U73kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026 being hosted in Glasgow. We wish Joshua and coach Paul (proud father) the very best for the event which starts on Saturday the 1st August 2026. Joshua Green IRL Photo Credit: Di Feliciantonio Emanuele The post Best of Luck to Joshua – Commonwealth Games 2026 first appeared on Irish Judo Association . Read more

Grading Commission Policy Update Following a review of the current grading system, the Grading Commission has approved a number of changes to the grading requirements. These changes are intended to ensure greater consistency in the awarding of grading wins and points and will apply as outlined below. 2nd and 3rd Kyu Effective immediately: All candidates must attend the National Gradings to obtain their two required wins. The theory component may still be completed in advance of the National ... Read more

Join us for the second part of this clinic on Kumi Kata and Attack Patterns. Read more

Betty Gibbons RIP On behalf of the IJA Executive Committee, the IJA Office Staff, the IJA Competitions Commission and the Leinster Judo Council, we sent our deepest condolences to Mr Leo Gibbons on the passing of his mother Betty. Leo is so well known and respected in Irish Judo alongside his daughter Jodie, we offer our sincerest sympathies to the whole of the Gibbons Family at this sad time. Funeral Details Gibbons (née Mulligan) , Betty, Finglas East formerly The Thatch Rd., Whitehall. Pas... Read more

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How did you get the opportunity? Having volunteered at the previous two Commonwealth Games held in the UK — Glasgow 2014 and Birmingham 2022 — I was eagerly waiting for applications to open in September 2025. A detailed selection process followed, involving a number of different tasks and assessments. Thousands of people applied, and in March 2026 I was delighted to be offered a role at the Games. What does your volunteering role involve? At these Games, I will be working as the Internat... Read more

‘Ministers announce €4 million for Women in Sport’ Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, and Minister for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue, have announced a €4 million investment under the Women in Sport (WIS) Programme for 2026. The funding allocation matches the record amount invested in the last two years and represents a doubling of the amount allocated in 2022. The WIS Programme funds projects and initiatives for women and girls across a wide rang... Read more

Reminder – All paperwork is due July 23, 2026 Date: Sunday August 23, 2026 Time: Registration: 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm, Clinic: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Location: IPPON Martial Arts, 16735 Ridge Road, Northville, MI 48168 Registration Fee: $20 All candidates must submit all their paperwork by July 23, 2026. Submit paperwork to Frances Glaze, […] Read more

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The Welsh Judo Association is delighted to announce the appointment of Natalie Powell to its newly created Head of Performance and Pathway position, following a competitive recruitment process.  Powell brings a unique combination of world-class competitive experience and a deep understanding of the Welsh judo system across a 25-year career. Having started her journey at Irfon Judo Club, she went on to become Wales’ most successful judoka, culminating in winning gold at the Glasgow 2014 C... Read more

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The Irish Judo Association Adaptive Commission, led by Peggy Magee, is seeking feedback from members and coaches to help shape the future of adaptive judo in Ireland. Two surveys have been launched—one for members and one for coaches—and are featured in both the News and Events sections of the website to maximise visibility and encourage participation. The surveys will remain open until 5 August 2026, with a possible extension depending on response rates. We encourage all members and coaches ... Read more

The Welsh Judo Association is proud to recognise the induction of Natalie Powell as inductee number 217 into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame. The honour was presented at last week’s Road to Glasgow: Team Wales with the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame event at the Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff, recognising a career that has helped define Welsh judo on the global stage.   Natalie’s journey is one of sustained excellence at the very highest level of international competition. Competing in the -78kg cat... Read more

The ever popular North Yorkshire Festival on the 28th June was once again held at York.An event that year on year proves to be very popular with players of all ages from 8 years  old. In the region of 200 competitors took part in the event across 3 mats, doing their best to show off their judo skills. We also saw presentions for young player of the year for 2025 & Mike Leng recognised for decades of voluntary service to area judo.  There were also referee assessments for a few of the volunte... Read more

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The Welsh Judo Association is seeking a passionate and committed volunteer to support the continued development of technical officiating across Wales. Welsh Judo Association Technical Officials Representative Technical officials play a vital role in the successful delivery of judo competitions. From timekeepers and scorers to recorders and competition controllers, they help ensure events are delivered safely, fairly, and professionally. The Technical Officials Representative will act as ... Read more

Welsh Judo is pleased to announce the athletes selected to represent Wales at the British National Team Championships 2026, taking place on Saturday 4 July 2026. The annual event brings together some of the best young judoka from across the Home Nations, competing as teams in a unique format that rewards both individual excellence and collective team spirit. The Welsh squad features athletes from clubs across the country, reflecting the strength and depth of the Welsh performance pathway... Read more

It is my great honor, on behalf of the United States Judo Federation, to congratulate Corinne Shigemoto on her induction into the U.S. Judo Hall of Fame. Read more

The Welsh Judo Association is proud to announce the selection of eight judoka who will represent Wales at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, marking a significant milestone for the athletes, their coaches, clubs and the wider Welsh judo community. The squad showcases the strength and depth of Welsh judo, bringing together Commonwealth Games experience, World Class Performance Programme athletes, British champions, international medallists and some of the country’s most exciting emergin... Read more

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The United States Judo Federation extends its sincere appreciation to Dr. Ron Tripp, USA Judo CEO Corinne Shigemoto and USJF Executive Director Robert for their collaboration in establishing this reciprocal membership agreement. Read more

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The GB international and World Masters medallist, Mark Fricker talks honestly about how Pembee streamlined Read more The post Mark Fricker Interview: How Pembee has helped simplify dojo admin appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

 OPEN PRACTICE FOR ALL JUDOKA AND JUDO CLUBS IN THE AREA SATURDAY JUNE 20TH, 12:30PM – 3:30PMWARM UPS, DRILLS, INSTRUCTION, OPEN RANDORI Please contact [email protected] with questions. Read more

Join us for a clinic on Kumi Kata and Attack Patterns with Sensei Nabil Elalem on June 7th from 1 pm to 3 pm Registration is on SmoothComp at https://usjf.smoothcomp.com/en/event/32377 Read more

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Date: Sunday September 20, 2026 Time: Registration: 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm, Test: 1:00 pm Location: IPPON Martial Arts, 16735 Ridge Road, Northville, MI 48168 Registration Fee: $20 All candidates must submit all their paperwork by July 23, 2026. Submit paperwork to Frances Glaze, Chair of Konan Board of Examiners, and Tom Sheehan, Chair of Konan […] Read more

Date: Sunday August 23, 2026 Time: Registration: 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm, Clinic: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Location: IPPON Martial Arts, 16735 Ridge Road, Northville, MI 48168 Registration Fee: $20 All candidates must submit all their paperwork by July 23, 2026. Submit paperwork to Frances Glaze, Chair of Konan Board of Examiners, and Tom Sheehan, […] Read more

For several years, WJA membership fees have remained unchanged. However, the cost of delivering high-quality judo across Wales has continued to rise in recent years, including costs associated with member services, safeguarding, governance, workforce support, development, and administration. Despite these increases, our updated fees remain below the equivalent rates of the British Judo Association, while also bringing us more closely in line with the other home nation judo bodies. ... Read more

After finding out the fantastic news that our very own Sean McRory has been added to the GB Deaf Squad, with a view to pushing forward to the Deaf Olympics, Commercial Manager Mark Donald, caught up with Sean to ask him all about the announcement. It was also a fantastic opportunity to find out more about Sean, his background and the motivation that drives him forward. Interview below… 1. Tell us how you found out about your selection I found out about my selection through a phone ca... Read more

Welsh Judo is proud to support Clean Sport Week (taking place from 11–17 May 2026), the annual awareness campaign led by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) that champions fair play, integrity and drug-free sport. This year’s theme, ‘Built not bought. 100% me.’, celebrates athletes who achieve true, lasting success through hard work, talent and commitment. It sends a clear message: champions compete clean and don’t take shortcuts. Clean Sport Week 2026 comes at a critical time. There is growing concern ac... Read more