English Judo Blogs

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The European Judo Championships will be staged in Apeldoorn from 15 to 18 April 2027. The event, which forms an important part of qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games, has been awarded to the Netherlands by the European Judo Union. Read more

Christmas Message from NIJF Chairman Russell Brown As we reach the close of another year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the journey we’ve shared together as the Northern Ireland Judo Federation. This year has felt very much like a judo competition itself. We’ve faced challenges head‑on, sometimes being thrown, sometimes finding ourselves under pressure, but always rising again. In those moments, we’ve had to look inside ourselves, to draw strength from our discipline, our c... Read more

Judo, the Japanese martial art developed by Jigoro Kano, has been celebrated for many years, not just as a sport, but also as a self-defense system. It has a philosophy focused on skill, technique, and leverage, not brute force. This is what makes it a good choice for people of all ages and sizes. Read more

For Lara Cvjetko, becoming world number one in the -70kg category was never meant to be a finish line. It was, instead, confirmation that the work she has been putting in, quietly, relentlessly, often without shortcuts, is beginning to show its full shape. “This year I have managed to get to the WRL number one position after winning a bronze medal at the European Championships in Podgorica,” she says. “It was a really big moment for me, mostly because of how huge it felt to win a European... Read more

The year of 2025 has felt like a genuine growth for judo in Montenegro and as the year draws to a close, it is fitting that it ended with knowledge, discipline and tradition. On the weekend of 20–21 December, Podgorica became the setting for a small but historic milestone. For the first time, a kata seminar combined with Dan belt preparation was held in the Montenegrin capital, bringing together 47 judoka, united by a shared commitment to mastering the essence of judo. L-R: EJU Head Kata ... Read more

Would you be interested in representing the Y&H area at the national teams competiton in 2026? Read more

https://static.judocanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Liste-des-athletes-brevetes.pdf Read more

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Date: Sunday February 22, 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 January 3, 2025. Submit paperwork to Frances Glaze, Chair of Konan Board of Examiners, and Tom Sheehan, Chair of Konan […] Read more

Date: Sunday January 25, 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 January 3, 2026. Submit paperwork to Frances Glaze, Chair of Konan Board of Examiners, and Tom Sheehan, […] Read more

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During the 77th EJU Congress held in Gran Canaria, a vote was conducted on the establishment of the Human Rights Commission. The attending national delegates voted in favour of adopting the declaration. The European Judo Union recognises the fundamental role of sport in upholding and promoting human rights, human dignity and respect for all individuals. Inspired by the value of Jita Kyōei (mutual prosperity), Judo must provide an environment where every person, regardless of age, gender, ... Read more

Following the successful 77th EJU Ordinary Congress, part of the EJU delegates, including Vice President of Sport, Catarina Rodrigues; Assistant to Presidential Office, Toth Fanni and Head of Event Management and Broadcast, Janity Tibor, remained on the island to begin immediate preparations with a site visit ahead of the 2026 Cadet European Judo Championships. EJU Vice President of Sport, Ms Catarina Rodrigues, explained more: “After the Congress, representatives from the sport ... Read more

The European Judo Union once again had the honour of participating in Japan at the 3rd International Conference on Safe Falling for Older People through Judo, an event which this year expanded to three full days and featured 45 presentations, delivered both in lecture halls and on the tatami. The conference brought together specialists from 14 countries across three continents, united by a shared objective: to improve the health, autonomy and quality of life of older adults through the te... Read more

The French Senior Championships, held over 13 and 14 December, offered some great medal fights, The final block on Saturday started with a fiercely contested -60kg final, where Maxime Merlin claimed his first senior title. He scored early with ura-nage against Vincent Limare and held firm through intense exchanges and penalties, celebrating an emotional milestone after previous podium finishes. Read more

The senior British Judo Championships were defined by a balance of authority and ambition, where established names confirmed their status and a new wave of champions announced themselves with confidence. At the heart of the weekend stood Emma Reid, whose successful title defence set the tone for a championship shaped by composure under pressure and decisive moments when they mattered most. Read more

Nederland heeft een rijke traditie in de wereld wat betreft judo. Wie deed er nu niet aan judo? Judo deed je naast je school en kreeg een enorm boost toen in 1964 Aton Geesink Olympisch kampioen werd. Judo wordt officieel sinds de oprichting van de IJF in 1951 bedreven, maar is een al veel oudere sport. Al was het judo van een ander niveau onder enkele pioniers in Nederland, maar sinds Geesinks’ gouden toernooi in Tokyo kreeg Nederland zin in judo. Met Ruska en later Mark Huizinga was judo é... Read more

Ryunosuke Haga in on Tour in Europe. The 2015 World Champion U100kg of Astana won Olympic Games bronze in 2016. He was World Junior Championships U20 in 2010 in Agadir and he won many Grand Prix and Grand Slam events as well as the All Japan judo title. He is representative of the IJF Athletes Commission serving a four year term (2025-2029) representing the JUA. Read more

There are many different types of uchimatas. The most common one is typically referred to as the "catch-up" uchimata where tori's lead (attacking) leg takes a deep step in between uke's leg and then the supporting (driving) leg catches up as the lead leg starts to lift. This is the approach used by uchimata specialists such as Kosei Inoue, Shohei Ono and Joshiro Maruyama. Read more

Spanish top judoka Miriam Blasco was a senator for twelve years, four years as a deputy, and she qualifies her experience as very positive, however she still has the stain of having voted against equal marriage, something that she would not have done now. Her partner is Nicole Fairbrother, with whom she faced in the final of the Barcelona Olympics. Last weekend she was at the EJU congress at Gran Canaria, today she celebrates her birthday. Read more

Sarah O’Gara – IJA Referee – Journey in Judo as a Referee Sarah O’Gara has started her journey towards obtaining her IJF International Refereeing qualifications supported by the IJA Refereeing Commission and the IJA Women in Sport programme Join our Journey in Judo. In October, Sarah attended the Welsh Open and sent the IJA a report on how the event went from her perspective as a female referee continuing her refereeing journey towards international qualification. Welsh Open 2025 – Reflective... Read more

Slovenia's Andreja Leski had fought France's Clarisse Agbegnenou five times before the 2024 Paris Olympics. She lost every one of those match-ups. The first time they met was in the 2019 Paris Grand Slam semifinal. There, Agbegnenou threw her twice, with osoto-gari for waza-ari-awasete-ippon. Read more

At first glance, judo competitions and online casinos may appear unrelated, yet both are built on systems that subtly guide behaviour through structure and progression. When you look closely, judo's competitive framework reveals how carefully designed rules, rankings and incentives shape engagement over time. Athletes step onto the tatami knowing exactly how advancement works, how losses are mitigated and how consistency is rewarded across a season. Online casinos increasingly rely on simila... Read more

During the 77th Ordinary Congress of the European Judo Union, there were many moments of reflection but few carried as much weight as the address delivered by EJU President, Dr Tóth László. Taking time to look back on recent years, he offered a clear and confident assessment of an organisation that has not only grown but matured. “The past three years have been truly eye-opening,” he began. “We have grown significantly across many areas, sectors, expertise and responsibility.” He first... Read more

All Ireland’s 2025 The final judo event of the year was held on Saturday the 13th December 2025 with over 400 entries gave us an outstanding day of judo. Results are now available below: All Ireland’s 2025 – Results Well done to all of our judoka who competed at the weekend and to the coaches for supporting them. The post All Ireland’s 2025 – Results first appeared on Irish Judo Association . Read more

During the 77th Ordinary Congress, held in Las Palmas Gran Canaria, Alessandro Comi was elected as a new member of the EJU Executive Committee, assuming the role of Sport Director. Following his election, he took a moment to reflect on his journey, ambitions and vision for the future as he shared his thoughts with us. Let’s begin…, could you tell us about your personal journey in judo? What first drew you to the sport and how has it shaped your career so far? Alessandro Comi: “Long ago... Read more

The National Judo Federation of North Macedonia has reached a defining moment in its history. Following an extraordinary year of international competitions, the federation has been awarded the best event organiser within the European Judo Union for 2025, a recognition that reflects consistency, ambition and resilience at the highest level of European sport. The scale of the achievement is unprecedented for the country. Within a single year, Skopje successfully hosted four major EJU compet... Read more

On 14 December 2025, alongside the EJU Congress, the annual Gala Dinner brought the European judo family together to celebrate the defining moments of the year. One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Best Event of 2025 award, honouring the outstanding organisation of the Senior European Individual and Mixed Team Championships held in Podgorica, Montenegro between 23-27 April. The journey of this nation began just under two years ago with a European Cup. The ligh... Read more

At the 77th Congress of the European Judo Union in Las Palmas, EJU Vice President of Sport, Catarina Rodrigues, also took time to reflect on a year that, in her words, proved just how far European judo can go when trust and opportunity are placed in the right hands. Speaking openly and personally, she reviewed the sporting highlights of 2025 and shared a clear vision for the road ahead. “If I had to choose just one highlight from 2025,” Rodrigues begins, “it would be the remarkable potent... Read more

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The Irish Judo Association is pleased to announce that the Points & Wins from the Leinster Kyu & Dan Championships , held on 16th November 2025 , are now available. The results have been uploaded to the Competition Results section for members to review. Congratulations to all athletes who competed across the Kyu and Dan grades. Thank you to the Leinster Judo Council, referees, volunteers, and coaches for delivering a well-run and successful provincial championship. To view the complete Points... Read more

Munster Open 2025 – Official Points & Wins Now Available The Irish Judo Association is pleased to share the official Points & Wins from the Munster Open 2025 , held on 30th November 2025 . The results have now been uploaded to the Competition Results section for all members to review. Congratulations to all competitors who took part, and thank you to the organisers, volunteers, referees, and coaches who helped deliver another successful provincial event. Your continued commitment supports the... Read more

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Thank you to everyone who came and supported the Munster Open. In the last 5 years, the Munster Judo Council have seen the entries double to a record of 240 this year. Without your support, this event could not come to fruition. Munster Open 2025 – Results Event Organiser – Tim Kelly Munster Judo Council The post Results – Munster Open 2025 first appeared on Irish Judo Association . Read more

Thank you for your support for our premier national event next Saturday 13th December 2025. We have over 400 entries which makes it the biggest one-day Judo event in Ireland ever! This is great news for Irish Judo! Please see the All Ireland’s 2025 Entry List below: All Ireland’s 2025 Entry List If there are any questions or if any changes are required, please email Mr Leo Gibbons – [email protected] before Wednesday the 10th December 2025 by 5pm. ‘ Housekeeping Notes ‘: We... Read more

This is the club’s annual premier event which celebrates the club’s achievements and those of our athletes and volunteers. Please join us one and all. Come and hear about all the fantastic achievements of your club and its members. Read more

6 Dec 25                      Last Saturday Junior classes 10 December               Last DINO’S and MONS training night 11 December               Club Annual Awards Night – 6pm food and merchandise sales, Read more

Congratulations to Crosby Peake and  Read more

Recently we celebrated a milestone at the club. As the sponsor of Billy's application for a permanent visa based on the Global Talent criteria, the process took 19 months to finally be able to announce that the visa has been granted by the Department of Home Affairs. Read more

  Australian Olympic Committee Education Program. In September, Josh was selected as part of the first AOC cohort in partnership with Athletic Ventures (AV), to a three-month programme focused on finance, investing, and entrepreneurship for athletes.   Read more

Our annual Christmas party was held at Ryde Aquatic Centre last Saturday night. As usual we booked out the whole venue from 6.00 - 9.00pm including the large inflatable and the slide. Read more

Congratulations to all the Budokan athletes who competed in this event and also to Jarrad, Daniel K, Nathan and Josh for coaching our guys whilst we were away. Read more

Please note that the club training fees , available for 3 month or 12-month periods, will increase by 10% as of 1st January 2026. If your training fees are due in January or February you are welcome to renew them this year. Read more

The club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) was be held on Monday 3rd November at the club. Many thanks to Nick Murkins for his work over the last year on the Committee and who stood down this year. Read more

Lachlan Cook Kranjska Gora Millennium Team Cadet European Cup 2025 (Slovenia): 25 – 26 October   Read more

Montréal, December 7, 2025 – Canadian judokas  François Gauthier-Drapeau  and  Coralie Godbout  finished seventh in their respective categories on Sunday at the Grand Slam in Tokyo, Japan. Both will depart the event having learned some valuable lessons. Photo IJF (c) Emanuele Di Feliciantonio In the under-81 kg weight category, Gauthier-Drapeau concluded the competition with two wins and two losses. The 27-year-old Canadian, who captured gold at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam last week,... Read more

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Montréal, December 6, 2025 –  Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard  would have preferred a stronger result on Saturday in her first competition in nearly six months. However, at the iconic Tokyo Grand Slam in Japan, the Canadian was limited to a single test after receiving a bye in the first round. Photo Tom Taylor – Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard in white In the under-63 kg category, Beauchemin-Pinard was ousted by Israel’s Gili Sharir, the gold medallist at the Zagreb Grand Prix in November,... Read more

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Women in Sport Recognition On Sunday, 30th November, at the Munster Open in Cork, two remarkable women were awarded their Honorary First Dan Black Belts in recognition of their outstanding service and long-standing dedication to Irish Judo. 🎉 Huge congratulations to: ✨ Finola Croke – Renmore Judo Club & former Secretary of the Connacht Judo Council ✨ Una Cotter – Cork City Judo Club & Munster Board Representative Both Finola and Una have played instrumental roles in promoting and developing j... Read more

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We look at three core types of kouchi: a) Kouchi-Gari (Kenka-Yotsu) b) Kouchi-Makikomi (Kenka-Yotsu) c) Kouchi-Gake (Ai-Yotsu) Read more

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***All Ireland’s 2025 – Important Update 1st December 2025*** The IJA Competitions Commission is pleased with the strong entry response for the 2025 All Ireland Championships and we are on track to exceed last year’s entries. To ensure player safety, efficient event logistics and manageable event scheduling, a decision has been made that entries will be  capped at 400 . The original closing date remains  Monday, 8th December at 11:59pm , but if the cap of 400 is reached earlier, registration ... Read more

Montréal, November 29, 2025 – Canada’s François Gauthier-Drapeau scooped up the second Grand Slam gold medal of his career on Saturday in the United Arab Emirates, ending an outstanding day in the under-81 kg category atop the podium in Abu Dhabi. Photo: IJF François Gauthier-Drapeau After opening the scoring in the first minute of the final against Russia’s Abdul-Kerim Tasuev, he added a waza-ari to the board with just over two minutes to go, on his way to a decisive victory. Howe... Read more

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We break down tai-otoshi into its component parts for both kenka-yotsu (opposite stance) and ai-yotsu (same stance). In this video, you will learn how to get the optimal gripping, leg movement, hip placement and finishing for tai-otoshi. Read more

Shona Maguire is set to make history as the first Irish judo player to compete at the Deaflympics, taking place from November 15-26, 2025, in Tokyo, Japan. ​ This is particularly significant as Japan is the birthplace of judo. ​ The Deaflympics, first held in Paris in 1924, now features 21 sports, including judo, karate, and taekwondo. ​ Judo debuted at the Deaflympics in 2009 and has been part of subsequent events. ​ To qualify for the Deaflympics, athletes must be registered with their Na... Read more

The Irish Judo Association is proud to highlight the continued growth and strong presence of women at the Irish Veterans Open 2025 , held earlier this year. Women’s participation in this event has seen a remarkable rise over the past decade — and 2025 was no exception. From just one competitor eleven years ago to growing numbers in recent years, the female entry has steadily strengthened. While the pandemic years saw numbers fall as low as three competitors, participation bounced back, with e... Read more

The Welsh Judo Association is delighted to announce that Darren Dean has been awarded his 7th Dan, recognising his exceptional contribution, dedication, and lifelong commitment to the sport of judo. This prestigious grade reflects not only Darren’s outstanding technical ability but also his decades of service to the judo community. Throughout his long career, Darren has been a driving force in nurturing talent, supporting clubs, and strengthening the development of judo across Wales. His in... Read more

We break down standing ippon-seoi-nage according to: a) Grips b) Stance c) Leg positioning d) Rotation Read more

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Coaches! Training Resources + Christmas Gifts wrapped up in one easy bundle. By Nik Fairbrother, Read more The post Christmas 2025 Judo Gifts Special Offer for Judo Clubs appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

Montréal, November 16, 2025 – Heidi Quach (-48 kg) and François Gauthier Drapeau (-90 kg) secured the top spot on the podium in their respective categories on Sunday at the Pan-American Cup in Montréal. Photo Patrick Esparbès Heidi Quach and François Gauthier Drapeau In total, the Canadian team captured twelve medals on the closing day of the event. Quach clinched the under-48 kg gold medal thanks to three flawless performances in as many bouts at the Centre Pierre-Charbonneau. ... Read more

Montréal, November 16, 2025 – A year ago, Luke Thomson was forced to forgo the Quebec Open and Canada Cup judo tournaments in Montréal because of a tendon injury. However, the young judoka had no intention of sitting idle. In fact, he turned the situation into an opportunity to combine his two passions: filmmaking and judo. Photo Luke Thomson: CR :  @ashleymerlov Thomson had always wanted to make a documentary film about judo, and the timing was perfect, as the biggest names in Can... Read more

Montréal, November 15, 2025 – British Colombia’s Carla Van Zyl made a lasting impression at the Panamerican Cup in Montreal on Saturday. The junior-aged athlete prevailed in the senior under-63 kg category, an even more remarkable achievement considering she usually competes in the under-57 kg weight class. Photo : Carla Van Zyl & Félix Mercier-Ross Her gold medal was one of four won by the Canadian team, with Julien Frascadore (-66 kg), Félix Mercier-Ross (-73 kg) and Coralie Godbo... Read more

Montréal, November 14, 2025 – After winning silver in the junior category the day before, Nicole Daria Manaila had one goal in mind on Friday before entering the Montreal Panamerican Open cadet competition: reach the top step of the podium in the under-57 kg weight class. Photo Judo Canada Gabriela Makhatadze and Nicole Daria Manaila It was mission accomplished for the Quebec native, who’s flawless performance in three bouts at the Pierre-Charbonneau Center led her to capture her se... Read more

Montréal, November 13, 2025 – Canada’s judokas were a force to be reckoned with on day one of the Pan-American Cup, held at Montréal’s Centre Pierre-Charbonneau. The country’s junior athletes captured a total of 9 gold medals. Photo Judo Canada Hayden Thibeault and Vincent Nepton In the boys’ competition, Vincent Nepton performed flawlessly in his five bouts in the under-60 kg category, earning the top spot on the podium. In the big final, the Québécois faced Great Britain’s Jo... Read more

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Montréal, November 10, 2025 – Montréal will become the continental capital of judo from November 13 to 16, when it hosts three Pan-American Open tournaments at the Centre Pierre-Charbonneau. In addition to the senior competitions, which will take place on Saturday, November 15, and Sunday, November 16, the junior and cadet competitions will be held on Thursday and Friday, November 13 and 14. A total of 220 athletes from 19 countries and six continents will take part in the senior tourn... Read more

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The Welsh Judo Association is proud to recognise three remarkable individuals who have dedicated decades of service to our sport — Eileen Heaven, Neil Lawcock, and David Smith — as they retire from their roles as judo referees. Refereeing is one of the most demanding and vital roles in judo. It requires discipline, confidence, fairness, and a deep understanding of the values that underpin our sport. It means long days on the mat, weekends away from family, and the responsibility of making sp... Read more

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The Koka Kids Judo Book of the Month for September was “Learn Groundwork and Master Read more The post Book of the Month: Learn Groundwork and Master 20 Turnovers appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

  By Nik Fairbrother, 8th Dan, Koka Kids editor. Ever notice how the best judo transition Read more The post Judo Transition from Standing to Groundwork: Seizing the Moment appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

Congratulations to Stephen Sims – Newly Qualified IJF Continental B Referee! Stephen Sims has officially joined the ranks of IJF Continental B Referees after a demanding and successful examination weekend in Malaga, Spain. Over the course of three intense days, Stephen demonstrated his deep knowledge and sharp officiating skills, earning a prestigious qualification that now allows him to referee at major international events such as European Opens. Stephen was one of 23 candidates w... Read more

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Gladiators star, Fury, and swimming champion Michael Gunning back NSPCC’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport campaign, calling on parents in Northern Ireland to play their part Broadcasters, influencers and figures from the sporting world have come together with NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) to call on parents and carers across Northern Ireland to get involved in Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week (6–12 October 2025). The annual campaign highlights the vital role par... Read more

By Nik Fairbrother, 8th Dan, Koka Kids editor. Patchway Judoka learnt O-Goshi this week and at Read more The post Certificates for Mastering O-Goshi: The Hip Throw appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

The Welsh Judo Association is proud to announce the appointment of Ben Jeffreys as its new Chief Executive, following a competitive and comprehensive recruitment process. Ben, originally from Newport, brings over twelve years of experience in leadership and sports management. Most recently, Ben served as Chief Executive for Torfaen Leisure Trust, where he led one of the largest leisure operators in South Wales through a period of significant change, transformation and growth. Prior to th... Read more

The Welsh Judo Association is proud to congratulate Georgina Bevan on the award of her 6th Dan, recognising her outstanding technical ability and long-standing service to the sport. Following her competitive career, Georgina has continued to give back to the sport she loves. She is the head coach of Doraiba Judo Club, where she shares her experience and knowledge with the next generation. She has also served on the Board of Directors of Welsh Judo, recently stepping away after years of valua... Read more

By Nik Fairbrother, 8th Dan, Koka Kids editor. Explore the  Koka Kids Judo Resources Find Read more The post 4Skills: A Progressive Approach to Mastering Judo Throws appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

Randori Shiai Read more

By Nik Fairbrother, 8th Dan, Koka Kids editor. I’m delighted to share some exciting news from Read more The post Koka Kids Success Story in the Netherlands: 20 Kanteltechnieken Pre Orders Now Open appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

By Nik Fairbrother, 8th Dan, Koka Kids editor. I’m a great believer of learning as many Read more The post Building Strong Foundations: Learning the Complete Gokyo appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

By Nik Fairbrother, 8th Dan, Koka Kids editor. What really makes my day is when coaches Read more The post Simple Resources for Busy Judo Coaches appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

Reverse Sankaku from a Sideways Entry Cuban Sankaku from a Sideways Entry Read more

By Nik Fairbrother, 8th Dan, Koka Kids editor. I wanted to share something I’ve been Read more The post Judo Syllabus now in paperback! appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

On Sunday, 14th September, our club came together for something a little different. We swapped the dojo for mud, ropes, and obstacles at the Nuts Challenge obstacle course —a family-friendly event similar to Tough Mudder. It was messy. It was tough. It was unforgettable. Dozens of children, parents, and coaches ran side by side, climbing walls, crawling through mud, and pulling each other over obstacles. It was an afternoon full of laughter, teamwork, and achievement. And for many families, i... Read more

By Nik Fairbrother, 8th Dan, Koka Kids editor. I began the Koka Kids Judo Books Read more The post An easy way to choose the right judo book appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

Sanshirokwai proudly hosted the second Welsh National Kata Championships last month, bringing together judoka from across Wales for a truly memorable celebration of kata judo. Nage-no-Kata Rob Sennett & Mark Griffiths (Honto Judo) Paul Williams & Abdullah Haider (Samurai Olympic Judo Club) Katame-no-Kata Adam Cardy & Kai Morgan-Kelly (Neath Judo Kwai) Russell Drodge & Abdullah Haider (Samurai Olympic Judo Club) Rhiannon Au-Yeung & Dean Maynard (Samurai Olympic Judo Club) Ju-no-Kata Tasha... Read more

Top Signs, What Parents Can Do, and How Judo Builds Confidence, Focus, and Resilience Every parent worries when their child goes back to school. Will they make friends? Will they keep up in class? But for many mums and dads, the biggest unspoken fear is this: what if my child is being bullied? Bullying is not always obvious. Many children hide it, fearing it will get worse if they tell an adult. Left unchecked, bullying can cause long-term damage to a child’s confidence, focus, grades, and ev... Read more

There are a few different types of armlocks in judo but the most popular armlock is the juji-gatame (cross armlock). There are many different aspects to learn about juji-gatame, namely: a) Juji-gatame roll b) Juji-gatame finishings c) Juji-gatame defences & escapes d) Counters to juji-gatame defences Juji-gatame rolls are very well-established. There are only a few proven and effective ways to roll uke over into a juji-gatame position. These are all well-known. However, juji-gatame finishings... Read more

The Northern Ireland Judo Federation is celebrating a major milestone as three athletes from the Talent Development Squad—Aodhan McGivern, Conall McGivern, and Quinn Armstrong—earned world rankings following their impressive performances at the Amman Asian Open, an IJF Continental event. Each athlete placed 7th in their respective category, securing a coveted spot on the International Judo Federation’s world ranking list. This achievement reflects not only the athletes’ individual g... Read more

M E M O R A N D U M TO: Individual Members, Member Dojos, Yudanshakais, USJF BOD, USJF BOE, USJF Committees, USJF Exco FROM: Robert Fukuda, Executive Director RE: FY 2026 USJF Fee Increases ** Effective 09/01/2025 ** DATE: August 23, 2025 We hope that this announcement finds everyone in great health and enjoying […] Read more