English Judo Blogs

Between 16-17 May, the spotlight of European cadet judo turns once again to Bielsko-Biała, where ambition, pressure and possibility will collide on the tatami. The Cadet “Millennium Team” European Cup Tour has grown into far more than another stop on the calendar; for many young athletes, it is the place where reputations are built, belief is tested and futures quietly begin to take shape. With an extraordinary 790 judoka from 36 nations entered, the tournament stands among the strongest ... Read more

During  European Youth Week 2026 , the JOY project [Judo Connecting Older and Younger Generations] launched the Young Judo Voices Campaign, a coordinated social media campaign highlighting the role of young people in intergenerational learning. The campaign brought together 40 young judoka from Türkiye, Spain, Romania, Slovenia, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, creating a shared European space for dialogue and exchange within the judo community. Giving Young Jud... Read more

Forty-two percent. That’s the share of British six-year-old girls getting the recommended amount of physical activity each day. The figure for boys at the same age is sixty-three percent. So before your daughter has lost her first milk tooth — before she’s read her first chapter book, before she’s been on her first sleepover — there is already a twenty-one-point gap between her and the boys in her class. And it’s growing. I’m going to walk you through the research in a moment, because the det... Read more

Montréal, May 12, 2026 – Following a spectacular 2025 edition, the Open National Judo Championships are set to return to Calgary, Alberta. From May 14 to 17, fans will be treated to top-level judo at the University of Calgary Olympic Oval. Over the course of the event, 1,100 judokas will hit the tatamis as they vie for the 80 titles up for grabs in the different weight classes. The Championships will bring a record number of judokas to Calgary, representing eleven Canadian provinces a... Read more

Munster Closed 2026 – Results Congratulations to all the judoka who competed at the Munster Closed 10th May 2026 at Coláiste Chríost Rí in Cork last weekend. The Munster Judo Council have issued the results which are available below – well done everyone! Results – Munster Closed 2026 The post Munster Closed 2026 – Results first appeared on Irish Judo Association . Read more

When speaking about kata in Europe, it is impossible not to mention Italy. Year after year, generation after generation, the Italian team continues to raise the standard across almost every kata discipline, combining tradition, innovation and remarkable consistency on the European stage. Behind that success is a system built on passion, trust, discipline and constant evolution. Ahead of the European Kata Championships 2026 in Sarajevo, we caught up with Cesare Amorosi to discuss the philo... Read more

Having practised judo since childhood, Yohan has a strong understanding of the realities of our sport. Passionate about media, sport and digital communications, he has worked in sports communications since 2018 and will bring solid expertise in content creation, social media management and the development of communication strategies. Prior to joining Judo Canada, Yohan spent three years with the Montreal Canadiens’ marketing team, where he contributed to various projects related to commu... Read more

The Erasmus+ SAFE COMBAT project, in which the European Judo Union plays a leading role as coordinator, continues to make significant progress in promoting safer, more ethical and inclusive environments across Combat Sports and Martial Arts (CS&MA). Nemanja Stankovic presenting Safeguarding code for Serbian coaches. © SAFE COMBAT Ahead of the upcoming implementation partners meeting, set to take place in Gijón on 20–21 May, the consortium has already achieved several important milest... Read more

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Most weeks I’ll have a parent at our club say some version of the same sentence. They’ll mention it casually, half-laughing, usually while we’re standing by the mat.  “He’s an absolute nightmare when we try to take the tablet off him.”  Or  “She loses her mind if the iPad goes off mid-episode.”  Or — my favourite, because it’s the most honest —  “I don’t know who to blame, me or the iPad.” I hear it so often that I started paying attention to the research. And what I found has, frankly, chang... 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

Hungarian judo has entered a new era with the election of Krisztian Tóth as President of the Hungarian Judo Federation. Chosen during a highly anticipated general assembly at the Hungarian House of Sport in Budapest in May 2026, the appointment marks a significant moment: one of the nation’s most accomplished modern judoka stepping into a leadership role while still deeply connected to the sport’s competitive heartbeat. Read more

Olympic medallist Krisztián Tóth has been elected as the new President of the Hungarian Judo Federation, following a highly anticipated general assembly held on Sunday at the Hungarian House of Sport in Budapest. The assembly drew exceptional attention, with more than one hundred of the 130 eligible delegates present, alongside an unusually strong media presence highlighting a significant turning point for Hungarian judo. Read more

In the men’s heavyweight final, against Ushangi Kokauri (AZE), 2018 world silver medallist, Tasoev, less open than in his previous contests, led by a single Yuko until the gong. It was a demonstration of his ability, his strategic thinking and his excellence. Tasoev had his eleventh grand slam gold; what a record! Read more

Montréal, May 10, 2026 – Coralie Godbout was the only Canadian in action on Sunday at the Grand Slam in Astana, Kazakhstan. In the under-78 kg category, the Québécoise battled all the way to a bronze medal final, where she suffered a narrow defeat after dominating the early minutes of the bout. Photo IJF – Tamara Kulumbegashvili Coralie Godbout She thus ended the day in fifth place, the highest Grand Slam result of her career so far. Facing Brazil’s Beatriz Freitas in the clash ... Read more

In the women’s heavyweight final Kamila Berlikash gave the host nation hope of a gold medal, but Elis Startseva (RUS) was unwilling to concede. In fact she worked fast and with well-drilled technique to make space to armlock Berlikash in just over a minute. The crowd were not happy but good judo must always be appreciated and today Startseva earned her place on the top step of the podium. Read more

The -78kg category has long included German representatives on its podia. World, Olympic and European medals have been won by Wagner, Boehm and Olek for several years and so it was no surprise to find Anna Monta Olek and Alina Boehm in a German derby for gold in Astana. Read more

The final day of the Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam 2026  (8-10 May) saw four of the five gold medals go to judoka from the European continent, with several heavyweight performances delighting the judo-loving Kazakh crowd. In the men’s -90kg division, Serbia’s Boris Rutovic captured gold ahead of Brazil’s Guilherme Schimidt. The 19-year-old took the gold on his second-ever Grand Slam appearance, his first experience coming just one week earlier in Dushanbe. “This is my second grand slam a... Read more

Vadim Ghimbovschi (MDA) had an uphill climb on his hands in the -100kg final at the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace in Astana. His opponent, Marat Baikamurov, was being driven hard by the crowd; they wanted another gold for Kazakhstan after Zhaglas Kairolla won their first gold on day 2. Read more

The Gori edition of the Senior European Cup 2026 concluded today with medallists decided in the remaining seven weight categories: women’s -48 kg, -52 kg and -57 kg, alongside men’s -81 kg, -90 kg, -100 kg and +100 kg divisions. Gold medals were claimed by representatives of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Switzerland and IJF. The hosts secured three gold medals on the final day, topping the podium in the -52 kg, -90 kg and +100 kg categories. In the heavyweight division, Georgian judoka swept the e... Read more

On Sunday, 10 May, the Hungarian Judo Association held its elective General Assembly at the Hungarian House of Sport, where Olympic bronze medallist Tóth Krisztián was elected President for the next term, exceptionally set at two and a half years. Rarely has an assembly of the Hungarian federation attracted such significant attention. Of the 130 delegates entitled to vote, 104 collected their mandates at the conference hall, while the unusually high level of media interest underlined the... Read more

Serbian teen sensation Boris Rutovic exceeded all expectations in Astana. En route to the final he took out Latisev (MDA) and De Wit (NED), not afraid to throw, to engage or to lead. He has an exciting style and was ready to use it to the best of his ability against Guilherme Schimidt (BRA) for the gold medal. Read more

Photo IJF – Tamara Kulumbegashvili Lowan Le Bris Montréal, May 9, 2026 – In the first Grand Slam of his career, Lowan Le Bris gave his all in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Saturday, forcing his under-73 kg match into overtime, where he ultimately received a third shido, thus putting an end to the bout. During the fight, which lasted six minutes and forty-nine seconds, the 18-year-old judoka executed some excellent offensive sequences. And in the opinion of Canadian coach Antoine Valois-Fo... Read more

Day two of the Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam 2026  (8-10 May) delivered four more finals featuring Europeans, two gold medals, and a series of podium finishes for athletes from across Europe. The morning session began with a major upset in the women’s -63kg category, where reigning Dutch European champion Joanne van Lieshout suffered a shock defeat in the second round to Russia’s Dali Liluashvili , who went on to claim silver. Another surprise came from Germany’s 20-year-old Sara-Joy Bau... Read more

In the final for men U81kg, Petru Pelivan (MDA) and Zhalgas Kairolla (KAZ) brought the spectators to their feet. One yuko and then another for Kairolla gave the crowd a glimpse of victory but then 5-time grand slam medallist Pelivan scored his own and things began to look more shaky for the host’s athlete. Read more

The opening day of the Gori Senior European Cup 2026 came to an exciting conclusion, with medals decided across six weight categories. The men’s -60 kg, -66 kg and -73 kg divisions crowned their winners, alongside the women’s -63 kg, -70 kg and +78 kg categories. Gori Senior European Cup 2026 © Mariam Gagnidze After day one, hosts Georgia sit proudly at the top of the medal table with one gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Azerbaijan follow closely behind with one gold, one silver... Read more

Facing the German Olympic medallist for gold was Clemence Eme (FRA), fresh from her bronze medal winning performance in Dushanbe just last week. Miriam Butkereit arrived in Kazakhstan in pole position and throughout the day she made sure everyone knew she intended to stay on top of things. She threw powerfully and gripped with confidence to ensure she would reach the final. Read more

Meeting Basile in the final was Danil Lavrentyev (RUS), a judoka who had given a solid account of himself. He arrived in a seeding position and confirmed his ability. The contest began with kumi-kata at the centre of the debate. They had studied each other well and were ensuring it was as difficult as possible for each other to score. Read more

European judo is visiting Gori this time, a beautiful small city in Georgia, distinguished by its rich sporting traditions. Gori is the hometown of several Olympic and world champions, including Georgian judo legend Lasha Shavdatuashvili, who is himself an Olympic, World and European champion. Gori Senior European Cup 2025 © Miriani Gavashelishvili Sport, and especially judo, is deeply loved in Gori. Fans are eagerly awaiting spectacular contests. On 9–10 May, the tatami at the Gori Sp... Read more

Montréal, May 8, 2026 – Albertan judoka Evelyn Beaton lost her first bout in the Under 52kg division at the Astana Grand Slam, Kazakhstan on Friday. A silver medalist at the recent Senior Pan American Championships in April, Beaton was defeated by Kazakhstan’s Meruyert Sarsenova. Photo: IJF / Tamara Kulumbegashvili “I think Evelyn was a little nervous today, and because of that she wasn’t able to reach her full potential,” explained national team coach Antoine Valois-Fortier. “She ... Read more

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Congratulations to the Irish Judokas who took part in the Swiss Ranking Tournament in St. Gallen on April 25th 2026 and won points towards their next grade: Dan grades: Dylan Murphy – 2nd Dan – The Senshin Judo Team – 40 Points Kirsten Millar – 2nd Dan – Simply Judo – 20 Points Alex Gibb – 1st Dan – Kyokan Judo Club – 10 Points Andrew Cretu – 1st Dan – Portmarnock Judo Club – 10 Points Timothy Oland – 1st Dan – Kyokan Judo Club – 10 Points Kyu grades: Fionn Branagan – 1st Kyu – The Senshin Ju... Read more

Pembee supports judo clubs with a free trial and same-day setup for judo clubs trying Read more The post Pembee partners with Koka Kids in year-long sponsorship to support grassroots judo appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

Montréal, May 4, 2026 – After 16 years of competing internationally for Canada, two-time Olympian Arthur Margelidon has decided to retire from judo. The final tournament of his career was the Senior Pan-American Championships in early April, where he finished fifth in the under-81 kg weight category. Following the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, the 32-year-old athlete took some time off, before deciding to make a comeback in a new weight class. But although Margelidon still loves judo, ... Read more

Leinster Closed Championships – Closing Date 5th May 2026 To all Leinster Judo Clubs, a reminder that the close date for the Leinster Closed Championships is Midnight on the 5th May 2026. Get your entries in over the Bank Holiday weekend – all details available below! Leinster Closed Championships – Irish Judo Association Entry Link Here Location 📍 Phibblestown Community Centre, Phibblestown Rd, Dublin 15, D15 XT85 🧾Organiser Hosted by: Leinster Judo Council 🕑Schedule TIME: Competition starts... Read more

Montréal, April 30, 2026 – On the heels of their impressive 30-medal haul in the individual events earlier this week, Canada’s judokas added two more silver medals to their tally during Thursday’s team competitions at the Cadet and Junior Pan-American Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador. For Canada’s junior athletes, the finals got off to a rough start. Facing Brazil, Artem Neyolov, Olivia Wosniowski, and Merab Iokhmusashvili lost the first three bouts of the finals. However, Hayde... Read more

Montréal, April 30, 2026 – Canada’s judo team continued its winning streak on Wednesday at the Pan-American Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The junior judokas collected another 15 medals, equalling the tally set by their cadet counterparts yesterday. Lowan Le Bris (-73 kg) and Vincent Roberge-Poitras (-66 kg) were the two standout performers of the day, finishing on top of the podium in their respective weight classes. After receiving a first-round bye, Le Bris posted a win at... Read more

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Montréal, April 28, 2026 – Canada’s young judokas made their mark on Tuesday at the Cadet Pan-American Judo Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador. In total, the Canadian team collected 15 medals, including four gold medals awarded to  Roman Semyrozun  (-60 kg),  Anes Mati  (-66 kg),  Dalia Benhamou  (-44 kg), and  Nicole Daria Manaila  (-48 kg). Gabrieli Makhatadze (-55 kg), Amir Temirbaev (-60 kg), Drake Gregory (-81 kg), and Victoria Summers won silver in their respective weight categ... Read more

This is an opportunity to lead and shape the future of performance judo in Wales. We’re looking for an ambitious and values-driven leader to take on the role of Head of Performance and Pathway at the Welsh Judo Association. This is a senior and strategic role that goes beyond coaching — you’ll be responsible for shaping the vision, culture and systems that underpin sustainable success, while ensuring athlete wellbeing remains at the heart of everything we do. Working closely with th... Read more

Smoothcomp Registration in Now Open 2026 USJF Summer Nationals is coming to San Francisco!  July 11-12,2026 at City College of San Francisco.  Open to members with current membership in either USJF, USA Judo or USJA.  This tournament will also be a USA Judo point event. Register here with Smoothcomp. Read more

Fantastic turnout for the first Y&H Area refereeing course in over 10 years! A huge thank you to Dave Francis for coming along to support and assess the tutors as they progress to becoming fully qualified referee examiners. Dave Dunsford is now able to move onto the assessing practical exams next on his road to becoming a referee assessor.  Well done to all candidates who attended and passed their theory exam. The next step is to contact your Area representative, get some practical experience... Read more

What started as an idea to bring our community together has turned into something truly special. On  Friday 24 April 2026 , we hosted our first  Fighting Fitness Charity Golf Day at Pyrford Lakes  — and thanks to the incredible support of everyone involved, we are proud to say we raised: 💛 £2,370… and with Gift Aid, over £2,500 for Park Lane Stables. A Day That Delivered From the moment players arrived, it was clear this was going to be a great day. The  weather was on our side , the course w... Read more

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Another ladies randori session goes by, thourally enjoyed by the small but hard working group. Keep an eye on the calendar for further sessions, they will be held around clubs in the area. Want to host one? Drop us a message.   Read more

As a judo coach, one of the biggest wins is giving kids something they can Read more The post Mon Grade Syllabus Look Inside: Red Belt Book appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

Our members had wonderful results on the N.I. Open, which took place in the Foyle Arena in Derry over a two-day period on the 11th and 12th of April 2026. We’re proud of everyone who participated and send them our congratulations for their achievements. The following kyu grades had at least 2 wins and just need theory at the next National grading: Eli McFadden – 2nd kyu – Konarakai Judo Club Kevin Hemei – 2nd Kyu – Higashi Judo Club Sofia Richardson – 2nd kyu – Kyokan Judo Club Alexandru Ging... Read more

Go Go Go Go Go Go 2026 SUMMER CAMP It is time to register! ENG https://judocanada.org/summer-camp/ #NextGenAcademy #académienextgen #judo #judocanada Read more

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The Welsh Judo Association (WJA) is delighted to announce its coaching team for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, as preparations enter a pivotal phase ahead of the games. Natalie Powell will lead Wales’ Commonwealth Games programme in a dual Performance Coach and Team Manager role, supported by newly appointed Performance Support, Darren Warner. “In the short time Natalie has been in post, her passion and commitment towards creating a positive environment for our athletes has bee... Read more

  Orders are open! Orders are now open for the British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus Read more The post The Mon Grade Syllabus books are going to print — here’s how to order for your club appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

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Women In Sport Classes – Galway City Tribune Our Women in Sport Classes undertaken by Mina Ishihara made the local newspaper the Galway City Tribune on the 27th March 2026. The Irish Judo Association Women in Sport Programme supports Mina and these classes with regards to hall hire and coaching support to bring judo classes for girls and women to Galway City, it was great to see Mina and her class highlighted in the local paper. Compliant Clubs can reach out to Ellie Dennis Chair of the Women... Read more

Recently, a parent shared something with me that genuinely concerned me. A group of children at a local primary school had taken phones in, taken photos of other pupils, and shared them with others. From what I understand, the images themselves weren’t inappropriate. And the situation was handled by the school. But that’s only a small part of the issue. What stood out to me was this — the children involved thought it was completely normal. There was no real sense that this might be wrong. No ... Read more

Play True Day – It Starts with You – 17th April 2026 The Irish Judo Association supports the Play True Day – the campaign invites all judoka to come together on the 17th April 2026 to show support for clean sport. Since its launch in 2014, Play True Day has grown into a worldwide movement, reaching millions every year, WADA President Witold Banka said: ”Once again, I am calling on athletes and the global anti-doping community to join us on Play True Day 2026”. #PlayTrueDay #SportIreland #WADA... Read more

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The Points & Wins are now up for the All Ireland Schools Championships 2026 Congratulations to all the winners Competition Results – Irish Judo Association   The post All Ireland Schools Championships 2026 – Points & Wins first appeared on Irish Judo Association . Read more

The 2026 Parent Survey paints an incredibly encouraging picture of judo for young people across Northern Ireland. Parents consistently highlighted excellent coaching , strong club culture , and high standards of safety and safeguarding as the most valued parts of their children’s experience. Many families described judo as a sport that builds confidence , discipline , fitness , and a real sense of belonging . A major positive insight is the level of long‑term commitment from families... Read more

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🥋🥇Congratulations to Robin Lowry who won the gold medal  last weekend in a spectacular fashion at the Northern Ireland Open! Thank you to Iwona – our Female Leinster Coach – who was there with her on the day. The post WIS News Update first appeared on Irish Judo Association . Read more

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A podcast, a conductor, and what it really means to find your own way One of our members, Paddy, sent me a podcast last week and asked what I thought of it. It’s an episode of Sideways with Matthew Syed on BBC Radio 4, called The Talent Trap . I’d encourage you to give it a listen — it’s about thirty minutes, and it’ll stay with you for longer than that. Listen to the episode here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002t1hc The story at the heart of it belongs to a woman called Holly Mathieso... Read more

Last week, while many children were enjoying time off during the school holidays, a group of our students at Fighting Fitness Judo were doing something very different. They were competing and training in Copenhagen. We took a team of 10 judoka, aged between 8 and 15 years old, along with two families, travelling from Thursday through to Monday. The trip included two days of international competition followed by a large-scale judo training camp. For many, this was their first experience of com... Read more

IRISH JUDO MASTERS SQUAD SQUAD SELECTION POLICY FOR EUROPEAN MASTERS AND WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS ✔️ Eligibility: • Current membership of the Irish Judo Association. • Aged thirty years or older. • Hold Irish citizenship and Irish passport. • Engage with the Squad – sharing notice of competing or attending masters seminars/tournaments; advising Veterans Commission of results; attending Masters Squad sessions, supporting other Squad members at Masters tournaments etc. ✔️Qualification Standa... Read more

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Sofia Richardson competed at her First European Cup in Teplice and training camp last week with Iwona Osenkowska (Leinster Coach) and Eoin Fleming (Cadet Performance Coach). Sophia fought brilliantly, winning her first fight against a Brazilian opponent, but she unfortunately was defeated in her next two bouts. She has gained a lot of experience from this competition and the training camp afterwards. We wish Sophia the Best of Luck in her future endeavours! The post Women in Sport – European ... Read more

The United States Judo Federation and 50th State Judo Association mourns the passing of Ray Imada, a respected leader, mentor, and lifelong contributor to the art and community of judo in Hawaii. Ray devoted his life to the growth and promotion of judo, leaving a lasting imprint on the sport and all who practiced it. […] Read more

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This is an exciting opportunity to join a values-driven and ambitious National Governing Body and play a key role in shaping how Welsh Judo tells its story. We are looking for a creative and motivated individual to take up the role of Social Media and Content Creation Intern at Welsh Judo. You will work alongside a small, dedicated team to deliver engaging digital content, support major campaigns, and help showcase the impact of judo across Wales. This role offers hands-on expe... Read more

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NSW State Titles – 22nd March 2026 – 33 athletes / 38 divisions + 5 Kata athletes  2026_judo_nsw_state_championship_results_-_budokan_judo_club.pdf Read more

Mon Grade Books – Now in Paperback I’ve been sitting on this news for a Read more The post The British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus — Now in Paperback appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

Smooth Comp Link This event is open to all USJF, USJA and USA Judo members. Read more

21-22Mar26            NSW State Championships 27Mar26                 Close of entry to NSW State Team for Nationals 28-29Mar26            NSW State Camp 3-5Apr26                Easter Read more

We have a critical and time‑sensitive opportunity to influence Council’s Plan for Castle Hill Showground, outlined in the Castle Hill Showground Draft Plan of Management . 0_2026_showground_plan_of_management_budokan_response.pdf Read more

In the next week or so, we will be emailing out a survey with about 20 questions covering a wide range of topics. Read more

I advised in the last newsletter that in each newsletter I would report on our child-safe culture and any progress that we make, in particular for our newer members. It is our genuine desire and our obligation to foster a culture which promotes safety and wellbeing for our children.  Read more

Budokan has 31 athletes contesting 41 divisions at the NSW State Championships this weekend. As I write this newsletter, our 5 Kata athletes have completed their competition winning 3 Gold, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze medals, as follows: Read more

Thank you to those athletes who have already returned their perpetual trophies from awards won at Budokan’s annual awards night held in December. There are still many that have yet to be returned. Read more

Congratulations to Josh Katz on being nominated by CEO Combat Institute of Australia (CombatAUS), for: Read more

28 Budokan athletes competed in 36 open age/grade divisions winning 27 medals: -  9 Gold (28%), 8 Silver and 10 Bronze plus 2 x 4th/5th places  -  As for the ACTIO, this means that 75% divisions entered won medals  2026_sio_entries_results.pdf Read more

24 Budokan athletes competed in 32 open age/grade divisions at the 2026 ACTIO, winning 24 medals  -  9 Gold (28%), 7 Silver and 8 Bronze medals plus 2 x 4th/5th places  -  This means that 75% of divisions entered resulted in a medal.  2026_actio_entries_results.pdf Read more

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Masataka Hirayama passed away quietly February 23, 2026 at 85 years old. He was a long time Judoka of Hawaiian Judo. He began Judo in the 1950s on the island of Hawai’i (Big Island) and paralleled the beginnings of what is now USJF. From the 1970s to the 1990s he did outreach and committee work […] Read more

Hi! Recently, I’ve been writing a mini-series on retention, on why judoka drop out. It’s Read more The post Interview: Vince Skillcorn on Why Judoka Drop Out and What to do Differently appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

On May 2, 2015, I wrote a blog post called "A dream comes true...", which was all about the impending opening of what would eventually become KL Judo Centre. Time flies when you're having fun. Fast forward 11 years and now, we're about to upgrade the club in a big way. When we first started, we ran the class from someone else's dojo in Cheras. Later, we moved into a martial arts gym in Damansara Perdana. We bought our own roll-out mats when we moved to Bangsar, where we rented some space from... Read more

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Date: March 21st, 2026 Location: Ronaldo Candido Academy, 22002 Novi Rd, Novi, MI 48375 We are hosting an open practice for Judo clubs from all over to come together. This assembly is a space to share Judo techniques, knowledge, and foster mutual welfare and benefit for all participants. Time: 11 am to 1 pm Waiver: […] Read more

The 4Skills Framework – Making Progress Visible This is part 3 of a 3 part-mini Read more The post A Progression System for Kids’ Judo appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

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Florida Judo Leader, Rokudan, Mentor, and Builder of Community, Read more

Northern Ireland Judo Welcomes Dan Powell and other guests, for a Full Day of Training, Learning and Collaboration The NIJF brought its community together for a packed day of development as players, coaches and parents gathered for a programme led by World Champion Dan Powell , supported by  Frances , and Leigh from White Ribbon NI . The event, hosted by Kookateki Judo Club , blended on‑the‑mat training with essential off‑the‑mat learning, creating a powerful step forward for judo ac... Read more

  Keeping Judoka Engaged Between Classes “Teaching on the mat is enough to keep judoka Read more The post The Forgetting Curve (And Why It Matters in the Dojo) appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

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https://ipu-japan.ac.jp (NOTE: Japanese below 日本語版は下記に添付) On February 19, 2026, I interviewed Dr. Hisahi Sanada regarding the launch of the Kanō Jigorō Memorial Sports Innovation Center at International Pacific University (IPU) in Okayama, Japan.The Center officially opens on April 1, 2026, at IPU’s Okayama Ekimae (Okayama Station) Global Campus.Dr. Sanada, who joined IPU in April 2025 … Continue reading New Kanō Jigorō Memorial Sports Innovation Center Opening at International Pacific Univer... Read more

Introduction Aodhan & Conall McGivern Aodhan and Conall McGivern are two rising stars of Northern Ireland judo, brothers whose dedication, discipline, and competitive spirit have earned them places on the Northern Ireland Talent Development Squad. Training out of The Judo Academy, both athletes have already made their mark on the national and international stage, showcasing the depth of talent emerging from the NI Pathway system. Conall, competing in the Junior & Senior -73kg catego... Read more

There is growing concern about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital tools to create or manipulate images of children and young people in sexualised or harmful ways. You may have heard of terms like ‘AI CSAM’ ‘deepfakes’ or ‘nudify’ apps and websites in the news recently. These tools are now widely available and often free to access via devices such as tablets, laptops and smartphones. This involve altering existing photos or creating entirely new AI generated sex... Read more

The Challenge Every Coach Faces You’ve felt it – the frustration when promising judoka stop Read more The post Why Retention Beats Recruitment – and the Numbers that Prove it appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

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Get the Tips Real Coaches, real wins. Five ways coaches are engaging and retaining their Read more The post Five Winning Tips to Retain Judoka appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

I got a pleasant surprise this week from budo bud Petr Březina who pointed this out: A recording of an interview with Kanō shihan from December 9, 1936 was found in the archives of Czech Radio and publicly announced in October, 2025. In the interview, he spoke briefly in very clear Japanese, then switched to … Continue reading Long lost recording of Kano shihan speaking English in 1936 → Read more

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Tomiki Kenji 富木謙治 sensei (1900–1979)
a remarkable budōka, occupies a special place in the history of our US Embassy Jūdō and Jūjutsu Dōjō, Tokyo.http://www.usejc.org http://www.facebook.com/usejc(NOTE: the Tomiki essay translation starts at the end of this page.) Background: Tomiki sensei was born in 1900 in Akita Prefecture, where he began jūdō as a schoolboy. As a young … Continue reading Tomiki Kenji sensei on the future of budō → Read more

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The Konan Promotional Clinic has changed the date due to weather conditions that could make traveling difficult on the day of the event. The new date is Saturday January 31st. Please see the flyer below. Read more