English Judo Blogs

The third and final day of the Heydar Aliyev Baku Grand Slam saw the remaining five weight categories; -90kg, -78kg, -100kg, +78kg and +100kg go head to head for the gold medals.  Unlike on the previous two days, Azerbaijan could not look forward to a final hurrah, however there were plenty others to hail and rally behind, and the crowd still gave a huge celebration for the bronze medal of Zelym KOTSOIEV in the -100kg category. In the opening category of -90kg, Ivaylo IVANOV (BUL) took... Read more

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Gokor Chivichyan & his Ultimate Throw I’ve often said judo is the football of the martial arts. Bruce Lee agreed with assessment noting Kano’s randori is the best training method ever developed. It allows full contact and 100% commitment to the technique. No pulling punches or protective equipment. The end result is a level of toughness and knowledge / confidence that judo works and what to expect when facing real resistance. Recently I read an editorial on BudoDragon.com on this subject whi... Read more

The Baku Grand Slam was explosive today, and once again Azerbaijan had two opportunities to take the gold medal; from Hidayat HEYDAROV (-73kg) and Zelim TCKAEV (-81kg). Regardless of their end result, it was a tremendous day for Europe, with an impressive four all-European finals. Of course the focus was on the Azeri duo, and first up was world ranked number one, Heydarov. It had been anything but an easy day for the home favourite, delving deep in to golden scores, unable to find a scor... Read more

Another Azeri victory to confirm the status of the strong judo loving country, with gold for Zelim Tckaev who captured the gold medal for men U81kg with not the worst athletes in the roster. It was ultimately Zelim Tckaev though, who ignited the crowd in the second part of the draw. The Azeri judoka indeed allowed the host country to dream of a new gold medal. Read more

Hidayat Heydarov is a darling of judo fans in Azerbaijan with his surfer look and already the winner of 4 grand slams, two grand prix and the European championship titles in 2017 and 2022, he is one of those judoka that we like to follow. Capable of winning against all the fighters in the category, as well as losing against all, his judo is daring, with significant risk-taking, a mix of traditional and acrobatic techniques. Read more

The division U70kg has become a very unpredicatable category but Elisavet Teltsidou (GRE) who has been a regular at the top level for a while now. Also in Baku she was stable and captured the gold medal U70kg. The one who is also consistent is her coach Nikos Iliadis who is the longest seeded headcoach in the world with 24 years of duty. Teltsidou herself is now 27 years and Greece's asset for the Games in Paris. Read more

In the absence of competitors like the world number one, Lucy Renshall (GBR), the 2022 world champion, Megumi Horikawa (JPN), or the six-time world champion Clarisse Agbegnenou (FRA), the Grand Slam of Baku was quite open in the category U63kg, although the category presented a very high level in Baku. Angelika Szymanska (POL) reached the final after her victory against Austrian Lubjana Piovesana in the semi final. Szymanska’s opponent was Hungarian Szofi Ozbas. Read more

On day one of the Heydar Aliyev Baku Grand Slam 2023, Kosovo, Japan and the hosts, Azerbaijan doubled up on their chances for gold medals.  The Azeri judoka were nice surprises for the home crowd, given that their assumed chances of medals and glory saw early exits. The ultimate champion for the hosts was Yashar NAJAFOV, the unseeded athlete in the -66kg category, and now that Orkhan SAFAROV has announced his retirement, is the front runner for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. Najafov... Read more

Yashar Najafov surprised with a thrilling gold medal today at home at the Grand Slam of Baku. The Azeri did not tremble against a determined Vieru in the semi final and offered himself a place in the final, although at the start of the competition, he was not one of the favourites. In IJF's golden score he was still impressed by his own final. He had no plan for the day and was susprised about his performance. His hero is Elchin Ismayilov who is now the coach who supported his career along ... Read more

The level of the women’s U57kg class was high at the grand Slam in Baku. In the end it was Kosovo that captured a gold medal by the Olympic Champion Nora Gjakova. In the final against Liparteliani seemed early in the match out powered by Gjakova, who was trying but could not get close to her illustrious opponent. With a little ko-soto-gake, Gjakova took the lead and controlled until the last second to win the title. Read more

Japanese Kisumi Omori now knows how to win a Grand Prix Level. She previously won the Grand Prix Upper Austria and this time was able to defeat the Olympic Champion Distria Krasniqi, albeit U48kg as the Olympic Champion U52kg Uta Abe is from her own country and the undisputed queen in this class. Read more

The Russian fighters showed their strength in Baku at the Grand Slam with both participants in the final Gamzat Zairbekov (AIN) and Ramazan Abdulaev (AIN) who secured places. It was a surprising day in U60kg and in the final with less than a minute to go, Ramazan Abdulaev took the lead after a well trained and applied sode-guruma-jime technique, which allowed him to pin down his opponent for a waza-ari. The last seconds were a tactical battle that Ramazan Abdulaev dominated to take gold. Read more

Azerbaijan was close to a sensation, never an Azeri woman had won a Grand Slam and Leyla Aliyeva was so close, but eventually it was Italian Assunta Scutto who captured the gold medal. Read more

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The other day I came across an interesting clip of a marathon runner who said that those who are disciplined are the ones who are truly free. What could that mean? Surely being disciplined means leading a rather regimented lifestyle, with lots of restrictions on what you can and can't do. That's true but it also means you are free from becoming lazy, free from wasting time, and free from procrastination. That's the freedom that discipline gives you. I think the same is true when you go "all i... Read more

Date:          October 21, 2023 Time:              Registration:                11:00 – 11:3o am Workshop:                  11:30 am – 2:30 pm Location:        Saito Dojo at Birmingham YMCA             300 E, Lincoln Street             Birmingham, MI  48009             313-992-6747 Registration Entry Fee:   $50.00 USD Clinicians: Daniela Krukower 2003 World Judo Champion, Osaka.  Three time Olympian.  Multi-time Pan American Champion, Multiple A=-Level […] Read more

With three events on the World Judo Tour calendar between now and the end of the year, the pace is picking up, heading towards the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and this Heydar Aliyev Baku Grand Slam 2023 is of crucial importance for the 61 delegations who travelled to Azerbaijan. For three days, the best judoka in the world will compete in accordance with the rules of judo, to win honours and ranking points. Read more

Last week, an EJU delegation made a preparation visit to Montpellier, France, in advance of the Senior European Championships 2023. From the 14th-16th of September, Head Sport Director, Catarina RODRIGUES, Sport Director Urška ŽOLNIR JUGOVAR, Head of Broadcasting & Venue Management, Igor VUJNOVIĆ, Assistant to President, Fanni TOTH and Assistant to President (Hospitality), Mehmet YILMAZ, represented the EJU prior to the prime event in November. Rodrigues was very pleased with the vis... Read more

At only 18 years old, Swiss judoka, Binta NDIAYE has achieved a cadet European title, as well as a junior European bronze earlier this month, to go along with her collection of two junior world bronze medals. Not only has she been noticed by her results and repertoire of wonderful judo, but her attitude is exemplary of a world class judoka. Most recently we saw this in practice, off the tatami. In a social media post by Vaud Générations Champions , we saw Ndiaye in a hospital ward instea... Read more

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The Baku Grand Slam, held between the 22nd and 24th of September, is reading like a who’s who of the IJF World Tour, with six current world ranked number ones competing for the top prize, not only monetary, but the 1000 world ranking points that comes with the gold medal.  With 474 judoka from 63 nations, it will, as always, be an exciting event, but this 2023 edition is within reaching distance of the Paris Games and with it, comes the drive to succeed and gain valuable points, or for th... Read more

Between the 20th and 22nd of September, the city of Gijon, Spain, will be the host of the European Sport Congress. This is the inaugural event dedicated to increasing the impact and visibility of sport projects. In their statement regarding what they hope to achieve, they outline the importance of partnerships, communicating the results of promoted inclusion, diversity, education and active lifestyles. This weekend it will be discussed how the European Sport Congress will give an opp... Read more

Canada took third place in the mixed team competition that concluded the Pan-American/Oceania Championships in Calgary on Sunday. In the tournament, which featured only three countries, Brazil finished first and Cuba second. In Sunday’s competition, Canada’s delegation included a large number of young athletes seeking international experience at the senior level. The team lost 4-1 to Cuba and 4-1 to Brazil. Canada’s single victory over Cuba was the result of an opponent’s forfeit, while t... Read more

The fifth EJU Bureau two-days-meeting was held in Poreč (CRO). Considering that the competiton and events calendar is extremely demanding these weeks, a combination of a live-hybrid meeting was chosen, four members travelled to Croatia, while the remaining two members attended the meeting via conference call. from left to right – the four Bureau members being present in Poreč: EJU Vice-President Hrvoje LINDI, President Dr László TÓTH, General Secretary Dr Martin POIGER and EJU General Tr... Read more

Often we see athletes retire from competitive judo and transition in to coaching positions, or take up roles within their federations. One of those former athletes is Elnur MAMMADLI. Mammadli is a well-known member of our judo community, in the first decade of this millennia he accomplished what many can only dream of, an Olympic title. Not only this but he managed to span both the -73kg and -81kg categories, claiming European and World Masters titles. Now Mammadli is Vice President of t... Read more

In the run-up to Tokyo Olympics two nations ended up with very high profile domestic rivalries, that played out on the world stage. At -66kg Olympic hosts Japan held a fight off between their world champions Abe and Maruyama. At -57kg Canada let their judoka Klimkait and DeGuchi resolve the race to qualify at the Budapest World Championships. Over the next 14 weeks the podcast is going to run a mini-series, looking at some of the selection nightmares that nations are going to face and resolve... Read more

The second day of competition in Sarajevo from the European Judo Tour series brought a handful of exciting fights. Again, the home crowd had the most reason to celebrate, which happily watched the victories and celebrations of the competitors from BIH at the European Open. Today, Bosnia and Herzegovina had as many as four finals in which it confirmed its dominance by winning two gold, two silver and one bronze medals. Gold medals were won by Nikola PLJEVALJČIĆ (-100kg) and Larisa CERIĆ (+78k... Read more

Canada’s judokas delighted their fans at Calgary’s Winsport Complex on Saturday, capturing four medals at the Pan-American/Oceania Championships.  François Gauthier-Drapeau  (Quebec) and  Shady ElNahas  (Ontario) clinched gold medals,  Louis Krieber-Gagnon  (Quebec) earned silver, and  Marc Deschênes  (Quebec) won bronze. Gauthier-Drapeau was proud to secure the first continental championship title of his career in the under-81 kg weight division. And to make his victory even sweeter,he d... Read more

When you say the term “full-time training” in sports, people tend to think of athletes who train throughout the day. In judo, there are full-time training facilities in Europe, and elsewhere, where you live at the facility (or nearby to it), and do various forms of training there, at different times in the day. When I started out in competition training, I went to the LA Judo Training Center (now defunct) where I slept in the dojo. I was literally (not just figuratively) living there. I had g... Read more

Arthur Margelidon and Jessica Klimkait also capture medals on opening day of senior tournaments With gold medals to their credit on Friday evening in Calgary,  Christa Deguchi  and  Julien Frascadore  led the Canadian delegation, which secured a total of four medals on day one of the senior tournaments at the Pan-American/Oceania Championships. Despite having been injured last month, Deguchi did not falter once on the tatamis at the WinSport Complex. Following two expeditious early win... Read more

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Ariane trained with us for several months. During that time, her training was often interrupted by trips to Europe but whenever Ariane was in the dojo, she was a model of discipline, perseverance and tenacity. She was always early to class, always eager to do extra work, and would persist on drilling a technique until she got it right. Ariane's now off to Europe to further her studies. We wish her all the best and hope she will visit us whenever she's back in Malaysia for the holidays. Read more

We are delighted to congratulate all individuals who participated in and completed the Level 2 Coaching Course in conjunction with Sport Ireland Coaching 🥋 The following judoka started their coaching journey and successfully completed this course on the 9th of August 2023: Ademir Trbalic – North East Judo Academy Cathal McNabb – Renbukan Judo Club Ciaran McCool – Konarakai Judo Club Dermot Croke – Renmore Judo Club Ray Slattery Limerick – City Judo Club Sergejs Maskalenko – Portmarnock Judo C... Read more

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Anthony Catanese, M.D. will be USJF’s guest on the season’s opening webinar entitled “SafeSport and Heads Up – A Judo Physician’s Perspective”. His lifelong practice of judo as a competitor and judo physician has given him a deep understanding of the needs of competitors, teachers, and coaches to support the safe practice of the Gentle Way. Read more

This weekend, Canada’s senior judokas will strive to emulate their cadet and junior counterparts, who captured a host of medals on the opening weekend of the PanAmerican-Oceania Championships in Calgary. Starting Friday at the WinSport Complex, Canada will be represented by eighteen senior-level athletes aiming to clinch the titles in their respective categories. On the first weekend of competition, Canada earned a total of 21 medals, including seven gold.  Leanna Au  and  Yehor Pal... Read more

Canada added two silver medals to its haul on Sunday in the junior and cadet mixed team competitions on the final day of the first weekend of the 2023 the PanAmerican-Oceania Championships. The two Canadian teams put on quite a show for the spectators at the WinSport Complex in Calgary. Both squads advanced to the big final, where they battled it out against Brazil, who ended the day as two-time champions. “There were some very, very good fights today! Our young athletes were very motivat... Read more

In the run-up to Tokyo Olympics two nations ended up with very high profile domestic rivalries, that played out on the world stage. At -66kg Olympic hosts Japan held a fight off between their world champions Abe and Maruyama. At -57kg Canada let their judoka Klimkait and DeGuchi resolve the race to qualify at the Budapest World Championships. Over the next 14 weeks the podcast is going to run a mini-series, looking at some of the selection nightmares that nations are going to face and resolve... Read more

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A mere 24 hours after Team Canada’s cadet athletes won 11 medals at the PanAm and Oceania Championships, the squad of junior judokas added eight more to the Canadian medal haul on Saturday in Calgary. Team Canada scored a whooping five gold, one silver, and two bronze medals on the tatamis of Calgary’s WinSport complex. Charlize Isabelle Medilo  was the first Canadian junior judoka to win a gold medal. The Canuck fought in the Under 48 kg final against American Harlee Hiller to win gold. ... Read more

Two Gold, Four Silver and Five Bronze Medals  Canada’s cadet judokas did their country proud on home turf on day one of the PanAmerican-Oceania Championships, being held in Alberta. They collected a total of eleven medals on Friday at the WinSport Complex in Calgary. One of the day’s highlights was the all-Canadian showdown in the under 52-kg final, where  Leanna Au  defeated  Laurence Gagnon  to claim the gold medal. “I’m definitely very happy with the outcome! This is only my second ... Read more

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Osaekomi Kuzure-Kesa-Gatame Kesa-Gatame Ura-Gatame Ushiro-Kesa-Gatame Yoko-Shiho-Gatame Tate-Shiho-Gatame Kata-Gatame Mune-Gatame Kami-Shiho-Gatame Osaekomi Rolls Arm-Trap Roll Alligator Roll Billy Roll Side-Takedown Roll Knee Roll Read more

Lapel Front Ippon-Seoi-Nage (KY) Drop Ippon-Seoi-Nage (KY) Lapel-Side Koshi-Guruma (KY) Lapel-Side Sasae (KY) Wrong-Leg Sasae (AY) Sleeve Front Ogoshi (KY) Floating Elbow Morote-Seoi-Nage (KY) Cross-Grip Drop Morote-Seoi-Nage (AY) Arm Drag Seoi-Nage (KY) Drop Arm Drag Seoi-Nage (AY) Lapel Back Ouchi-Gari (KY) Whirling Ouchi-Gari (AY) Takato Ouchi (AY) Kosoto-Gari (KY) Sticky Foot Kosoto-Gari (KY) The Twitch (KY) Gill Hook Kosoto (AY) Sleeve Back De-Ashi-Barai Okuri-Ashi-Barai Tsubame-Gaeshi O... Read more

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As host nation of the Pan American and Oceania Championships 2023, Canada intends to showcase a mighty delegation at the event, which kicks off with the Cadet and Junior tournaments from September 8 to 10, at Calgary’s WinSport complex. Cadet-aged athletes will take to the tatami on Friday to open the event, while junior-aged athletes will compete 24 hours later. Mixed team competitions in both categories will be held on Sunday to conclude the first weekend of exciting judo action at thes... Read more

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Judo coaches can sign up for more Coaching Resources like these here: Coach Resources Unlocking Read more The post Teaching Osoto-Gari: Unlocking Four Levels of Mastery and Earning Certificates Along the Way appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

All active members of the 2022-2023 season (member in good standing) Judo Canada can claim a CAD 15 discount on a yearly subscription, by entering an individual promo code when subscribing to judocanada.tv. Please note that you will only get the discount on a yearly subscription (regular or premium), not an event pass.  How to put together your individual promo code? Your unique promo code is put together like this: judoca + your membership number + The first letter of yo... Read more

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With September with us, it is traditionally the time when many of our clubs return to action after the summer break. The Irish Judo Association President is urging the clubs, coaches, players, officials and volunteers to participate and support the many upcoming events organised by the Board and Provincial Councils. Competitions, Referee courses, Coaching Qualification courses and Table Official training have all been organised. To support the Provincial Councils the IJA Board have contribute... Read more

In the run-up to Tokyo Olympics two nations ended up with very high profile domestic rivalries, that played out on the world stage. At -66kg Olympic hosts Japan held a fight off between their world champions Abe and Maruyama. At -57kg Canada let their judoka Klimkait and DeGuchi resolve the race to qualify at the Budapest World Championships. Over the next 14 weeks the podcast is going to run a mini-series, looking at some of the selection nightmares that nations are going to face and resolve... Read more

For the last two years, our Pathway Squad has seen not only growth in numbers, but the growth in ability of our players involved, and it is now time to reap the rewards with a significantly funded trip across the water. After rigorous testing, skills-based assessment, and commitment with attendance, four of our Squad have been selected to represent Northern Ireland at the Welsh Open, which takes place in Cardiff on the 30 th of September. The players selected are: Tighearnan Doyle (Kookateki... Read more

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Three Canadian Kata teams attended the Nordic Judo Kata Open in Kristianstad, Sweden on August 26, and each finished the day with a medal: In Kime no Kata Mario Pageau and Martin Vallieres of Quebec took the bronze medal. Ju no Kata saw two Canadian teams on the podium: Aiko Lachaine and Danielle Ferland of Quebec won Silver, while Wesley Enns and Kelly Palmer from Alberta took Bronze.  Also noteworthy in this category is that the Gold Medal went to World Champions from Germany, Wolfga... Read more

Jamilla won Cadets gold and Juniors silver at the 2023 Nationals. The 2023 Cadet and Junior Nationals were held in Johor Bahru over the weekend of August 19 and 20. We had one player, Jamilla, going for these championships and both her events were scheduled to be held on the 19th. There would be a children's event and team event the next day but she was not involved in that. When the schedule was first released, it said the competitions would start by 12 noon and be over by 6pm. So, I figured... Read more

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Parents, are you concerned about the ‘fighting’ aspect of judo classes? Does your child hit out more often than you would like them to? Worried judo might encourage this sort of behaviour. Judo is uniquely designed to positively channel your child’s energy while instilling discipline and respect. As a martial art and philosophy, Judo firmly aligns with teaching self-control rather than aggression and can help children who ‘hit out’. Here’s how: Controlled Physicality: Judo is a highly struct... Read more

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Everybody knows and agrees that if you want to achieve extraordinary results, you need to work hard every single day. But how do you get yourself to do that? Motivation is very powerful. If you have a source of motivation — perhaps an upcoming competition or a desire to beat a rival — you will work very hard. The only problem is if that source of motivation disappears, suddenly your willingness to work hard goes away too. If that competition you've been training so hard for is suddenly cancel... Read more

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Recently, one of my players told me that they were feeling nervous about an upcoming competition at the end of the year. This made me think about this topic quite a bit. Nervousness before a competition is common. When I was training in Camberley, I had a training partner who told me he used to throw up before every competition. That’s how nervous he’d get. It is said that you don’t have to feel good to perform well in competition. You could feel crappy and still win the gold. My training par... Read more

Part 12 Customized techniques strategic gripping 0:00 / 4:01 1× In Part 12, the final segment of our podcast on "How to develop a throw", we talk about customized techniques and strategic gripping. This podcast series was inspired by this article: How do you develop a throw? Previous podcasts: Part 1: Classical vs modern Part 2: Randori Part 3: Video resources Part 4: Uchikomi, nagekomi & randori Part 5: Different variations of a throw Part 6: Complementary throws Part 7: How it is played Par... Read more

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Part 11 Virtual Coaching 0:00 / 2:50 1× In Part 11, I'm asked if I offer virtual coaching as a service. I explain my reservations about that but sometimes the questions do lead to interesting conversations. This podcast series was inspired by this article: How do you develop a throw? Previous podcasts: Part 1: Classical vs modern Part 2: Randori Part 3: Video resources Part 4: Uchikomi, nagekomi & randori Part 5: Different variations of a throw Part 6: Complementary throws Part 7: How it is p... Read more

Part 10 The Ideal Athlete 0:00 / 2:44 1× In Part 10, Garmamie asks me what kind of athlete I would like to train. My answer probably surprised him quite a bit because it's not the kind of answer he expected. This podcast series was inspired by this article: How do you develop a throw? Previous podcasts: Part 1: Classical vs modern Part 2: Randori Part 3: Video resources Part 4: Uchikomi, nagekomi & randori Part 5: Different variations of a throw Part 6: Complementary throws Part 7: How it is ... Read more

Part 9 Biggest Mistake 0:00 / 2:04 1× In Part 9, we discuss the biggest mistake a player can make which will slow the development of their techniques. This podcast series was inspired by this article: How do you develop a throw? Previous podcasts: Part 1: Classical vs modern Part 2: Randori Part 3: Video resources Part 4: Uchikomi, nagekomi & randori Part 5: Different variations of a throw Part 6: Complementary throws Part 7: How it is played Part 8: Crash pads Read more

Part 8 Crashpads 0:00 / 6:17 1× This podcast series was inspired by this article: How do you develop a throw? Previous podcasts: Part 1: Classical vs modern Part 2: Randori Part 3: Video resources Part 4: Uchikomi, nagekomi & randori Part 5: Different variations of a throw Part 6: Complementary throws Part 7: How it is played. Read more

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  One of our new members asked me to share a bit about my personal journey in judo. Let me do this in the form of a blog posting. When I was a young boy I was fascinated with Bruce Lee, who did a form of kung-fu. I also recall buying an illustrated book on karate. I guess I thought martial arts was cool. But I never did enrol in any martial arts classes and I don't even think I knew what judo was at the time. As a small boy, I grew up in the USA, so I played baseball and (American) footba... Read more

Part 7 How is it played 0:00 / 6:02 1× In Part 7, we dive deeper into why Japanese champions tend to show the classical version of the technique and how that impacts how judo is taught around the world. This podcast series was inspired by this article: How do you develop a throw? Previous podcasts: Part 1: Classical vs modern Part 2: Randori Part 3: Video resources Part 4: Uchikomi, nagekomi & randori Part 5: Different variations of a throw Part 6: Complementary throws Read more

Budokan held its 25th Junior NSW competition for Mons and Junior Boys and Girls age categories on Sunday 6th  August, the first we’ve been able to run in over 2 years.51 Mons and Junior athletes from 3 clubs (Budokan, OKO and UTS) participated in 18 divisions with 96 matches contested plus a Mons Read more

Welcome to all new members. We hope that you are enjoying your Judo experience at Budokan. Read more

This Thursday night (17th August) between the Junior and Senior classes, we will be pleased to welcome to the club the Federal Member for Mitchell, The Hon. Read more

Since April, the Budokan Mons class coaches have been awarding a student of the month award which is hotly contested for Mons athletes who attend consistently, are attentive and focussed and who are also developing well technically during the month. Four awards have been presented to date. Read more

27th August - Judo NSW Community Series Competition - Stanhope Gardens. Note at the club 22nd September – National Schools Championships – Brisbane 23-24 September – Queensland Open – Brisbane 10-12 November – Perth Oceania Cup (Cadets and Junior M/W) Read more

Please note the heavily discounted specials currently available at the club on Budokan merchandise. Read more

In the last Newsletter I covered the results of the Cadet and Junior Asian Cups in Hong Kong and Macau, in which we had 4 of our Cadets participate, along with National Cadet Coach (and Head Club Junior Coach) Kerrye. Read more

The National Championships were held on the Gold Coast from the 8th to 13th June.  At this event, Budokan Judo Club made a significant contribution to NSW and Australian Judo.    Read more

Well done to the Budokanis who competed at the Central Coast Open. Read more

During May, just after the Cadet/Junior European tour in March/April, the club ran our first Movie Night / BBQ since pre-COVID. Read more

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We are delighted to announce that we have a haul of medals from the British Adaptive and V.I. Championships! On August the 5 th our team from the Northern Ireland Judo Adaptive Squad took the Journey to Cardiff in Wales to compete against the other adaptive players from across the UK. Supported by their parents, our coaches, and connections the team faced strong competition from the other Judoka on the mats, but we are delighted to say that the performances reflected the hard work put ... Read more

Are you gearing up for the back-to-school season? As the school bells start ringing and the backpacks come out, it’s a perfect time to consider how martial arts can play a transformative role in your child’s school life. Beyond physical fitness, martial arts instil valuable life skills that are incredibly relevant in a school context. Let’s dive into how martial arts can help students become more confident, respectful, and resilient as they navigate their academic journey. 1. Martial Arts Bui... Read more

One of the lesser known aspects of the pre Occupation Kodokan was its instruction of jōjutsu (staff technique) and the Kodokan bōjutsu bu (Kodokan Staff Technique Department). Since the discussion of the background of this story is lengthy, and not every may be familiar with jōjutsu itself, I start with this marvelous video. Note that … Continue reading The Kodokan Bōjutsu Department – Staff fighting in the Kodokan → Read more

All at the IJA are extremely proud of the Irish Adaptive Judo Team who competed at the British Open Adaptive and VI Judo Championships 2023 on August 5th. The team managed to take home a whopping 6 gold medals, 3 silver medals and 4 bronze medals!! This is the biggest medal haul in IJA History for an Adaptive Team and for many it was their first time competing at this level. Gemma Reynolds, Adaptive Judo Commission Chair and Coach provided us with a report on how the events of the weekend pan... Read more

Delighted to welcome this weeks guest to the show. Colton is a double Olympian for the USA, medaling 4 times in Pan-American Games and competing at both Rio and Tokyo Olympics. We talk through his start in judo, how living and training in Japan as a teenager became the launch point for his future achievements, and discuss as well both of the Olympic cycles he competed through. Since Tokyo Colton has moved into coaching working with Team USA and setting up the Colton Brown Training Centre in N... Read more

Good news! The Book has been created for the children of Everest Judo Club. A Read more The post Get your copy of the Everest Judo Book today! appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

The Irish Judo Association Annual General Meeting took place on Saturday 29th July in Sport HQ, Blanchardstown Dublin. The Annual General Report is available to view through the following link – Annual General Report 2023 Read more

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But wait, there’s a catch – each download will only be available for 48 hours, Read more The post Five Free Judo Colouring Page by Koka Kids appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

  Koka Kids 4 Skills has been designed to track and encourage progress. Each judo Read more The post Introducing Koka Kids 4 Skills appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

The 1st Stage of Judo For All RS took place last July 22 in the city of Porto Alegre/RS (Brazil), an event that marks the resumption of Inclusive Judo festivals and competitions in southern Brazil.  The event was organized by the Gaucho Judo Federation and the FGJ Inclusive Judo Commission, with several athletes, mainly from Judo for people with physical and intellectual disabilities.  In our state, there are several entities that promote adapted Judo, highlighting the work carried out with ... Read more

This week we are joined by Dr Jagjit Singh Khera, founder of Lions Judo and one of the event organisers of the Craig Fallon Cup. We recorded this episode just a couple of days after this years Craig Fallon Cup. The event was set up in memory of Craig and we talk through the event and what they want it do as Craigs legacy, as well as the amazing support it received from the British Judo community. If you are struggling with your mental health please reach out to someone, and organisations like... Read more

Please find attached the report of the first edition of the Tahiti Open 2022 from the IJF IT Team’s Elisabetta and Mr. Huu Hanh. We will be releasing the event outlines for the 2023 Tahiti Open soon. Enjoy your reading … Lire la suite­­ Read more

In response to USA Judo’s withdrawal from the AJAA and USA Judo’s recent announcement about a “Your Choice” Participation/Membership Plan with a No Insurance Participation Waiver (NIPW). Read more

Hello. This is a bit of an experiment for me – a narrated PowerPoint presentation regarding some portions of the life and times of Kanō Jigorō shihan. (If it doesn’t work I’ll have to pull this message and delete it.) Please note that I intentionally read it very slowly to allow my non-native English speaking … Continue reading An Introduction to Kanō Jigorō – A narrated presentation → Read more

The 2023-24 USJF Event Medical Professional Liability Program Summary & Enrollment Forms are available. This program is an easy way to show your appreciation for your volunteer Medical Staff at your event and provide them with Medical Liability coverage for working at your event. Here is the 2023-24 USJF Event Medical Professional Liability Program Enrollment […] Read more

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Here a recent article written by Nicolas Messner I wanted to share as my Black Belt Blog for this week. Recently New-York City, USA, saw a special event, 'Sumo and Sushi', where judo met with Japanese culture and tradition. The event showcases recently retired highly ranked sumo athletes and immerses the participants in the culture and history of Japan. It was run by former sumo Ozeki, Konishiki, who is the first non-Japanese-born sumo wrestler to reach Ozeki, the second highest rank. Throug... Read more

Olympians Miriam Blasco and Nik Fairbrother will trek to Base Camp Everest. On the way Read more The post Everest Judo Club – judo on top of the world! appeared first on Judo Books by Koka Kids . Read more

To All OJU Members NEWS FLASH!!!! The OJU has allocated limited funds to support youth development in kata. Expressions of Interest to Ernie Wakamatsu  email:  [email protected] by 1st Aug 2023 Please see the attached ‘Flyer’ and kindly promote this exciting opportunity … Lire la suite­­ Read more

This week we welcome back to the show Connah Anders who updates us on his journey towards Paris 2024 Paralympics and recent promotion to Dan grade. The show is also joined by Judo newcomer Josh Till, and we get into his experience of judo so far (poisoned by me!) as well as comparisons with BJJ. Towards the end of the show we dig into the sticks and sunglasses club in VI Judo (athletes who play the classification system) and sandbagging in BJJ. I coach both Connah and Josh, and it has been an... Read more

By Kevin Koenig June 24, 2023 Could two of tech’s most famous CEOs really face off in a cage match? If there was ever a time, it’s now. A-list celebrities and titans of industry are putting the muscles they showed off on yachts and beaches last year to use, entering Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments after intensive training. Tom Hardy, Ashton Kutcher, Mario Lopez and Mark Zuckerberg are among the combat sport’s best-known amateurs. Jason Momoa dabbles in it, and Elon Musk was recently photogra... Read more

Can judo be useful in a street fight? Or could it actually be a hindrance? Judo , a martial art with a focus on throws and grappling techniques, has gained popularity as both a competitive sport and a self-defense system. Let's examine the effectiveness of judo in street fights, considering its principles, techniques, and practicality in real-world confrontations. Understanding Judo: Judo, developed by Jigoro Kano in the late 19th century, emphasizes using an opponent's energy against them. ... Read more

USJF Koka Kids interactive Jr. Rank Promotion Requirements Read more

This past weekend was the U.S. Adaptive Needs Judo Clinic & Championships in Riverside, California. So, for my blog this week I share this article by Tayeba Hussein. First is a photo journey of one of my high functioning autistic students who participated in this terrific event, hosted by Riverside Youth Judo Club . Children with ASD learn self-defense skills at the Family Judo for Autism program Kids with autism spectrum disorder have the opportunity to participate in judo classes with thei... Read more

To All OJU Members, I hope this finds you all well. It is my pleasure to announce the return of the OJU KODOKAN Kata Seminar and OJU Kata Championships in Brisbane  29Aug ~ 3Sep 2023 It has been more than … Lire la suite­­ Read more

Congratulations due to Elliot for passing the Club Referee award at the North Yorkshire Festival 2023. Here he is with the other referees at the festival. Thanks to all the volunteers (organisation, runners, table officials, refs etc) for their efforts. Particular thanks to Jean Knowles for travelling to run the examination. Referees at North Yorkshire Festival 2023 Read more

Seven elements of teambuilding… Device of Judo (and all kind ) coaching. If you are satisfied about your results: develop. If you are not satisfied about your results: change! by Willem Visser© 1. Each team member should have the opportunity to have his or her view on; the targets/goals that have to be set, the role that each individual member has to perform, the methods that will be employed to reach the targets/goals and the expectations that the team members have of the team. This section... Read more

Kanō Jigorō’s calligraphies are well documented. He was fairly prolific, writing various sayings he adopted for jūdō instruction, usually in a very distinct hand with a block-type script. Recently I found a heretofore a calligraphy unmentioned by Kanō scholars and archivists in an obscure book published in the 1920s. I found it interesting enough to … Continue reading “Lost” Kanō Confucian calligraphy → Read more

Well done to the 52 Judoka who took to the mat on Sunday 11th of June 2023 in Phibblestown, Dublin for the second National Grading of the year. Congratulations to the following Judoka on their successful Dan Grade Promotions: 1st Dan Ion Lipsiuc – Fudoshin Judo Club T.J Palmer – UCC Judo Club Colin Eustace – UCC Judo Club Richard Dixon – Renbukan Judo Club Piotr Worotynski – GS Judo Club 3rd Dan Daniel Grimley – Renbukan Judo Club Timothy Kelly – Killarney Judo Club Thanks to the National... Read more

This week we welcome Tokyo Olympian Prisca Awiti Alcatraz to the show. We talk through her fantastic recent performance at the recent Doha Worlds, where she dethroned 2022 World Champion Horikawa en route to a 5th finish. We also discuss her confidence on the mat when she's facing up against the biggest names in the sport, coming up through Enfield JC, as well her Tokyo 2020ne experience with Team Mexico. Follow Prisca's journey toward Paris2024 on Instagram @priscaalcaraz1 and her YouTube ch... Read more

For my Black Belt Blog for This week I wanted to share this interesting comparison between judo and karate. As a judoka I like what the author says about the benefits of judo. However knowing how to strike and block is of key importance in self-defense as proven in the UFC and other MMA events. This is why I put my kids in karate too as they were growing up. I wanted them to be prepared for an encounter with Holly Holmes ! By James Franklin If you’re not a martial arts fan, judo and karate m... Read more

Parlati’s Drop Ouchi June 14, 2023 11:18 pm No Comments ... Read more

Please see below points won for IJA Members at the English Open – May 2023, as outlined by the Chair Grading Commissioner, Harry McGuigan. Any queries about these points should be emailed to [email protected]. Points Won for IJA Members at English Open 2023 Read more

Please see below points won and KYU grade wins from the All Ireland Schools 2023 – 3rd June 2023, as outlined by the Chair Grading Commissioner, Harry McGuigan. Any queries about these points should be emailed to [email protected]. Read more

*Calling all Leinster or ex – Leinster Members* Leinster Judo Council are wanting any Leinster or ex-Leinster members who have an interest in keeping abreast of Leinster judo news to contact them at [email protected] . Read more

The All Ireland Schools 2023 took place last Saturday, June 3rd at the National Indoor Arena and what a great day of Judo it was! Thank you to all who participated and also to all volunteers, referees, table officials and coaches who help to make these events run smoothly. The results for the All Ireland Schools can be viewed here – All Ireland Schools 2023 RESULTS Read more

The next semester for the Undergraduate Certificate Judo Instructor has now opened, please see attached details: IJF Academy – Undergraduate Certificate Judo Instructor Qualification Please advise if you wish to be registered to same and the IJA office will send you the relevant details, please ensure you let all your coaches and members know of this course availability. The course close date is the 16th of July 2023 however, applications & fees must be received to the IJA office in advance o... Read more

Cardoso’s (Legal) Leg-Block Tomoe June 13, 2023 11:25 pm No Comments ... Read more

Stojadinov’s Uchi-Makikomi June 12, 2023 10:31 pm No Comments ... Read more

Stangar wins 2 consecutive IJF golds June 12, 2023 10:15 pm No Comments ... Read more

This year’s Varsity competition saw an excellent display of women’s judo. The University Women’s A Team was very strong, consisting of Sarah Spencer (1 st Kyu), Fiona Gibbs (2 nd Kyu), Roksana Dutkiewicz (1 st Dan) and Robyn Irwin (1 st Kyu). Unfortunately I was unable to compete due to a shoulder injury that I had sustained at BUCS a fortnight prior to Varsity, but despite being a woman down the team comfortably won the competition. Sarah won the first bout with a well-executed drop morote ... Read more

February 18-19 th , Walsall Sports Centre Individual competition Individuals: Showgo Kimura (M U66 Dan grade), Julio Bernucci-Amador (M U66 1 st Kyu), Noam Ezra (M U73 1 st Kyu), Julian Homann (M U100 1 st Kyu), Jozsef Zoltan Terjek (M U100 1 st Kyu), Fiona Gibbs (F U63 2 nd Kyu), Cassia Taylor (F U57 1 st Kyu), Sarah Spencer (F U63 1 st Kyu), Roksana Dutkiewitz (F U63 1 st Dan) 9 athletes travelled to BUCS along with 3 of our extremely supportive coaches.  Everyone made weight w... Read more

Kamps was the first to get belated World Gold June 10, 2023 12:43 am No Comments ... Read more

Tasoev gets belated World Championships Gold June 10, 2023 12:20 am No Comments ... Read more

British Judo recently took a delegation to the 2023 Virtus Global Games. We would offer a big well done to all players, but particularly players from Y&H. U60Kg Gold : Idris Khan ( Huddersfield, Penistone ) O100Kg Bronze : Mikey Lomas ( Miramar ) Read more

West Yorkshire County restart their open training sessions. Their first of the new sessions led by Spencer Lambert.   Read more

My Blog this week is another fantastic article on Kano written by Judo Historian Nicolas Messner, enjoy! Jigoro Kano was a bright young man, with excellent school and university results. He shone with his intelligence and his capacity for analysis and synthesis. Resolutely turned towards the future and relying on the present, he remained fundamentally interested in the past, in the history of his country and of the world. His life was gradually orientated towards the best way to build bridge... Read more

Over the last few months, work has been taking place on two very important development aspects for the Northern Ireland Judo Federation. The first is the recruitment of a new Performance Lead Coach, and we have great pleasure in announcing that Stephen McCluskey will be taking up the position to develop our players at Performance level. However, Stephen will not only be working on the squads, but he will also be integral to the Federation as a whole creating a culture of openness and develop... Read more

Welcome to the exciting world of Fighting Fitness Judo! In this blog post, we will explore the significance of the Black Belt Journey within our club and how it offers a pathway filled with growth, opportunities, and personal transformation. Whether you’re a child, teenager, or adult, Fighting Fitness Judo has something unique to offer at every stage of your life. Get ready to unleash your potential and embark on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery! The Black Belt Journey for Children ... Read more

Many times I have been asked about ki 気 (pre World War II old style character: 氣) in jūdō 柔道 and other Japanese martial arts. In no way am I an expert on the matter, having practiced aikidō 合気道 only intermittently for a few years. My quest to understand it seemed pretty much hopeless when … Continue reading Ki 気 in Jūdō 柔道- Uchida Ryōhei and the Secrets of Budō 武道極意 – The Kanō Chronicles → Read more

Miyamoto Musashi is remembered as one of the greatest samurai who ever lived. A Japanese Buddhist born in 1584, he taught that there are twenty rules one should follow in order to lead a happy and fulfilled life. He was a famous warrior and expert swordsman, and his wise teachings are still studied today. These are according to his famous texts Musashi’s Dokkōdō and The Complete Book of Five Rings , as well as a Musashi Video . 1. Accept Life, As It Is People tend to often create stress for ... Read more

Regular co-host Fitz Davies joins the show and we get into 3 or 4 of the big controversies to come out of the recent Doha World Championships. We go through the no-score ride and roll in the Riner Tasoev final (and subsequent IJF statement and then apology), head-diving is back (and in a big way!), shido’s deciding fights, and Pinot’s cheeky leg grab ko-uchi in the Teams final. Finally, we chat through a couple of the stand out athletes who competed. Read more

Royal Marines and Royal Navy judoka joined forces with judoka in Wales for the National Randori Session last night, establishing a partnership aimed at strengthening bonds and fostering collaboration. This alliance seeks to enhance judo development and cultivate a stronger relationship between the Armed Forces and the Welsh Judo Association. During the training session, Armed Forces judoka and Welsh judoka members engaged in shared Randori practice. This collaboration promoted the exchang... Read more