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Are you looking to develop and expand your coaching career?

JudoScotland is seeking Performance Pathway Support Coaches to help deliver our Performance Programme and support the next generation of Scottish judoka.

In this role, you will deliver high‑quality technical sessions to identified pathway athletes, working in alignment with the JudoScotland Player Development Framework. As part of our coaching pool, you’ll contribute to scheduled JudoScotland sessions and provide hands‑on support to athletes at training camps and competitions, both domestically and internationally, under the guidance of the Head of Performance.

We are looking to appoint coaches in line with our ambition to expand our programme including delivery within our Regional Performance Hubs located in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact within the performance pathway and to our next generation of performance judoka.

Download or view the Application Pack below for more information: 

A brief update from the JudoScotland Chair Marc Preston on activity in January. 

And so, we’re into another year.

It started off on 9th January with a meeting involving Judith and myself plus our cohorts from the Judo Home Nations (Wales and Northern Ireland). We discussed how we can work more collaboratively going forward, with a view to becoming stronger as a collective. Personally, I think it’s very important that the Home Nations work together and that we build a strong relationship as we share many similar experiences and challenges.

On 14th January, Judith, Sandy and I visited the University of Stirling to meet with their Director of Sport, Cathy Gallagher. Having brought the Performance Programme in-house to JudoScotland, we have restarted work on a feasibility study for a national facility and will be looking at a number of options. I thoroughly enjoyed our meeting with Cathy who, as always, was super enthusiastic and positive.

Moving on we had another magnificent Scottish Open tournament on 17th and 18th January at Inverclyde – with over 485 competitors from 143 clubs across 14 countries. I’m always delighted to attend this event, and it was fantastic to catch up with so many players from the present and the past, including 19 Commonwealth Games medallists from 1990 to 2022!

Following the tournament, it was wonderful to see Alberto and the team host an international training camp. It’s always a good way to attract foreign interest where they can get a tournament and a top-class training session afterwards.

On 20th January I and Judith met up for lunch with Doc McKelvey, CEO of Scottish Gymnastics and Brian Ewing, their Chair. I imagine that this will become a more regular occurrence as both of our organisations experience very similar issues. We spent time swapping ideas/suggestions on how best to tackle them and not only was it a very productive couple of hours, it was exceptionally good fun with many funny stories!

On 27th January we had an online team meeting with British Judo and BJC. We were jointly looking at ways to work together for the benefit of judo. I came away from the meeting thinking that we’re actually very much aligned and I’m looking forward to the next opportunity to meet up.

In the evening, we had a JudoScotland Board meeting. It is vitally important that JS as an organisation doesn’t rely on any one individual and is able to operate if someone drops out and so, I had previously decided that it would be a good idea that our Vice Chair, Sandy Hodge lead the session. Sandy did an excellent job in chairing and facilitating the meeting.

And finally, for this month, it would be remiss of me if I didn’t mention that 3 Trainee Senior Examiners have now all been ratified as full BJA Senior Examiners. They have been working extremely hard over the last few years to get to this standard, and they are:-

• Colin Dunlop: 4th Dan, Carnegie Judo Club
• Gavin McNeill, 5th Dan, Edinburgh Judo
• Mark McCraw, 5th Dan, Edinburgh Judo

On a personal level, I have known Mark for many years and used to compete with him when we were junior. He was always a very strong competitor and tough to fight!

As 2026 takes shape, we’ve got the Commonwealth Games to look forward to in Glasgow. Let’s make 2026 even better than 2025!

Marc Preston, 7th Dan 

Today is Time to Talk Day,  the nation’s biggest mental health conversation, and a moment to listen, share, and open up about what really matters.

We visited Chat on The Mat, a brilliant initiative offering men (aged 18+) a space to build fitness, strengthen social connections, support their mental wellbeing, and enrich their daily lives.

Hear from its founder, Callum Woods, and some of the participants about the difference it’s making, and why taking time to talk is so important.

Entering its third year, applications for the 2026 JudoScotland Senpai Programme are now open.

We are seeking a new cohort of young people who are eager to get involved and take an active role in their club. The Senpai Programme is an initiative that has been designed to empower young people within judo clubs in Scotland and is delivered at no cost to the individual.

Providing young people with leadership opportunities early in life helps to set them up for long‑term success, opening the door to new possibilities and giving them the confidence to aim higher. The aim of the programme is to support our young members aged 16 –24 to learn new skills and gain greater confidence in themselves to take on new challenges both in and beyond the dojo.

During the programme participants will have the opportunity to attend educational workshops delivered by Scottish Sports Futures and Scottish Disability Sport. These workshops are designed to help Senpai participants develop skills to take on self-defined responsibilities and challenges within their club environments.

The Senpai Programme is all about developing young people through a hybrid of formal learning and collaboration with like-minded young people to support them through their projects and to develop a network of support around them.

Applicants are encouraged to think about a potential role or project they would like to undertake at their club which they will be supported with during their time on the programme.

JudoScotland Senpai Programme Lead, Sam Ingram said: “It’s very exciting to be entering our third year of the programme. Over the past two years we have seen 22 young people take part in the programme and you can really see the impact that it has had on their confidence and their involvement in judo.

“Individuals who were very reserved at the start of the programme have since grown in confidence. They have gone on to volunteer at events, undertake fundraising initiatives, take on roles that no one else in their club had the capacity to fulfil, or simply provide support during club sessions. It has been great to see their increased confidence and such positive personal transformations.

“If you are interested in playing a more active role in your judo club or in the wider judo community, we want to hear from you.”

The application period runs from Monday 2nd February to Monday 23rd February. Following the closing date, applications will be shortlisted by an internal JudoScotland panel and invited to attend an online interview.

Anyone who wishes to apply for the Senpai Programme should fill out the application form. It should take about 20-30 minutes to complete. Please head to the Senpai Programme webpage on the JudoScotland website for more information.

We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups, recognising the importance of different perspectives in shaping the next generation of young leaders. If you are having any issues completing the application, please contact Sam Ingram on samuelingram@judoscotland.com

Clyde Judo Club has become the first club in 2026 to achieve JudoMARK accreditation status since the scheme was updated in 2024.

The JudoMARK club accreditation scheme recognises clubs that are committed to upholding the highest standards in Safeguarding and Wellbeing, People Development, Club Management and Governance. As the national governing body for judo in Scotland, JudoScotland is dedicated to supporting affiliated clubs to further develop systems, processes and workforce by providing the guidance and resources needed to create safe, well-run environments where judo can thrive.

Reflecting on the process of obtaining JudoMARK status, Clyde Judo Club Secretary and Coach Paul Grady said:

“We had a bit of a headstart because we had done it before under the old scheme, however a lot of that was on pieces of paper so by taking some of that and using it as a template was useful. It was quite an involved process for a lot of people at the club.”

The biggest change for us was to actually have written documentation that is designed and written with what we do in mind and written for us, rather than just be a generic off-the-shelf policy. Having defined role descriptors for our Committee Members was a big deal and because we are also going through the process of making the club a registered charity, JudoMARK helped a lot with that process too as we had a lot of the paperwork now in place that we needed for that application.”

Becoming accredited is not only beneficial in establishing trust among members and parents, it also serves as a signpost to external stakeholders as a mark of the club’s commitment to ensuring everyone’s safety and professionalism. Paul highlighted this saying:

“It was important for us to do JudoMARK because although we had done it before, we are one of the bigger clubs in the area so it was important for us to have this in place and it’s a good marking tool for us. It aligns with what we want to do when it comes to engaging with the community sports hubs and Active Schools, it’s always good to go through processes like this because it highlights little things that maybe we didn’t have in place so it’s a worthwhile exercise to go through for that if nothing else.”

The JudoMARK accreditation scheme offers clubs a valuable opportunity to review and strengthen key aspects of their club infrastructure, ensuring these priorities remain central to day-to-day operations

The club was presented with their JudoMARK certification this week by Club Support Officer Sam Ingram. Speaking about the club’s journey to achieving JudoMARK status Sam said:

“Clyde Judo Club has been through a period of change over the past few months, most notably they have secured a new dojo after their last facility had to close at short notice. We are pleased to see that Clyde Judo have managed to overcome difficult circumstances and have continued to deliver judo to their members with little disruption, they have committed a lot of time and effort to the development of their club and achieving the JudoMARK accreditation is part of that.”

We hope to see more clubs in 2026 begin and complete the JudoMARK process as we continue to work together ensuring that judo clubs throughout the country are safe and welcoming environments where everyone can thrive and enjoy taking part in judo.”

To learn more about JudoMARK and to find out how your club can get involved click here.

Following the success of the Scottish Open at the weekend, it was brilliant to welcome international judoka to the National Training Centre for three days of training and collaboration.  

Judoka from Canada, Japan, Greece and the Home Nations spent three days at the National Training Centre, taking part in a range of judo sessions and training exercises that provided valuable international experience on home soil. 

The Canadian National Team Coach, Kouga Kagei highlighted the benefits to taking part in the camp following the tournament:  

“The biggest benefit is the opportunity to reflect and improve immediately after a competition. Our athletes were able to work on the areas they identified during their matches, especially grip fighting, transitions, and tactical decision-making. 

“Training with international athletes also gave them new perspectives and confidence. For the team, it strengthened our unity and focus moving forward.” 

Reflecting on the key learnings from the camp, Canadian judoka Maxine Maruyama Prasard said: “I enjoyed the camp because I got to fight and train with people who are at a higher level of judo than me but were in my weight class. It’s hard sometimes to have a lot of girls who are in the –48kg and –52kg categories back in Canda so it was good for me to challenge myself.” 

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, the Performance Programme aims to continue supporting Scottish judoka while strengthening how we work with the wider judo community to prepare athletes for progression onto the GB World Class Performance Programme. 

Speaking about the training sessions, Alberto Borin, JudoScotland Head of Performance said:  

“It’s always great to have international judoka in the National Training Centre and we hope to continue to create these opportunities for Scottish judoka throughout the year. 

“Training camps provide a great opportunity for athletes to train with different partners, learn from each other and expand their learning.” 

The traditional Scottish weather didn’t dampen the atmosphere of an incredible weekend of judo at this year’s Scottish Open Tournament. The sportscotland National Centre, Inverclyde welcomed over 485 competitors from 143 clubs across 14 countries for a display of some intense judo action.

Saturday morning began on a high note as the Adapted, VI, and Veteran categories took to the tatami. Edinburgh Judo set the standard early, topping the Veteran medal table. Euan Morse (VM1-2 –100kg) claimed gold after a strong performance in the final against Hackney Judo Club’s Dominic D’Paw. It was also an impressive showing from Bradford Judo Club, who secured four medals across the Veteran categories.

Pro Judo’s Solomon Rice built on his 2025 Scottish Open silver medal with an outstanding performance, taking Gold in the AD L1 –100kg category and winning every contest by Ippon. Max Karalus and Ethan Watkin of Kin Ryu Judo Club secured gold and silver respectively, contributing to their club topping the medal table in the adapted categories.

Competition reached a new level of intensity as the Cadets stepped onto the tatami on Saturday afternoon. Ealing Judo Club’s female athletes delivered standout performances, with Alexsandra Dudko securing gold in the –63 kg category and Deborah O’Neal dominating the +70 kg division to claim the top spot.

In the male Cadet categories, brothers Mohammed El‑Amir (–81 kg) and Najati El‑Amir (–90 kg) showcased exceptional skill and composure as they each captured gold, marking a remarkable double triumph for their family and club, Core Judo.

Adding to the international flavour of the event, the Canadian contingent proved formidable throughout the day, leaving a strong impression on Scottish soil and taking home five medals across the Cadet event.

On Sunday morning, the energy lifted and the tension sharpened as the Juniors took to the tatami. The Scottish judoka shone with gold medals for Rachael Gray (-52kg Destination Judo), Nicole Wood (-78kg Bishop Stortford), Joe Buchanan (-60kg Sportif) and Jaden Calder (-100kg Judo Club Esprit).

Once again, the Canadian Team dominated the Junior Male category with an impressive 5 medal win, with Wirral Judo Club topping the medal in the Junior female category.

With three all Scotland finals in the seniors in was a fierce battle for the top of the podium on home soil. First up Sunny Doig (Just Judo Yoshin) and Sophie Wood (Sportif) faced each other in the –63kg with Sunny Doig ultimately claiming gold by Ippon. In the –66 kg final, Nordine Adrif (Garioch Judo) faced Joe Buchanan (Sportif), and after a fiercely contested bout, Nordine emerged victorious to claim the gold. The final all Scotland contest of the day came in the –73kg category where Jack Macleod (Garioch Judo) claimed gold over Eden Heffernan (Pro Judo).

In an impressive –100kg final against Japan’s Otsuka Sakuya, Jaden Calder of Judo Club Esprit dominated to claim his second gold of the day. Aiden Moffat (Tayside) followed on Mat 5 soon after to win gold against Japan’s Koki Hase. Nicole Wood (Bishop Stortford) claimed her second gold medal of the day in the –78kg category, whilst Summer Shaw helped Camberly Judo Club top the Senior female medal table, with a gold in the –52kg.

It wasn’t just the competitors who shone this weekend, our incredible volunteers lit up the event every bit as brightly. Our dedicated Technical Officials and Referees kept the competition running seamlessly, but the volunteer effort didn’t stop there. We were supported by photographers, media volunteers, and countless coaches giving their time and energy to their players.

Our volunteer drivers, Michael Wilson and Robert Frood played an instrumental role this weekend in helping to transport our international players to and from the airport and their accommodation and we are incredibly grateful for their part in supporting the Scottish Open standing on the international stage.

We must also extend a special thanks to our international competitors, many of whom have stayed on to join our judoka for training this week at the National Training Centre in Ratho led by the JudoScotland Perfmance Coaching Team.

We’re truly grateful to the network of clubs that nurture and support these exceptionally selfless volunteers. Their commitment is what makes events like the Scottish Open not only possible, but exceptional.

Whether you’re across the country or across the globe, you don’t have to miss a second of the action. Tune in to the live stream and experience the event as it happens, wherever you are.

Date:

• Saturday 17th January: Adapted and VI, Cadets, and Veterans categories
• Sunday 18th Januray: Junior and Senior categories

Venue:

SportScotland National Centre Inverclyde, Burnside Road, Largs, KA30 8RW

Mat 1

Mat 2

Mat 3

Mat 4

Mat 5