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Hi all,

March was a busy month for the judo community.

I attended a couple of Kata courses. On 2-3 March internationally renowned Sensei Yoshihiko Iura 8th Dan ran a kata course, organised by JudoScotland at Largs. We learned Koshiki No Kata and Ju No Kata. It was a fantastic weekend and exceptionally well attended. Great to see two of our Vice Presidents, Rick Kenney and Jim Feenan on the mat illustrating that you’re never too experienced to stop learning!

Then on 17th March, I joined the Kodokan Goshin Jutsu. The event was a fundraiser for Chris Murphy, our exceptional ID World Judo Champion, as he looks to enhance his training and competitive skills in preparation for defending his title later this year. The course demonstrated how judo can counter different forms of attack from an armed opponent, an invaluable lesson in self-defence.

During the month, I went for a short family holiday to Budapest. Whilst there, we met up with Lisa Allan, Secretary General of the International Judo Federation at their offices. Lovely to see Lisa again and to learn more about her role and her life in this beautiful European capital city! And incredible that a small country like Scotland can produce so many exceptional people. Well done Lisa and thanks for a delicious lunch – very kind!

From 18-20 March colleagues at JudoScotland and I had a progress check with external auditors KPMG. The whole team have been working exceptionally hard on the recommendations and actions to improve governance and efficiencies at JudoSotland. I am personally confident that we will get a much-improved bill of health!

On 21 March I attended the Scottish Governing Bodies Chairs Networking Event. This is an excellent forum where the Chairs of different Scottish sports get together to share experiences and tackle emerging issues. The topics in March included funding cuts and venue closures, what’s happening and what we might do to mitigate risks. We discussed collaborating across sports to share venues and support each other.

Finally, let’s not forget all of the various events and courses delivered by JudoScotland during the month. The Level 1 Coaching Course on the 24th was a great success and sold out! Not to mention other events such as the Open Mat Session on the 12th, Coaching for Visually Impaired Athletes on the 24th and our Female Voices Open Call on the 27th.

And all the very best from us to Malin Wilson who has taken up Spanish citizenship and from now will be competing for Spain in her quest to be selected for this year’s Olympic Games. Good luck Malin from Scotland.

Marc Preston

6^th Dan

As the excitement builds for the upcoming Commonwealth Championships in Malta, the Scottish judo contingent eagerly prepares to showcase their skills on an international stage. With a total of 16 judokas from Scotland making their way to Pembroke in the Northern Region of Malta, anticipation is reaching fever pitch. Among them are competitors spanning various categories including pre-cadets, cadets, and seasoned veterans, each ready to leave their mark on the competition. Ahead of the event, we caught up with some of our members.

Coach and former Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Louise Renicks, who will be there in a coaching capacity said: “It’s an opportunity for the athletes to represent Scotland, mix with other countries and step on the mat and give their best. For some of the players, it’s their first time away at an international event and it’s important that the coaching staff make sure their experience is professional and they enjoy themselves.”

One of those players heading overseas is pre-cadet Stella Cameron, who said: “Competing for Scotland at the Commonwealth Judo Championships in Malta is a great opportunity. Whilst I have been here, I have had the chance to explore some of Malta and experience training at a Maltese Judo Club where we were made to feel very welcome. I look forward to competing on Saturday for Scotland.” Cadet James Rutherford shared his excitement, saying:  “I’m absolutely buzzing for this trip and ready to walk away with a medal.”

Veteran John Thacker, added: “We are proud and honoured to be representing Scotland in this prestigious international event.”

Our Vice President, Rick Kenney OBE MBA, who is President of the Commonwealth Judo Association, was honored by the association with a Judo Legacy award, recognising his 60-year journey in the sport.

We’d like to wish the very best to all our Scottish judoka competing: James Rutherford, James McKelvie, Lois Goldie, Logan Goldie, Lewis Yates, Kayla Smith, John Thacker, Arran Brown, Stella Cameron, Murdo Cameron, Sam Brown, Coby Sweetland, Kieran Carson, Luke McCafferty, Anthony Daye, and Sean Doran.

If you are worried, either for yourself or for anyone else, there are organisations who can offer support and advice. If someone is at immediate risk of harm however, please contact Police on 999.

CHILDLINE – 0800 1111 (a service for children and young people who need support or are facing problems or dangers. Calls are free and confidential, and will not show up on a phone bill)

https://www.childline.org.uk/

NSPCC – 0808 800 5000 (a service for any adult with concerns about a child)

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/

SHOUT – text the word ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 (a free, confidential, 24/7 text support service for anyone of any age in the UK who is struggling to cope)

https://giveusashout.org/

SAMARITANS – Call 116 123 (Calls are free and you can talk about anything that is upsetting you)

https://www.samaritans.org/

REPORT REMOVE – A service from Childline to help young people under 18 in the UK to confidentially report sexual images and videos of themselves and remove them from the internet: https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/online-mobile-safety/report-remove/

CAMPAIGN AGAINST LIVING MISERABLY (CALM) – 0800 58 58 58 information and support for anyone who is struggling with things and needs to talk. Offers a helpline and webchat.

https://www.thecalmzone.net/

THE MIX – 0808 808 4994 or Text THEMIX to 85258 – Support and advice for people under 25

https://www.themix.org.uk/

PAPYRUS HOPELINEUK- 0800 068 4141 or 07860 039967 (textline) Support and advice for people under 35 experiencing suicidal thoughts or finding it hard to cope.

https://www.papyrus-uk.org/

BEAT – 0808 801 0432  UK’s Eating Disorder Charity

https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/

SAMH – 0344 800 0550 (9am-6pm Mon-Fri) Scottish Action for Mental Health

https://www.samh.org.uk/

RESPECTME – 0344 800 8600 Scotland’s Anti-Bullying Service

CHILDREN1ST – 08000 28 22 33 (Parentline – A helping hand for every family in Scotland)

https://www.children1st.org.uk/

Jane Lawson was presented her COV Young Volunteer of the Year award at our NTC session on Tuesday evening. Jane, formerly of St Andrews University Judo Club, was delighted to pick up the award. She said: “I’m really honored to receive the award. My time at the club was really rewarding and I will remember my time there fondly. I’d like to thank those who nominated me, I’m very grateful.”

Serving as both vice-captain and captain, Jane has played a pivotal role in fostering a welcoming environment for both seasoned practitioners and newcomers alike.

Her infectious enthusiasm and unwavering commitment have left a mark on the club. Jane’s leadership has been instrumental in nurturing the growth of young judoka community, instilling a sense of camaraderie and motivation among members. Her dedication to the sport serves as a great source of inspiration for all.

Sam Ingram said: “Jane and Volunteers like her are a hugely valuable to the judo community as a whole, it’s great to see young people volunteering and taking on responsibility in order to support their club. Congratulations Jane!”

Beyond her roles in club management, Jane’s contributions extend far beyond administration. Despite the demands of her own academic pursuits, she consistently prioritises attending training sessions and supporting her fellow club members.

Jane Lawson embodies the spirit of a true hero within our judo community. Without her unwavering dedication and selfless contributions, St Andrews Judo Club would undoubtedly not thrive as it does today, making her a deserving recipient of JudoScotland’s Young Volunteer of the Year award.

JudoScotland would like to offer its best wishes to judoka Malin Wilson, who has taken up Spanish citizenship and has now been confirmed by the BJA and IJF to be eligible to compete for Spain on the IJF Tour.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Malin for her dedication as a Scottish and British athlete. One of Malin’s proudest moments came at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games where she won a Bronze medal for Scotland in the -57kg category.

Malin said: “Being selected to represent Scotland in the Commonwealth Games was one of my dreams come true. I said it then, I said it when I won my medal and I still think it. Wearing SCO on my back is one of the proudest and favourite moments of my Judo career. My dream is now to qualify for the Olympics with Spain, I’ll do everything to qualify and make my dreams come true. Being born in the Highlands, living like a wee wild child and Viking baby gave me the fight I have today. It gave me the fire that runs through my veins and my biggest dreams come from the wee girl brought up in Ullapool. Those who crossed my path at Ratho and shared the 8 years I had there, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thanks again for all your help and support and more throughout the years. You can’t take the Scot out of a Scottish girl, that’s where my fight and fire come from!”

As Malin embarks on this journey, we extend our best wishes to her in her endeavors in her pursuit to qualify for this year’s Olympic Games.

Tayside Judo, in collaboration with Perth & Kinross Active Schools, has launched a comprehensive and long-term project aimed at positively impacting the lives of young individuals.

Commencing in Easter 2023 at Perth Grammar School, the project encompasses a multifaceted approach. It focuses on providing opportunities for community integration and restoration, enhancing mental health and wellbeing, offering diversionary and alternative activities to school pupils, fostering the development of employability and broader life skills, and ultimately contributing to the creation of stronger communities.

The two coaches from Tayside, David Scobbie and Aiden Moffat, have been working with the group following successful taster sessions. David said: “It all stemmed from a conversation with the Active School’s Coordinator Bartosz who knew we were delivering judo in primary schools as taster sessions. He told us there was a group of secondary school kids with complex needs and he thought judo would be good for them. We did a couple of taster sessions with them and the school saw the value in it and invited us to come back and do a permanent block.”

Active Schools Coordinator Bartosz explained, “The initial 12-week program features a group of 10 young individuals with ‘high tariff’ needs, hailing from intricate and diverse backgrounds. These young people exhibit mental health challenges, have been referred to CAMHS Tayside (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), and are currently following part-time or alternative timetables at school.”

The project aims to deliver judo and strength and conditioning sessions to targeted pupils every week over a whole academic year. During those sessions, Tayside Judo educates young people about respect, and the importance of being a responsible citizen, utilising the judo moral code.

Working with pupils who come from often complex and diverse backgrounds, Tayside Judo has created sessions that are fun and engaging for students whose attendance at school averages 45.56%.

Support staff, teachers, an Active Schools Coordinator, the Pupil Intervention Team and our two judo instructors, David Scobbie and Aiden Moffat, have worked tirelessly to create the best possible programme and the benefits are already apparent amongst the group of pupils. There have been cases of students, who previously were involved in conflict outside of school, learning to step back and not turn to violence. Support staff stated that one such pupil would be the first to join the fight before the judo programme had started. The pupil himself stated: “Judo is the only thing that keeps me coming back to school”.

The coaches have also noted changes, David said: “At first none of the kids wanted to be first up at the risk of embarrassing themselves and be the ones who get thrown or be the one unable to do a technique so instead they’d hide behind an act of being boisterous or loud and try not to take part. But now, everybody is engaging well and all are taking part in the session and they talk to the support staff a lot better. They’ve improved their timekeeping whereas before teachers were chasing them up around the school trying to find them but now they’re so keen to get there. Nowadays they are in before us and setting up the mats.” Aiden adds, “I think it also offers them a place to vent their frustrations.” For a lot of these guys, they think they have nowhere to turn, but the mat is a safe place for them to do it.”

Originating from the city of Perth, both coaches share a common background that has significantly bolstered their bond: “I think it helps, coming from the same area and being close in age, we’re relatable to them,” says Aiden. “So we have had similar backgrounds, making it easier for me and David to relate to them. I’ve been through stuff and maybe done things I shouldn’t have done that they’ve done too, but judo steered me away from it. Firstly, training four times a week, I was too tired to get up to any nonsense, but you also learn discipline and you start to take care of yourself more.”

Both Aiden and David are not only a credit to the community, but a credit to the sport. The pair embody the judo values. They demonstrate a profound respect for the students they work with, acknowledging their diverse backgrounds and challenges. They have used judo as a platform to create a supportive environment where students feel valued and accepted, fostering a sense of belonging and self-worth. They openly reflect on their own experiences and want to steer students away from negative paths and show how judo can have a profoundly positive impact on wider society.

The school have shared that the pupils generally have improved their listening and talking skills, with them having opportunities to listen to various instructions, observe demonstrations and thereafter execute those instructions and respond verbally if more information is required. This has had a positive effect on the rest of their experience in school, with teachers stating the pupils involved are showing signs of compliance and on days they are training, come in early to help set up the equipment on the day – a pattern of behaviours that had not been prevalent in the group before.

The beauty of judo has certainly not been lost on the participants. “The kids understand judo is so different to anything they have ever done before, it’s a clean slate” says David. “If we were to take a football class for them, some of them would already be pretty good but with this it’s a level playing field with no one having experience in the sport, it’s a fresh start for everyone. “They also like the action of it, we can entice them in with the demonstration. It’s such a disciplined sport that they don’t get the chance to do anything unless we know they are fully focused as a safety precaution, as a coach this helps us create a better learning environment and the kids have been fantastic to work with.”

The pairs work is a shining example of how judo can be used to make a positive contribution to society, the impact the classes have had on their community is clear for all to see. With the sessions drawing kids back to school and positively impacting their education. Both coaches are supporting wellbeing and resilience in communities through physical activity and sport, also offering opportunities for young people.

Reflecting on the transformative journey of the pupils, David  shares: “The kids were always likeable and always had potential but they were getting in their own way. A lot of people in their lives had written them off and not given them the time of day, it’s so nice to see them gain respect for themselves and others. They’re also keeping tabs on us, asking about our judo activities outside the school and keeping track of how Aiden is doing in his competitions. You also hear things about what they’re getting up to out of school; they’d often be getting into trouble but now they don’t want to get into confrontation, you can see the shift in their mindset. It’s fantastic to see”. Aiden also notes changes in the pupils personality, “It’s great to see that once the pupils have completed a task or drill that we’ve put on for them, they start to respect themselves, you can see they have a bit of a buzz around themselves and it’s just about getting them to stick with that, we want to teach them to learn to respect themselves by being disciplined.”

Their excellent work in the school has not gone unnoticed, Tayside judo were recently awarded the Perth and Kinross Sport for Change award. By providing young individuals with opportunities for personal growth and development, their sessions not only promote physical fitness but also instils valuable life skills such as discipline, respect, and resilience through judo sessions tailored to address the diverse needs of participants, Tayside Judo creates a supportive environment where individuals from all backgrounds can thrive.

The success of Tayside Judo’s training sessions is not just measured in improved attendance or enhanced skills but in the remarkable shift in mindset and behaviour, signalling a positive trajectory for these young individuals. As the academic year starts up again, the Tayside Judo team, alongside the ever-committed staff at Perth Grammar School, remain committed to nurturing these positive changes and fostering a supportive environment for these students to thrive both on and off the mat.

Club Support Officer Sam Ingram shares our excitement: “We are really excited to see what learning and personal development can come from The Senpai Programme, each of the participants has their own personal goals and we look forward to helping all of them.”

We caught up with Rachel Tytler to hear about her journey and experience in judo. She discussed role models, competing across Europe and balancing work with training.

Her foray into the world of judo was sparked by an unexpected twist of fate. After finishing swimming lessons, one of her friend’s dad’s offered to introduce them to the sport. Rachel recalled, “I just tagged along one day with my friends, we were meant to go swimming but the lessons just ended. So he took us to Pro Judo, I sort of fell into it really.”

After three years of training, the competitive element of judo came in. Starting with club competitions and then National Championships. “At The Heart of England competition, at Walsall I got beat, comfortably. It was one of my very first comps and I remember one girl in particular who just kept throwing me and I was desperate for it to be done. But I remember thinking imagine being the other person and being able to throw like this, that definitely motivated me.”

Some self-doubt began to creep in, but thanks to her coaches, she was able to see the bigger picture: “Brian Long was dead encouraging, he kept saying ‘you’re strong, you’re fit, you’ve got good judo’.  He was very enthusiastic and always insisted I do as many competitions as I can. That gave me a huge boost, especially when I was doubting myself and you started to think maybe he is right and maybe I’m not awful. Without his encouragement at the start of my time in the sport I probably would have just left.”

The importance of learning how to deal with defeat is certainly not lost on Rachel, as she emphasises how beneficial it can be in your development: “In hindsight, failing at competitions or losing can be used as fuel. There’s a lesson in losing; there are a lot of people who can’t take losing but it’s such an important life lesson that you need to learn how to deal with. With the kids at my club, I say ‘You either win your fights or you learn. The only time you lose a fight is when you never think about it again’. It’s so good for your progression.”

With her confidence growing and performances improving, she began training at JudoScotland. Starting with Tuesday Randori sessions, Rachel, alongside others from her club, would be driven to Ratho by Brian. “By sixth year at school, I was coming in on a Tuesday and a Thursday. It was a great introduction to Ratho. It was hard, going from competing in your club to being against people like Gemma Gibbons, Jodie Mullen and Sally Conway. You went and got a battering, but you learned so much from those three.”

“Once I left school, I started going to Ratho full-time. Being in an environment with elite athletes and seeing how hard they worked would push me every day. It made me want to work harder. I only remember throwing Jodie once, I maybe caught Sally twice and Gemma once as well but that chase drives you as well. I must have fought the three of them a million times and I can tell you on one hand how many times I threw them collectively, which isn’t great! But the environment and training with them was so important to me.”

Off the mat, their influence was crucial too. “They would give me bits of advice, Sally especially since she competed for longer. Gemma was left-handed, and always told me little tips on what I’m doing and what will work.”

“I always noticed Sally’s tattoo on her forearm which said ‘Believe’. I used to  wonder why she got that because looking at her you’d assume she has so much confidence. It was good for me though, it showed me that it can be normal for anyone to have some self-doubt and need a confidence boost.”

As Rachel’s training intensity was upped, she went down in Scottish sporting history in the summer of 2022: “The Commonwealth Games was an amazing experience; I had never done a multi-sport event before. It was really special walking off the mat after my bronze fight. After I bowed I looked at the crowd behind the girl I just fought and I saw my two best pals, then I saw my family and then Euan (Burton) and the coaches from my club. I didn’t know how but everywhere I looked it seemed like everyone was at the right place at the right time. It felt like a sixth sense and was special.”

After the games, it left Rachel with a lot of time and questions: “2022 for me was the best year and the worst year, obviously the Commonwealth Games were amazing, but the whole year I had a goal in mind. But once that was finished, it was a bit like, ‘Now what?’. I had to think of what I wanted to do with my life. I did Sports Science at Uni and I got into Personal Training thanks to one of the parents of a kid at my club. At the moment I’m doing online programming and it’s something I have enjoyed doing and it’s nice to have a bit of a distraction from training.”

Our chat is over Teams, with the Bearsden judoka currently in Spain for the next couple of months, training in Madrid. The opportunity judo has given her to travel and see parts of the world she likely would not have is not lost on her, “When I was finishing High School, I went to Japan for two weeks and it was unbelievable. Some of the training camps we go on as well, you get to see other cultures that if I was doing something else I just wouldn’t.”

We finish our chat with a look to the future, “I would love to go to the Olympics, but generally I want to just get better. Win more medals, I spoke to Euan after the Commonwealth Games about plans I need to decide which route I want to go down. It’s about getting good results and improving my performances and hopefully with that, moving into higher level competitions.”