News

A new cohort of passionate young judoka have been named in the JudoScotland Senpai Programme for 2025. 

After a successful inaugural year in 2024, applications opened in February to welcome a new group of young people to the programme for 2025. 

Twelve young people, aged 16-24 years old, were chosen from ten clubs spread across the country. Each young person brings with them a wide range of experience in judo and will work together to learn new skills, network, and share ideas to develop judo in their clubs and the wider community. 

The Senpai Programme is designed to empower young people within judo clubs in Scotland and support them in building skills and gaining experience, equipping them to tackle challenges both within and beyond our sport.  

The programme will see the young people attend meetings together and take part in workshops led by Scottish Sports Futures and Scottish Disability Sport to gain valuable knowledge and qualifications. Working collaboratively with JudoScotland staff and building on their learnings from the workshops they will aim to undertake a project or develop a role either in their club which offers support and encourages participation in judo.

Our Senpai alumni from last year’s programme continue to support their clubs and JudoScotland through the projects and roles they completed as part of their programme. 

Leading the Senpai Programme is Club Support Officer Sam Ingram who spoke about his excitement to see the programme continue for another year: 

“We have a brilliant group of young people this year who all seem very eager to get started and we can’t wait to see what they do. The Senpai Programme is an excellent way for young people to develop skills that can not only benefit their judo club but help them in other areas of their life.”  

The 12 young people selected for the Senpai Programme 2025 are: 

• Amy MacDonald (Yamarashi Judo Club) 

• Ava Halliday (Projudo – Bishopbriggs) 

• Ben Robbie (Tayside Judo)  

• Duncan Gardner (University of Strathclyde)  

• Ian Main (Hibarikan) 

• Jaimee Kirk (Tanoshii Judo) 

• Josh McIntyre (Tryst Judo Club) 

• Joshua Elliot (Carnegie Judo Club)  

• Keira Cunningham (Yamarashi Judo Club) 

• Lewis Hardie (Tryst Judo Club) 

• Liliia Kimberley (Azami Falkirk) 

• Sara Thakur Chand (Edinburgh Judo) 

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games are fast approaching, and the excitement is building! 

Taking place from Thursday 23rd July to Sunday 2nd August 2026, the Games will showcase a 10-sport programme across four key venues within an eight-mile corridor of the city. With over 200 gold medals up for grabs across 10 action-packed days, this promises to be an unforgettable event. 

We’re thrilled that Judo will be part of the Games once again! Glasgow 2026 will have a unique feel compared to previous editions, so here’s what we know so far: 

When will the Games take place? 

Thursday 23rd July to Sunday 2nd August 2026

Judo | Commonwealth Games | #Glasgow2026 

Where are the Glasgow 2026 Venues? 

The four Venues for the games are as follows Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Scotstoun Stadium, Emirates Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC). 

What categories are included in the medal programme?  

Men’s – 7 Medal Events 

1. -60kg 
2. -66kg 
3. -73kg 
4. -81kg 
5. -90kg 
6. -100kg 
7. +100kg 

Women’s – 7 Medal Events 

1. -48kg 
2. -52kg 
3. -57kg 
4. -63kg 
5. -70kg 
6. -78kg 
7. +78kg 

Which Judoka will be Representing Scotland at the Games? 

The number of judo places for Team Scotland at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will be allocated by Commonwealth Games Scotland. Athletes meeting the eligibility criteria and nomination standards will be considered for selection. 

The eligibility criteria for representing Team Scotland are outlined in the General Selection Policy and Standards document, which can be found on the Commonwealth Games Scotland website. Any athletes with questions about their eligibility should contact JudoScotland for support. 

The judo-specific selection policy and standards for the 2026 Games will be published by April 2025. The selection period will run from May 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, and the JudoScotland selection panel will assess athletes based on these standards. The final decision on nominations will be made by Commonwealth Games Scotland in early June 2026. 

Team Staff 

Commonwealth Games Scotland will allocate judo with a number of Team Staff roles, for which there will be an open recruitment. The recruitment of these roles is expected to be concluded by July 2025. 

Legacy 

Time to Get Planning – The Commonwealth Games provides an exciting shop window for Judo as it lands on mainstream media! And with a reduced sports programme, we can expect heightened publicity for Judo. This could provide clubs with exciting opportunities to host additional ‘have a go’ sessions to capitalise on those inspired by the Games or why not turn your club into a watch party, to get behind our Scottish Judoka. Our Club Support Officers will be in touch in the lead-up to the Games, to help your club make the most of this legacy opportunity.  

The JudoScotland Supporters Club  

The JudoScotland Supporters Club brings together passionate Scottish Judo fans, creating a community to cheer on our Judoka. With the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Home Games fast approaching, the excitement is building! Sign up for our mailing list to receive exclusive updates, special event invitations, and be part of the journey. 

The dojo at Clyde Judo Club has become a bustling hub of activity on a Tuesday night as their female-only session gets into full swing with over twenty female judoka taking to the mat each week.

Clyde Judo Club launched their female-only sessions in February after securing funding via the JudoScotland Judo Girls Rise Fund which was awarded to 12 clubs across Scotland last year. When developing their female judo programme at the club, Clyde Judo Coach Rebecca Bradley found a gap in their offering and knew immediately what she wanted to do with the awarded funds.

“We applied for the grant with JudoScotland and looked at who we had at the club currently. We’re quite a 50/50 split for girls and boys in our younger sessions so we thought it might be a bit different to tap into a totally different group. So, we decided to aim the class for woman 25 and up and that’s how we ended up with the session.”

Susan Wright, who co-leads the female-only sessions alongside Rebecca describes why they felt it was important as a club to provide a female-only space in their class offering:

“Sometimes it might feel a bit intimidating to not have a female-only space and it might feel like they don’t deserve to be there especially as you get that little bit older. It’s nice to have a space where you’re not going to be judged by anyone. These women don’t want to go on the mat at the same time as their kids, they don’t want to go on the mat at the same time as the young boys, so they want to be in their own space.

The sessions were an instant hit and were fully booked just two hours after going live online on the club’s social media pages.

All the woman in attendance highlighted the sense of community and friendship they had formed over the past few weeks and are eager to continue attending and improving their judo skills. One of the session participants Catriona Kerr said her reason for signing up for the sessions originally stemmed from wanting to inspire her daughter but she has ended up loving the sport herself:  

“My little girl comes to Clyde Judo, she’s been coming now for two years, she enjoys the exercise but she’s a little bit less willing to do the fighting. So, I thought it was a good experience for her to see her mum doing it too. 

“As a woman of a certain age, taking on new things it can be a bit apprehensive but I think there’s comfort coming into an all woman’s class, we’re all the same level so it’s not like you’re coming into a class with people who have been doing judo for years and you’re trying to catch up. No one’s afraid of doing anything stupid, no one’s afraid of making a fool of themselves because everyone’s here for the same thing and that’s quite comforting.” 

The class structure follows a split between generally fitness exercises and introducing the women to basics techniques of judo, working on safe falling, grips and have begun to introduce throwing in the past few sessions.  

Another session participant Audrey Smith who has been attending since week one described how the sessions are not only a source of exercise but also of socialisation:  

“They vary it every week and even when you’re doing the warmup, you’re on your own and then you grab a partner then you’re on your own again so you’re meeting new people every week.  

“It’s varied and fun, it’s not boring, it’s not like going to the gym and just going on the treadmill constantly for 10 minutes and you don’t have anyone to talk to, you can come here and have a laugh and still feel like you’re done something.”  

Looking ahead to the future, the appetite for the classes to keep going is high and the club are keen to continue the class offering to anyone who wants to join. They are eager that women who might otherwise never have experienced all that our sport has to offer them can get involved. Clyde Judo’s Rebecca Bradley said: 

“I think it’s important to show that Judo is for everyone, it’s not just for kids or people who are already fit. Our classes show that everyone can do it and we’re open to everyone giving it a go. 

“We’re hoping to keep it going past the eight weeks, absolutely everyone has asked us to keep it going and we hope to open it up to even more people and keep it going forever!” 

If you want to find out more information about the Judo Girls Rise Programme or how to get involved, please contact Club Support Officer Laura Kirkhouse at laurakirkhouse@judoscotland.com  

This International Women’s Day, as we embrace the theme #AccelerateAction, we are shining a spotlight on three dynamic female leaders in the world of judo who are breaking barriers, inspiring change, and leading the charge toward greater gender equality in sports.

Lisa Allan – 2nd Dan

Dr Lisa Allan’s contribution to judo ripples not just throughout Scotland but the entire world as she plays an instrumental role in the organisation of events on the world circuit.  

Born into a judo family, Lisa has been involved in judo from a young age, which has fuelled her passion for the sport into her adult life.  

Her first taste for judo event management came when she volunteered as Team Manager for the British Team at the Youth Olympic Festival in 2005. She had gotten the buzz for competition management and instantly put her application in for and was successful in the role of Competition Manager for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.  

Following an incredibly successful judo programme in 2012, Lisa took on the position of IJF Events Director for a decade and was Head of the Gender Equity Commission. 

In 2023, Lisa was elected as IJF General Secretary and in so doing joins an elite group of female leaders within Olympic sporting federations. She becomes the first Scottish person to hold this prestigious role within the IJF.  

Joyce Heron – 7th Dan  

Joyce Heron is a true trailblazer for competitive female judo as she holds the impressive title of Scotland’s first female judo Olympian through competing in Atlanta (USA) at the 1996 Olympic Games.  

The lightweight judoka was a force to be reckoned with in her competitive days, securing a World Championship medal in 1993 and subsequently becoming a European medalist at the 1995 European Championships in Birmingham. With five British Championship titles to her name and four top three placings at World Cups/Continental Opens, she was a formidable judoka in her competition days.  

After a highly successful career as an athlete, Joyce has remained involved in the sport, holding professional roles within British Judo Association.  

She currently fulfils the role of Head of Technical and Education, using her leadership and influence in this role to help shape a positive judo experience for all. She was inducted into the JudoScotland Hall of Fame in 2021 in recognition of her continued commitment to the development of our sport.  

Loretta Doyle – 9th Dan 

Loretta Doyle is a name which has been on everyone’s lips recently as she was awarded her 9th Dan last month, becoming the first British woman to receive this honor. This achievement is an accumulation of almost five decades of dedicating her life to judo.  

Loretta had an impressive fighting career claiming the World Champion title in 1982 and her final European Champion title in 1992, this being her seventh European medal in total. Loretta was also a successful Commonwealth Game medalist, winning silver in Edinburgh in 1986 and a gold medal in Auckland in 1990.  

After retirement from competitive judo, Loretta continues to remain dedicated to judo and elevate the sport on the global stage. She offers her expert insight and analysis as a regular commentator for both the EJU and IJF media teams and has held senior management roles at the Olympics, Paralympics, and Commonwealth Games, where she played a key part in elevating the sport to a global stage. 

Loretta founded the Loretta Doyle Foundation in 2019, which offers free judo lessons to disadvantaged communities and individuals. She was inducted into the JudoScotland Hall of Fame in 2021 due to the profound impact she has had on the judo community in Scotland.  

As we highlight these three women it is important to recognise there are a wealth of women and girls in the judo community who we are proud of for accelerating action through participation, coaching, officiating and being role models to everyone in their clubs.

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

Dear Members,

February’s short so, just a brief overview of what happened during the month!

In my last report I mentioned that Loretta Doyle was the first British woman to achieve her 9^th Dan.  She was awarded this by IJF president Marius Viser at the Paris Grand Slam on 3^rd February.  Well done Loretta!

On 4^th we had our regular JudoScotland Board meeting.  As always it was productive with many areas covered, moving JudoScotland forward into the future.  I truly believe that this is an incredibly strong Board with highly motivated individuals.

I then visited the All Stars on the 8^th February.  After talking with the parents of the children who were competing, I feel that this is a very valuable and informative event for the development of young judoka into competitive judo in Scotland.  The emphasis of this event is to promote enjoyment and achievement which I feel it fulfils.

And, talking about competing, I’d just like to take the opportunity to highlight the new IJF  contest rule changes which JudoScotland have been implementing to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of the international judo world.  You can read more about it here.

On 18^th Feb I was at the British Judo Board Meeting in Walsall.  British Judo are having similar challenges to ourselves at JudoScotland and it is very helpful for me to discuss these with the other Home Nations so that we make the correct decisions going forward.

Frazer McBeath was awarded his Lifetime Contribution award to recognise the work he has done in guiding and inspiring generations of judoka at both Alness Judo Club and Evanton Judo Club where he has been a devoted coach for nearly 30 years. Another worthy winner from the 2024 JudoScotland Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards.

And finally, this month we saw the launch of the new Coach Register.  This is part of the British Judo Association’s  strategy to safeguard the sport and its participants.  It ensures high standards in coaching, safeguarding, and club management, and is a valuable source of information for ourselves, our partners and our members.  Could I please ask you all to engage and input.  It’d be fantastic to see more photos and bios!

As a continued ongoing procedure myself and Judith visited Edinburgh University to look over their facilities.  I would like to thank their manager, Mark Munro, for his time and his hospitality.  They are truly magnificent facilities. I feel we’ve now almost completed our facility journey and now have some major decisions to make for the betterment of judo.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the Hibari-Kan Grand Prix on the 29^th March.   As always feel free to talk to any of our staff, Judith or myself, as we are always keen to hear from our members.

Till then,

Marc Preston, 7^th Dan

We are excited to announce the launch of the JudoScotland Coach Register. The register showcases our coaches’ commitment to maintaining high standards in safeguarding, first aid, and ongoing CPD, all essential to creating a safe, supportive, and thriving environment for judoka at every level. 

As a crucial component of the British Judo Association’s “Three Steps Safe” programme, the Coach Register ensures that coaching, safeguarding, and club management standards remain at the highest level. By reinforcing best practices, it plays a pivotal role in fostering a well-regulated and thriving judo community. 

The JudoScotland Coach Register will automatically display all qualified and active judo coaches in Scotland, along with their credentials. This transparency allows members, parents, and stakeholders to have confidence in the expertise of our coaching workforce. 

Judith McCleary, JudoScotland CEO, shared: “We are incredibly proud of our coaching workforce and their dedication to delivering high-quality judo in a safe club environment. The Coach Register is more than just a directory, it’s a valuable tool designed to enhance safety, professionalism, and the overall experience for everyone involved in the sport.” 

You can access the JudoScotland coach register here. We’re excited to collaborate with coaches on this initiative and value your feedback to help us refine and improve the register over time if you notice anything that is not quite right email info@judoscotland.com. 

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

Dear Members,

This year’s Scottish Open was held on 18-19 January at sportscotland’s National Centre in Largs.   We enjoyed the largest participation in decades and introduced Adapted and Vision Impaired categories who brought an additional buzz to the weekend..   It was an excellent event and I  especially liked the medal presentation room – I thought it was absolutely world class!

As with every event, we are going through a review process to identify any areas where we can make improvements.

Whilst we were there it was great to see Andrew Scoular, British Judo’s CEO as well as a couple of former British Judo Chairs – Kerrith Brown and Densign White –  both world class judoka with too many honours/medals to mention.   It was great catching up with old friends!

On a personal level, I was awarded my 7^th Dan by Rick Kenney.  I’d particularly like to thank  everyone who took me through 2 years of Kata – too many of you to mention – but you know who you are thank you so much!

Also a big well done to John Watt  for achieving his 7^th Dan Qualification.

Special congratulations to Eddie Cassidy who was inducted into the JudoScotland Hall of Fame.  During my time as Chair this was one of the most poignant and enjoyable experiences I can remember,  awarding Eddie this special accolade, with his family in attendance to help him celebrate.

Later in the month I spent a full day down at the British Judo National Training Centre at Walsall.  I used my time getting to know and understand all aspects of how the organisation operates.   I was especially impressed by their world class training and sports facilities.  Two aspects that particularly stood out were the specialist ‘pod’ that gives you all the benefits of training at high altitude. Also the facilities they have that are dedicated specifically for people coming back from major ACL injury.   It’s incredible how things have moved on.

Overall, it was a very interesting, positive and productive day.   I’m looking forward to working with our British Judo colleagues over the next couple of years, and making sure that both  organisations are aligned going forward.

On 23rd January, Judith and myself joined a session led by sportscotland for Scottish Governing Body CEOs and Chairs. In his address, Forbes Dunlop, sportcotland CEO identified that there were expected to be financial challenges facing the sports sector in general moving forward.  I will keep you updated of any further developments here.

Just in the last day or so, we heard that Loretta Cusack-Doyle has achieved the incredible award of 9^th Dan.  It was presented to her by Marius Vizer, IJF President, at the recent Paris Grand Slam Tournament.  Loretta is the first female judoka in Britain to achieve this tremendous accolade.  Very well done Loretta – and another great step up for Scottish judo!

I’m also delighted to announce that Peter Gardiner, 7^th Dan, has been given a JudoScotland Lifetime Membership for his exceptional services to our sport – congratulations Peter!

And that’s about it!  I’m looking forward to catching up with you all at the upcoming Scottish All Stars Championship at Ravenscraig next weekend!

Marc Preston

7th Dan

Loretta Doyle has made history at this weekend’s iconic Paris Grand Slam as she becomes the first British woman to be awarded her 9th Dan.

This monumental achievement places Loretta amongst the highest echelons of elite Judoka who have achieved such a distinction. An incredibly well-deserved recognition for someone who has devoted her life to the sport of judo, an achievement that not only honours her dedication but also brings immense pride to Scotland and the global judo community.

Receiving her award in Paris is particularly fitting as it was there she became World Champion in 1982 and also her final European Title in 1992, her seventh European medal. During her competitive career, Loretta achieved monumental medal success with more than 50 international individual medals and eight team medals.

Retirement from competition has not meant retirement from judo for Loretta. As a regular commentator for both the EJU and IJF media teams, she has spent nearly two decades offering expert insight and analysis. Her influence in bringing judo to a wider audience is equally significant, having held senior management roles at the Olympics, Paralympics, and Commonwealth Games, where she played a key part in elevating the sport to a global stage.

Her contributions through coaching and mentorship have had a profound impact on the sport in Scotland which led to her being inducted to the JudoScotland Hall of Fame is 2021. From guiding Scottish Olympians Sarah Adlington and Sally Conway to founding the Loretta Doyle Judo Foundation, which supports individuals facing the most challenging circumstances, Loretta continues to inspire and uplift the judo community in meaningful ways.

Reacting to the presentation of her 9th Dan, Loretta said; “I feel absolutely amazing, completely starstruck. It is surreal to be here, surrounded by so many incredible people. I can’t believe that everyone is just as emotional as I am, sharing this unforgettable moment together. The joy in the room is overwhelming and it’s something I will never forget.”

JudoScotland CEO Judith McCleary said, “We are immensely proud of Loretta’s incredible achievement, and congratulate her on reaching the monumental milestone of 9th Dan. During The Scottish Open just two weeks ago, Loretta joined a group of New Scots who have been introduced to judo through the Loretta Doyle Judo Foundation to support their integration into living in Scotland. She continues to be a true inspiration both within judo and across the wider sporting world.”

Loretta was presented her 9th Dan by IJF president Marius Viser at the Paris Grand Slam on 1st – 2nd February 2025. Read more about Loretta’s incredible contribution to Judo here.

Frazer McBeath, a dedicated member of Alness and Evanton Judo Club, has been honoured with JudoScotland’s Lifetime Contribution Award. This prestigious award is part of the JudoScotland Coaching and Volunteering Awards, a national initiative that recognises the hard work and commitment of judo volunteers across Scotland.   

Frazer picked up this award for the power of work he has done in guiding and inspiring generations of judoka at both Alness Judo Club and Evanton Judo Club where he has been a devoted coach for nearly 30 years.  

Frazer first took to the mat in his youth alongside his brother but stepped away from the sport as he entered adulthood. After a near miss where he fell from some scaffolding, he instinctively went into a forward breakfall and walked away from the incident with nothing but two scrapped elbows.  

Realising that he used his judo knowledge to help him escape a nasty accident, this inspired him to step back onto the mat and the spark he had for judo was reignited. Setting his sights on getting his blackbelt, Frazer started training at Invergordon Judo Club and as of today has achieved his 3rd Dan.   

Wanting to give back to his local judo community he started coaching at Alness Judo Club where he later became head coach, running multiple sessions a week. He soon became a coaching powerhouse in the highlands as he also took on the role of head coach for Evanton Judo Club.  His passion, commitment, and expertise have made a lasting impact on his clubs and the wider Scottish judo community, both on and off the mat, making Frazer a well deserving winner of the Lifetime Contribution Award. 

Members at Alness Judo Club had nothing but the highest praise for Frazer as he was presented with his award during a training session this week emphasising his dedication to inspiring young judoka at the club: 

“His commitment to the club over the years and to the children is amazing. He’s here every week no matter what and has so much patience with the children. He can always see who needs that little extra bit of support and he’ll make sure to go to them and give them that one-to-one to bring them up to speed and build their confidence.” 

Another parent added, “He puts his heart and soul into it, both my son’s started with him, and I started coaching because of him. My eldest son is on the Judo High Performance Programme now and started judo because of Frazer. He started coming here when he was four and a half years old, and he’s worked his way up and it was Frazer that put him on the mat first.”  

Frazer has been a mentor to many coaches at the club and as he takes a step back from the head coach role, he is passing the baton over to his son, Frazer Jr. and others to continue to inspire young judoka. Frazer will remain active in the club, lending a hand at sessions and offering coaching advice and knowledge that he has honed over his years of experience.  

It is not only Frazer’s dedication as a coach which earned him this national accolade but also his commitment to officiating. He has officiated at every level of JudoScotland events, from helping young judoka take their first steps onto the mat at Keizoku to refereeing at JudoScotland’s flagship event, the Scottish Open.  

Sam Ingram of JudoScotland added: “To see mutli-generational judoka on the mat is a testament to the culture that Frazer has created at the club. Hearing of parents who were coached by Frazer who now send their children to the club really highlights Frazer’s coaching expertise and the positive, safe environment he has created. 

“It was a pleasure to present Frazer with this award and to see firsthand at the club the respect and admiration that all the members have for him, he is a thoroughly deserving recipient.”  

Frazer was presented his award at his club in Alness by JudoScotland Club Support Officers Sam Ingram and Laura Kirkhouse on Tuesday 28th January 2025. 

Applications for the JudoScotland Senpai Programme are now open. 

After a successful inaugural year in 2024, the Senpai Programme is back for 2025 looking to engage a new cohort of young people. 

The Senpai Programme is an initiative that has been designed to empower young people within judo clubs in Scotland. The aim of the programme is to support our young members aged 16 –24 in building skills and gaining experience, equipping them to tackle challenges both within and beyond our sport. 

Participants will have the opportunity to learn new skills, gain greater self-confidence in their knowledge and abilities, and network with other like-minded judoka to develop Judo in Scotland.   

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 for them to take on self-determined responsibilities and challenges.   

Senpai is all about developing young individuals through a formal learning process to lead within their judo club and complete a project. 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: “The Senpai Programme offers learning opportunities for young people to develop their skills and provide guidance as they undertake various projects to help support their judo club.   

“If you are aged between 16-24 years old and are interested in playing a more active role in your judo club or in the wider judo community, we want to hear from you.  

“We are excited to welcome another group of young people into the programme and support them through their learning and projects to become young leaders in the judo community.”  

The application period runs from Friday 31st January to Friday 21st 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