Be Part of Special Olympics GB at This Summers Special Olympics World Games
The Special Olympics World Games returns this Summer and will take place in Berlin on the 17th – 24th of June. Special Olympics GB are looking for Judoka to become part of the team at the world’s biggest inclusive sporting event!
Special Olympics GB are part of a global movement of people creating a new world of inclusion and community, where every single person is accepted and welcomed, regardless of ability or disability. Using the power of sport to change attitudes and enable opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to live active, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
The Special Olympics World Games offers the opportunity to unite the world like no other event can. As the World’s largest inclusive sporting event, the Games will see 7,000 athletes compete across 26 different sports.
The outline of eligibility criteria (which is worldwide Special Olympics requirement for all athletes regardless of sport) is below:
- An IQ score at or below 75 (A person with an IQ of 100 is considered average)
- The minimum age is 16
- Significant limitations in adaptive behaviour (conceptual, social or practical adaptive skills such as communication, self-care, social skills, home living, health and safety difficulties)
- Onset acquired before the age of 18
- Judo Specific criteria can be found here.
If you are interested in participating, deadlines are tight so make sure to have your application by Wednesday 1st of February. Contact info@judoscotland.com for more details about how to apply.
The Scottish Open Judo Championships Back with a Bang
This weekend we welcomed over 550 competitors from across 15 nations to the sportscotland NTC Inverclyde for an exciting weekend of judo.
The Cadets and Seniors were up first on Saturday with competitors from Japan, Sweden and Germany bringing some great competition to the Home Nations Judoka.
With 14 Judoka being named Scottish Open Senior Champion, there was a great display of Judo throughout the morning. In the senior -73kg Edinburgh Judo brothers Oliver and Alex Short took Gold and Bronze respectively. The senior +100kg final between Chinone Yuga from Tsukuba and Sylvain El Faiz from JC Sainghin was the perfect end to the senior sessions as the two Judoka showed the true power of Judo with their comradery.
In a competition first, 15 Cadets took home the first-ever Scottish Open Cadet Champion titles. It was a fantastic opportunity for Scottish cadets to compete on home soil against competitors from across the globe.
On Sunday it was the turn of the Juniors and Masters to compete for their place on the medal podium. The Juniors kicked off the day with an explosive display of Judo, with 14 Judoka taking home the title of Scottish Open Champion. Archie Strang from Danderhall Judo Club returned after his Gold medal win in Cadets to make it a double win with a Junior Gold in the -55kg. The weekend rounded off with the Masters with 15 titles up for grabs, with three going to Judoka from Scottish Clubs.
JudoScotland CEO Judith McCleary commented “This was my first Scottish Open as CEO at JudoScotland and I found the buzz around the event fantastic. Thanks go to all the competitors, especially those who travelled far to be here for making it such a fantastic event, they have been an incredible credit to their clubs. Congratulations to all the medallists for their incredible achievement.”
"It was an honour to have JudoScotland President Dr George Kerr 10th Dan CBE attend the event on Saturday, he thoroughly enjoyed catching up with Judo friends and watching the next generation compete.
Events like these would not be possible without the tireless work of our volunteers and staff and I would like to thank them for running such a smooth event. We have been trialling some new elements such as online streaming and new merchandise and we are continually looking at ways to continue to enhance our event experiences.”
If you would like to rewatch the full event, you can do so here.
Full Results can be found here.
President Dr George Kerr CBE 10th Dan Awarded EJU Golden Order of Merit Award
In December President Dr George Kerr CBE 10th Dan was Awarded the EJU Golden Order of Merit Award by the European Judo Union Congress for his services to Judo. Renowned around the world for his contribution to society through judo, George has achieved a great deal throughout his career from championship medals as a player to coaching and refereeing at the very highest levels including being the coach of two Olympic Gold Medals and refereeing two Olympic finals.
It was a great honour to be able to present George with his medal at the 2023 Scottish Open Tournament. George was presented his medal by JudoScotland Chair Marc Preston and CEO Judith McCleary.
LIVE STREAM 2023 Scottish Open Judo Tournament
Watch the UK’s Premier International Judo Event Live!
Mat 1
Mat 2
Mat 3
Mat 4
Live Results and event running order.
The Scottish Open Tournament 2023
Follow the Live results and running order from The Scottish Open Tournament 2023.
At the event? Join our Telegram channel for up-to-date event information.
The JudoScotland Coach Academy Opens For Second-Year Intake
We are excited to launch the second intake to The JudoScotland Coach Academy in association with Neil Adams Effective Fighting. This two year programme will recruit up to ten coaches from across the country with a view to improve their awareness of the ‘craft of coaching’; improving their technical knowledge and help them on the road to independent coaching through a dedicated programme of continued professional development.
On completion of the programme each coach should be qualified to Level 2 in Coaching Judo and be in a position to support improved sustainability, additionality or development of the club’s programme. They will also have a clearer view of our performance pathway and be on their way to working with athletes within it.
We are delighted that Neil Adams MBE from Neil Adams Effective Fighting and Masashi Ebinuma will work closely with each coach throughout the programme looking at their technical aspects of their coaching and providing the coach with some golden nuggets to add to their coaching.
Each coach will be able to access:
• 3 x Blueprint Sessions
• 3 x Disability Inclusion Training for Judo
• The Gathering annual weekend seminar
• 2 x Kata course
• 3 x 1 hour online one to one sessions with Neil Adams MBE
• 1 x exclusive academy group session with Neil Adams MBE
• 1 x exclusive academy group session with Masashi Ebinuma
Contact Paul McGuinness at PaulMcguinness@judoscotland.com to find out more.
JudoScotland Membership Update 2023
Moving into 2023 JudoScotland has made several changes to our membership;
- JudoScotland is pleased to share that our Junior under 8 membership will now cover Judoka from age four. Allowing those that start school and participate in judo while under five to receive the JudoScotland Membership benefits.
- In line with rising costs JudoScotland for the first time in five years has made the difficult decision to increase membership costs from the 1st of February 2023.
- Following communication with clubs last year, JudoScotland has also updated the four-month free membership via our online system to allow this to be added to a full membership when signing up as a new member for the first time.
From the 1st of February 2023, membership prices will be as follows:
- Junior Under 8: £17
- Junior: £26
- Senior: £40
- Replacement Record Book: £4.50
Michele Strachan Disability Coach of the Year 2022
Michele Strachan of Tams Brig Judo Club has been awarded the JudoScotland Disability Coach of the Year Award. The JudoScotland Coaching and Volunteering Awards are a National Awards programme designed to recognise the hard work and dedication of the Judo workforce in Scotland. The Disability Coach of the Year Award recognises an individual who has gone above and beyond to support those with a disability to take part in Judo.
Luke Struthers of JudoScotland said “Michele and indeed Tams Brig Judo Club’s commitment to creating a culture of inclusivity has not gone unnoticed by the Scottish Judo Community. Their commitment to adapting the sport for those that want to take part is amazing. We have heard some incredible stories from their Judoka about their commitment to inclusivity from adapting the ‘Fighting Fit’ programme to allow a wheelchair user to take part (and even managing to stand), to learning the Deafblind alphabet to communicate and coach one of their members. Michele does all of this with incredible humility demonstrating the true power of sport.”
Michele Strachan added, “What we do here at the club would not be possible without the teamwork of myself and Charlie, for me this is an award for the club. We see judo as an all-ability sport for the mind and body which allows people to be part of a wider community enabling more confidence and choices. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Arnold Clark for their support and funding that has allowed us to install a wheelchair ramp.”
Michele was presented her award on the 17th of January at Tams Brig Judo Club by JudoScotland Regional Development Officer Luke Struthers.
The Scottish Open Judo Tournament 2023 Returns This Weekend
The Scottish Open Judo Tournament returns this weekend! For the first time since 2020, Scotland’s premier International Judo event will see over 550 competitors take to the mat at sportscotland National Centre, Inverclyde, for an exciting weekend of Judo. The event, which is at full capacity, will see athletes compete from 15 nations, across 6 of the 7 continents of the World, including Japan, the USA, Sweden, and the Home Nations.
This year’s competitors will feature members of Team Scotland Judo athletes from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, including silver medallist Finlay Allen and bronze medallist Rachel Tytler. We will also see British Champion Neil MacDonald (-60kg) compete on Saturday as he aims to take the Scottish title following his success at the British Championships in Sheffield in December.
In a competition first, The Scottish Open will host cadet players alongside Juniors, Seniors, and Masters. British Cadet Champion Noah Black from Clyde Judo will compete in the -90kg category in an attempt to add Scottish Open Champion to his record.
Marc Preston, JudoScotland Chair said; “We are excited to host Judoka from across the globe for our flagship international competition. The Scottish Open is our opportunity to highlight the fantastic sport of Judo as well as showcase our famous Scottish hospitality. Hosting the Scottish Open is an opportunity for our Judoka to compete on an international stage, as well as an opportunity to train with some of the best judo nations in the world on home soil.”
The Scottish Open will take place this weekend the 21st and 22nd of January at the sportscotland National Centre, Inverclyde. Click Here for more details.
2023 JudoScotland Performance Programme
JudoScotland is pleased to announce the following Judoka have met the selection criteria to be included in the JudoScotland Performance Programme for 2023.
Scottish Institute of Sport Performance
Alex Short (Edinburgh Judo)
David Ferguson (Pro Judo)
Dylan Munro (Edinburgh Judo)
Hannah Wood (Sportif)
Josie Steele (Highland Budokan)
Malin Wilson (Invergordon Judo Club)
Neil Macdonald
Rachel Tytler (Pro Judo)
Sarah Adlington (Edinburgh Judo)
Scott Cusack (Edinburgh Judo)
Stuart McWatt (Garioch Judo Club)
Scottish Institute of Sport Performance (Para)
Kirsten Taylor (Tayside)
Scottish Institute of Sport Performance Potential (JNR)
Daniel Givan (Destination)
David Sommerville (Clyde Judo Club)
Jacob Callaghan (Destination)
James Gray (Destination)
Ross Dempsey (Clyde)
Sophie Wood (Sportif)
Sunny Doig (Just Judo)
Scottish Institute of Sport Performance Potential (SNR)
Cameron Foster
Chris Kumesu-Egri (Destination)
Daniel Pacitti (Jidel Judo 93)
Jason Davis (Edinburgh Judo)
Joe Lynch (Danderhall)
Kirsty Marsh (Destination)
Luke Caldwell (Pro Judo)
Nordine Adrif (Garioch Judo Club)
Oliver Short (Edinburgh Judo)
JudoScotland National Squad Judoka
Junior Women
Emma McCabe (Titan)
Harriet Jones (Pro Judo)
Jemma Smith (Sportif)
Jocelyn Callaghan (Destination)
Keira Pybus (Garioch Judo Club)
Lois Henderson (Sportif)
Maia McCran (Danderhall)
Sophie Carson (Clyde Judo Club)
Sophie McNeill(Titan)
Sophie Wood (Sportif)
Sunny Doig (Just Judo)
Junior Men
Andrew Lappin (Edinburgh Judo)
Ben Fox-Kennedy (Sportif)
Billy Rodman (Hibari-Kan Judo Club)
Dan Givan (Destination)
David Sommerville (Clyde)
Eden Heffernan(Pro Judo)
Fraser Clark (Clyde)
George Brown (Sportif)
Gregor Miller (Tayside)
Jacob Callaghan (Destination)
James Gray (Destination)
Ross Dempsey (Clyde)
Ross McWatt (Garioch Judo Club)
Sam Walker (Sportif)
Senior Women
Hannah Wilson (Hibari-Kan)
Hannah Wood (Sportif)
Hazel Taylor (Shishi Kai)
Josie Steele (Highland Budokan)
Kirsty Marsh (Destination)
Malin Wilson (Invergordon)
Rachel Tytler (Pro Judo)
Sarah Adlington (Edinburgh Judo)
Tomi Imrie (Jidel Judo 93)
Senior Men
Aiden Moffat (Tayside)
Alex Short (Edinburgh Judo)
Andrew McWatt (Garioch Judo Club)
Cameron Foster
Cameron Reid-Thomas (Sportif)
Chris Kumesu-Egri (Destination)
Daniel Pacitti (Jidel Judo 93)
David Ferguson (Pro Judo)
Del Imrie (Jidel Judo 93)
Dominic Zacharias (Garioch Judo Club)
Dylan Munro (Edinburgh Judo)
Euan Morse (Edinburgh Judo)
Finlay Allan (Sportif)
Jason Davis (Edinburgh)
Jay Proctor (Yamarashi Judo)
Joe Lynch (Danderhall)
Luke Caldwell (Pro Judo)
Neil Macdonald
Nordine Adrif (Garioch Judo Club)
Ollie Short (Edinburgh Judo)
Scott Cusack (Edinburgh Judo)
Stuart McWatt (Garioch Judo Club)