News

We recently caught up with Murray McConnell to celebrate his remarkable success at last weekend’s EJU Venray Get Together Tournament. Despite losing his sight at the age of nine, Murray has demonstrated incredible resilience and determination, excelling in his judo journey. Since joining the JudoScotland Talent Development Pathway 18 months ago, he has continued to go from strength to strength. Murray shared valuable insights into his training, his journey so far, and the exciting challenges that lie ahead.

Reflecting on the weekend’s competition, Murray said: “It feels pretty good.” However, the journey to victory wasn’t without its challenges. He explained: “Coming off the back of the Scottish Championship two weeks before, where I did fairly well, it was tricky to gear up for the next competition so soon after.”

As a committed member of the Talent Development Pathway, Murray recently had the opportunity to participate in a training camp in Belgium. Sharing his thoughts on the experience, he said: “It was my first time away with the Scotland squad. It felt good being part of the sighted squad and feeling like one of the team.”

I was curious to know what inspires Murray as a judoka, and he reflected on some of the highlights of his journey so far: “Joining the British Judo Para Potential team and travelling to Germany and France. Being part of the team and learning from the best has been so much fun—it allows me to get better and better.”

Murray added: “Being part of a squad doing so well inspires me, knowing that I’ll get there one day too.” “I would like to thank my coaches David Reilly (Danderhall), Gary Edwards (JudoScotland), and Ian Johns (British Judo) for their support.”

Of course, we couldn’t wrap up without asking about his plans for the future. With excitement, Murray revealed: “My next challenge is getting my black belt, I still have 50 points to go which I hope to get at the Scottish Open in January.”

If you would like to find out more about the adapted category at The Scottish Open 2025, click here.

JudoScotland is pleased to announce that Destination Judo is the latest club to achieve JudoMark, JudoScotland’s esteemed club accreditation scheme. This milestone reflects their commitment to excellence in governance, safeguarding, wellbeing, and club management that ensure clubs are safe, sustainable, and welcoming. 

Throughout the process, Destination Judo updated many of their policies, giving them confidence in having up-to-date documentation and reliable processes in place should they ever need them. JudoMark centres around four key pillars of club development: governance, safeguarding and wellbeing, people development and club management. All of which play a vital role in the safety, sustainability and security of clubs across Scotland. 

On completion of the process, Destination Judo said: “JudoMark provides a level of confidence to our members and parents that we take our responsibilities as a judo club seriously. It shows we are committed to good practice across areas like safeguarding, wellbeing and club management which helps our club to be a safe and welcoming environment.”. 

JudoMark will play a crucial role in strengthening Destination Judo’s partnerships with local authorities, enabling the club to introduce judo to even more children in the community. By establishing strong governance, clubs—and most importantly, their members—can feel confident and secure in the policies and procedures that support their growth and success. 

Sam Ingram, Club Support Officer, presented Destination Judo with their JudoMark award earlier in the month: “It was great to be able to present the club with their JudoMark award, we are delighted to have clubs such as Destination Judo committed to creating safe and welcoming judo environments across Scotland.  JudoMARK assures judoka, parents and partners that the club operates to a high standard, it’s a clear sign that the club is committed to continual development and improvement for its members.  Completion of JudoMARK is an opportunity for Destination Judo to show that they not only comply with but surpass British Judo’s ‘Three Step Safe’ operating standards.”  

At JudoScotland, our goal is to equip affiliated clubs with the tools and resources they need to create safe, inclusive, and welcoming environments for their members and everyone who steps onto the mat. JudoMark is a key initiative in this mission, and we are committed to continuing to offer this valuable opportunity to clubs across Scotland. Congratulations, Destination Judo, on this outstanding achievement. 

If you would like to find out how your club can get involved or simply learn more about JudoMARK click here. 

Steven Allan, a rising talent from Castle Douglas Judo Club, has been named JudoScotland’s Young Coach of the Year. This prestigious accolade is part of the JudoScotland Coaching and Volunteering Awards, a national programme celebrating the dedication and hard work of judo’s workforce across Scotland.

The Young Coach of the Year Award recognises individuals who have invested in their development as coaches and made a meaningful impact on their athletes. Steven exemplifies this through his journey with JudoScotland’s Senpai programme, a Young Leaders initiative. Since joining, Steven has achieved several coaching qualifications and launched a project to expand the club’s adaptive judo class, which he now leads alongside the head coach.

His engaging and inclusive approach to coaching has had a positive impact not only on the adaptive class but also on the entire club. Steven has played a pivotal role in supporting his brother, Sean Allan, who has excelled in adaptive judo, winning gold at the Special Olympics last year and another at a European Judo Union event this year.

Head Coach at Castle Douglas Judo Club, Luke Struthers said “Steven’s contribution to the club is truly invaluable. His unwavering commitment to both the club and his personal development is an inspiration to us all. This award is a well-deserved recognition of his dedication, and as a club, we couldn’t be more proud to see his hard work acknowledged.”

Sam Ingram of JudoScotland added, “Steven is an invaluable asset to the club, consistently dedicating significant time and effort to his coaching role and personal development. Given his age, he has taken on a remarkable level of responsibility and demonstrates outstanding commitment to his journey.”

Steven was presented his award on Saturday 16^th of November at his club in Castle Douglas by JudoScotland Club Support Officer Sam Ingram.

As the festive season draws near, please be aware of JudoScotland’s upcoming deadlines and office hours.

Grading Deadline

Please note that the 2024 cut-off date for gradings is Thursday 5th of December. Please ensure that all Gradings you wish to have processed before the end of the year are submitted before this cut-off.

If you have any questions please email info@judoscotland.com.

JudoScotland Office Closure

The JudoScotland Office will be closed for the day on Thursday 12th of December for our staff Christmas Lunch.

The JudoScotland Office will close at 4 pm on Friday 20th December until Friday 3rd January, when we will reopen.

Talent Development Training

The final session of the year for Talent Development Training will be Wednesday 11th of December  and will resume on Wednesday 8th January 2025.

Performance Programme

There will be a reduced programme following the British Championships. More details to follow.

Daniel Fiddes, a dedicated member of Hamilton Judo Club, has been honoured as JudoScotland’s Young Volunteer of the Year. This prestigious award is part of the JudoScotland Coaching and Volunteering Awards, a national initiative that recognises the hard work and commitment of judo’s volunteers across Scotland.

The Young Volunteer of the Year Award celebrates individuals aged 25 or under who have made an exceptional contribution as a volunteer in a non-coaching role within their club or the wider judo community.

Daniel, who has been with Hamilton Judo Club for six years, has shown remarkable dedication despite living with the sight loss condition nystagmus. As a volunteer in the club’s Disability and ASN sessions, he assists the lead coach in supporting 30 juniors and 15 adults. Daniel’s caring nature makes him a favourite among the children, who eagerly anticipate his help during Thursday evening sessions.

Passionate about expanding his knowledge of working with children with disabilities, Daniel has completed various relevant courses, including JudoScotland’s “Autistic Sports Acceptance Session” and “Coaching a Visually Impaired Athlete,” as well as several modules from Scottish Disability Sport. Beyond his work at the club, Daniel has volunteered with Disability Development Officer Stephen Somerville and participated in RNIB’s “Come and Try” day. He has also been featured in both RNIB and BBC Scotland, helping to promote his work in judo.

Daniel’s commitment to supporting the judo community and his ongoing efforts to develop inclusive programs for individuals with disabilities have earned him this well-deserved recognition.

Hamilton Judo Coach, John Kane, commented “Judo founder Kano said that the ultimate goal of judo is “to perfect yourself and to contribute to society”. The volunteer work that Daniel does as part of Hamilton Judo Club Inclusion is an excellent example of the power of Judo. He has a genuine commitment to help individuals with disabilities and assisted support needs, not just participate but enjoy Judo within the wider community. Sport needs more volunteers like Daniel!”

Laura Kirkhouse of JudoScotland added, ” Daniel consistently goes above and beyond, actively engaging in every opportunity. He builds strong, meaningful connections with young club members and remains deeply committed to contributing to the great work that Hamilton Judo Club does week in and week out. He’s a brilliant example of the positive impact a volunteer can have in the judo community.”

Daniel was presented his award on Thursday 21^st of November at his club in Hamilton by JudoScotland Club Development Officer Laura Kirkhouse.

This weekend marked a busy one on the JudoScotland calendar. The Scottish Judo Community gathered to Ravenscraig for not just one but two events!  

On Saturday, judoka from all corners of Scotland gathered with a single focus: competing for the prestigious Scottish Title. With over 400 entries spanning a range of categories, Ravenscraig buzzed with excitement, setting the stage for a fantastic display of skill, strength, and sportsmanship. 

One of the day’s highlights came from Sportif Judo Club’s Maia Thomson. Fresh off a bronze medal win at the Riga Cadet European Cup in October, Maia fought her way to win Gold in the -63kg weight class, not only in the Cadet category but also in Juniors and Seniors—a remarkable achievement. 

Gairoch’s Ross McWatt had a successful event, winning the Junior –73kg Scottish Championship title. He also took home the Senior Bronze medal following some fabulous fights in a strongly contested category won by Tayside’s Aiden Moffat. 

Last month we shared a story on Oleksandr Ostritov’s judo journey after he arrived in Scotland from Ukraine in 2022. With the help of his sponsor family, Oleksandr started attending Bridge of Allan Judo Club, and since then, he has been supported by clubs and coaches throughout the community to help his development and progression. His story tale continues with a Championship win in the Junior –81kg category and with younger brother Kiril following in his footsteps, winning a Gold medal in the A band –46kg category.  

Sportif’s rising star Lexi Buchanan had a phenomenal Championship winning titles at Cadet, Junior and Senior level. 

The event was a true celebration of Scotland’s judo talent, an event made possible by the tireless efforts of our volunteer workforce. 

JudoScotland National Kyu and Dan & JudoScotland Veterans National 1st Kyu and Dan Grading 

On Sunday, some of the competitors returned to the mat, joining other judoka eager to make valuable progress toward their next grade promotion. This event offered opportunities to be assessed on technical knowledge and application and/or to earn competitive points for those striving to advance through the higher grades, showcasing their progress, commitment and skill.  

Attracting over 95 participants it was fantastic to see such a well-attended event, with an impressive turnout in the female categories! This particular event also provided the opportunity for some of our trainee Senior Examiners to move one step closer to completing their training.
 

Once again, the event workforce stepped up to the mark, many returning for a second day to support delivery with enthusiasm and purpose. 

Earlier this month, two groups from our Scottish judo community embarked on a transformative journey to Japan, the birthplace of judo. The trip brought together coaches from the Kaizen Academy and young judoka from our Talent Development Squad, both gaining valuable insights into the culture of Japanese judo.

We’ve been running the Kaizen Academy for about two to three years, offering a variety of CPD opportunities for our coaches,” Paul McGuinness, JudoScotland Coaching and Volunteering Manager explained.  “Gary (Edwards) approached us as he was planning to take members of the talent development squad to Japan and we thought it would be great to combine both groups for the trip. It was also really helpful having Tony (Penfold, JudoScotland’s Head of Development) who was great for the group.”

Talent Development Manager Gary Edwards reached out to Yoko Tanabe, a six-time All Japan Champion and double Olympic medallist, who was instrumental in helping shape the programme, which included visits to three prestigious high schools—Sho Toku, Seisoku Gakun, and Shukutoku—alongside a session at Tokai University, where the team had the honour of training with Mr Nakanishi, the 1983 World Champion. Jack MacLeod, from the Talent Development Squad, said “We covered the fundamentals of judo which was helpful, it was a really good session and everyone in the group was happy with it.” The group also visited the home of judo, the Kodokan established by Jigoro Kano where he developed the sport.

The itinerary was packed with opportunities. The groups attended local competitions, including high school and police championships, and the two groups even joined in evening randori sessions at the Kodokan—a bold chance to test their skills in Japan’s most renowned dojo. In between sessions, they also explored Japan’s cultural sites, from historic temples to local attractions and even managed to squeeze in a theme park visit.

Throughout the week, each group member learned nuggets of information they’re eager to share back home. Capturing video clips to bring home  that delve into everything from technical tips to training philosophies, offering a unique insight into how Japanese judoka approach their sport both on and off the mat.

The trip also offered surprising encounters with some of the world’s most celebrated judoka, as Paul recalls the group bumping into the world’s most successful judo player as the group made their way to the shops: “It was surreal the people you’d see, the first night we just went on a walk and just happened to see Ryoko Tani. Then the next day the younger judoka were training alongside the recently crowned junior World Champion.”

As the group made their way back to Scotland, they returned with a deeper connection to judo, inspired by training alongside elite athletes and engaging with local coaches. Looking to the future, this special trip has laid the groundwork for ongoing collaboration and with plans already in place for a return visit, JudoScotland is excited to build on this foundation

A Brief update from the Chair of some key events and recent judo news from October.

Dear Members

October was a busy month, starting on 5^th with the Highland Grand Prix.  Gordon McCathie, our Vice-Chair went along to represent the Board at the event, which I’ve been told, ran very smoothly.

On 6^th October, our CEO Judith, Euan Burton, Gary Edwards and myself met at Ratho to have a discussion with Clubs and Coaches about the way forward for our High Performance and Talent Development Programmes.   There was a great turn out – with over 30 participants.   There followed a very open and frank discussion and I’d like to thank all of the Coaches for their input to what was a very courteous and constructive session.  This was just the start of the process, and we’ll be in contact again to move things further forward. To those who did come along, thanks for taking the time to come along on your weekend.

On 11^th October, Judith and myself travelled to Glasgow to meet up with Andrew Scoular and Gerry Gualtieri, respectively the CEO and Chair of British Judo.  Jointly we met with sportcotland to discuss our ways of working during this important time as BJA review their strategy. It’s important that JudoScotland and British Judo have an aligned approach going forward and, again, we had a very constructive meeting.

12^th/13^th October was our Annual Gathering – superbly attended with over 240 judoka who were spoiled with an absolutely world-class coaching line-up.   It included Shohei Ono (amongst other accolades – double Olympic Champion and 3 x World Champion),Takanori Nagase (Current Olympic Champion)and our High Performance Coach, Taka Kitahara.  A feast of 12 hours of judo and an absolute joy to be on the mat with such legends!

On 12^th October we had our Annual General meeting at Largs.  A very slick, rollout – completed in 30 minutes.  I think the format that we use is really good!

And, after such a busy weekend, I headed off for a family holiday for a week to recharge the batteries.

On 29^th October we had our Open Board meeting.  As per last year, we ran the session online:  one of the reasons being to provide absolute transparency.   We were highly recommended by our Partnership Manager, Sarah Birrell from sportscotland, as being the first governing body to go down this path.

Other events of significance this month include the JudoScotland Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards and I’d like to give a big congratulation to all of the winners.

And fantastic news that you’ll already have heard the Commonwealth Games is coming to Glasgow.   Ten sports  have been selected and judo is one of them.  An absolute boost for our sport.   I’m really looking forward to the preparation and the event itself.

We have also just launched our new JudoScotland tartan kilt. Hopefully you’ve seen the promotion with Shohei Ono wearing his!   I’ll definitely be purchasing one and feel free to contact JudoScotland if you’d like to do the same.

I’d like to congratulation Gordon McCathie who has just been voted in to continue as Vice Chair on the Board for a further 2 years.  Well done Gordon!

The Chair of sportscotland Maureen Campbell, and our Director, Sandy Hodge, visited Hamilton Judo Inclusion Club and gave fantastic reviews.  Again, I’d like to thank Hamilton Judo Club for all of the hard work they’re doing in this very important area.

On a personal basis I’ve been accepted on to the British Judo board as JudoScotland’s Home Nation representative.  This is a role I’ll be involved with for the next couple of years.  It is exceptionally important to have these ties, so we can have an aligned way of thinking and moving forward.  I look forward to getting to know my British Judo Board Colleagues.  First session is on 1 November.

Finally some fantastic news to finish with.  JudoScotland has been short-listed as the Scottish Governing Body of the year at the upcoming Scottish Sports Awards.  It’s the first time in our history that we’ve received such a nomination and makes me extremely proud.   Getting this kind of recognition is a real boost and I’d like to thank all staff, Board and JudoScotland club members, volunteers and officials for all your superb work and contribution.  This is recognition of all the hard work that everyone is doing!  Keep it going!

Onwards!

 Marc Preston

6th Dan