News

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 

Following approval by the BJA, the International Judo Federation’s 2025 contest rules will be adopted, with limited adaptations for younger judoka, at all British events effective from 22nd February 2025, beginning with the English Open.

The new rules have been introduced following a review of the 2022-24 Olympic cycle to increase the opportunities to score and win, to provide greater technical freedom to judoka and to reduce the number of technical penalties and disqualifications awarded.

To summarise the changes are:

• Yuko returns – for side and near side landings, side-elbow landings and landing on the buttocks (upright or toward the rear), and for 5-9 second hold downs. Osaekomi in golden score will end with yuko at 5 seconds.
• Waza–ari now applies to techniques landing toward the back (more than 90 degrees)
• Using the head to throw / head defence is now allowed (no longer hansoku-make) for junior and senior categories, and is shido for cadets.
• Grips below the belt – all jacket grips and grips under the belt to the level of the top of the inner thigh are allowed – it remains shido to use these grips negatively, or to grip, hook or block below level of the top of the inner thigh (usually where the bottom of the jacket would naturally fall).
• Bearhug is allowed, except where tori’s hands or arms are clasped.
• Grips inside the sleeves are allowed – except the trouser legs in tachi-waza.
• Reverse seoi-nage – is allowed for junior and senior categories
• Non-combativity (no attacks) time allowed is reduced from 45 to 30 seconds – but newaza actions can now be taken into consideration.
• Unintentional stepping-out is no longer shido. It remains a shido to step out when not engaged in a judo action.
• False attack – now includes where tori attacks in a manner where they have no realistic possibility to throw.
• Rising from ne-waza – it is now possible to throw even when the athletes are not facing each other.
• Throwing against the arm – is now shido where kansetsu-waza has a lower risk of injury, but remains hansoku-make for higher risk actions where uke cannot escape.

We are adopting the new ruleset at pace in the expectation that this will maximise the opportunity for judoka and officials to learn and benefit from the new rules. However, this will be a learning experience for everyone – coaches, athletes and referees – and we would ask that everyone acknowledge and show understanding that some mistakes will be a natural part of adapting to the new ruleset. We would like to remind the judo community of our morale code whilst all parties adapt to the new rules.

Full details of the 2025 rules and the BJA application of them are available in British Judo’s updated rulebooks on the Contest Rules section of their website here, with all existing BJA amendments (eg. technical restrictions) will continue to apply alongside these changes.

BJA Adaptations:

• Those techniques prohibited at cadet level internationally will be prohibited in all Under 18 categories – using the head to throw or defend, and reverse seoi-nage.
• Throwing an opponent from behind while rising from ne-waza into tachi-waza will be included within the Technical Restrictions for younger and less experienced judoka.

Dan Gradings and Point Scoring:

• Yuko will not be used in dan gradings – not announced, scored or count for points.
• Waza-ari and waza-ari-awesete-ippon are reintroduced at gradings.
• A waza-ari win is worth five promotion points – at gradings and point scoring competitions.
• Eligibility for line-ups based on waza-ari wins will be confirmed in due course.

Contest Sheets

• Yuko wins will be recorded as three points on contest sheets.

Training and Support

Referees, Coaches and Fighters of all levels are invited to attend a virtual rule update seminar at 7:00pm on Tuesday 11th February. You can register for the event by clicking here.

Referees in Charge will provide short briefings on the new rules to referees and coaches at the beginning of the competition day. Many of our International and Continental referees will have experience using the new rules at IJF and EJU events in February and are equipped to support their colleagues and to answer questions from athletes or coaches – both in the run up to and after the application of the new rules.

Further training on the new rules, open to all BJA members, will be available at the National Refereeing Seminar – date to be confirmed later this year. A number of refereeing and contest rules courses, available for all members, are also being run by Areas and will be listed in the BJA events calendar.

Further Information:

The full IJF technical seminar explaining the rule updates is available to watch here, alongside an article explaining the changes, available here.

Example video clips from the seminar are available here.

 Audrey Pirie, a dedicated member of Elgin Judo Club, has been honoured as JudoScotland’s Referee/Official 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 Referee/Official of the Year Award honours an individual who has made an outstanding impact in their role, significantly enhancing the competition structure and creating exceptional opportunities and experiences within judo. 

Audrey has been a true inspiration to many judo players at Elgin Judo Club, encouraging them to explore officiating as a meaningful way to stay engaged with the sport. She dedicates a significant portion of her free time to refereeing at competitions across the UK, exemplifying her unwavering commitment to the growth and development of judo. Through her efforts, several younger players at the club have been inspired to take their first steps into refereeing at local events and festivals. During competition randori sessions, Audrey not only educates participants on the rules but also emphasises the diverse opportunities to contribute to judo beyond competing, fostering a deeper appreciation for the sport.  

Audrey played a pivotal role at the Scottish Open Judo Tournament, JudoScotland’s flagship international competition, held this past weekend, the 18th and 19th of January at the sportscotland National Centre in Inverclyde. 

Audrey was nominated by members of Elgin Judo Club, stating the reasons for her nomination being: “She has, and continues to give so much of her time to judo, both at the club as a coach and as an experienced referee up and down the country at competitions. She’s a really selfless person, always encouraging all the members at the club to continue their judo journeys both as players and in how they can volunteer in other aspects of the sport like refereeing. Everything she’s done for the club has been huge, she’s inspired lots of our members to give refereeing a go.” 

Sam Ingram of JudoScotland added, “Audrey consistently goes above and beyond to support Judo events with dedication and enthusiasm. Her contributions to the sport throughout her refereeing career are remarkable, making her an invaluable member of the team.”

Audrey was presented her award at her club in Elgin by JudoScotland Club Support Officer Sam Ingram. If you would like to find out more about how you can become a Judo Technical Official click here. 

Start Your Career in Sports Admin with JudoScotland! 🥋

Through the Enable Scotland and sportscotland Disability Apprenticeship Programme we’re looking for a Business Support Modern Apprentice to join our team! 💼✨

If you’re passionate about sports and want to help make judo one of the most dynamic and inclusive sports in Scotland, this is your chance! This opportunity is ideal for anyone aged 16-24 with a disability or other barrier to employment.🙌

📅 As part of delivering our strategy ‘Judo For All’ (2023–2027), you’ll be part of:

• Membership services
• Communication & marketing
• Finance & event support
• Data analysis to help shape our programmes

To apply please complete the application form or submit an introduction video along with your C.V. and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (this will not be seen by the panel which shortlists or interviews) to hr@judoscotland.com, with the email subject: “Business Support Modern Apprentice Recruitment”.

JudoScotland is pleased to induct Eddie Cassidy, 8th Dan, into the JudoScotland Hall of Fame, celebrating an extraordinary career that has shaped the sport both in Scotland and internationally. The Hall of Fame honours judoka who have not only achieved greatness at the highest level but have also made a profound and lasting impact on the judo community. 

Eddie’s journey in judo is nothing short of inspirational. As a former Team GB member, he competed on the world stage, including World and European Championships, showcasing his unwavering pursuit of excellence. His dedication to the sport led him to Japan, where he trained and earned his Kodokan 4th Dan, a testament to his expertise. Among his many achievements, Eddie claimed a gold medal at the European Team Championships in Gothenburg in 1971. A multiple Scottish and British champion, he has excelled at every level of competition. 

However, Eddie’s contributions extend far beyond the mat. A tireless advocate for judo in Scotland, he has served as a director of JudoScotland, a senior examiner, and a member of the High Grade Commission. For decades, Eddie has been instrumental in coach education and Kata instruction, shaping the next generation of judoka. At the grassroots level, he continues to support local clubs, demonstrating judo’s core values of respect, humility, and integrity. His passion for teaching remains strong as he actively coaches at Okano Kwai Judo Club, sharing his knowledge with the next generation of judoka. 

Renowned as a leading authority in Kata, Eddie has inspired countless practitioners through his extensive teaching across the UK. His tireless commitment, selfless service, and unwavering focus on advancing the sport make him a true ambassador for Scottish judo. 

Marc Preston Chair of JudoScotland said, “We are truly honoured to have Eddie as an integral part of the Scottish Judo community. Inducting him into our Hall of Fame is a small token of our immense appreciation for his contributions. Eddie’s legacy extends far beyond his remarkable competitive career. His profound technical expertise and exceptional teaching abilities have had a lasting impact on the wider judo community, and we are grateful for all he has shared.” 

Eddie Cassidy embodies the very essence of judo’s moral code. His dedication, humility, and lifelong passion have left an enduring legacy that will inspire generations to come. It is an honour to celebrate his incredible journey and his immense contributions to the sport. He will be joining fellow JudoScotland Hall of Fame honourees Dr George Kerr 10th Dan, Joyce Heron, Margaret McKenna, Billy Cusack, Colin McIver, Loretta Cusack-Doyle, Bill Berry and Graeme Randall.