News

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

Dear Members

September started off for me with an online training course delivered by sportscotland about good Governance practices. I truly believe it’s extremely important that we in JudoScotland continue to upskill and maximise the lifelong learning opportunities we are presented with.

The following week, on 10th, I was once again on a course organised by sportscotland: this time about Leadership Skills – a very informative and valuable course to attend.

That same evening we had our Board of Directors meeting at Ratho which was attended by our 2 Vice Presidents, Rick Kenney & Jim Feenan and our President Colin McIver. It was great to have everyone together.

On 15th of September we were delighted to host Bob and Rick Cleevely, both 11x British Champions, who were delivering a Kime No Kata course at Ratho. I believe this is the first time that this particular course has been delivered in Scotland, although I’ll stand corrected if anyone’s aware of another session!

It was very well attended with over 30 judoka taking part in the session. I feel that there’s been a real increase in peoples’ appreciation of Kata as a valuable part of their judo journey. And I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Bob and Rick for giving us the opportunity to learn.

On 17th I met up with Euan Burton, National High Performance Coach, Gary Edwards, National Talent Development Manager and Judith to discuss the programmes’ development and moving forward. We had a very constructive discussion and I look forward to seeing the outcomes.

On 21st I attended the Hibari Kan Grand Prix event supported by JudoScotland at Ravenscraig. The feedback was good and, in my opinion, the event went well. Well done to the organising teams.

Finally on 26th hosted the annual drop-in coffee morning for MacMillan Cancer Support. The event was well attended and raised £160 for this well-deserving charity. Thanks to all who came along for your support.

And now we’re fast approaching the AGM and The Gathering. I look forward to catching up with lots of you, and will give an update on both events in my next monthly report.

 Marc Preston

6th Dan

JudoScotland is thrilled to announce that 13 judo clubs across Scotland will benefit from a new wave of investment through the Judo Girls Rise programme. This initiative is designed to increase female participation in judo by creating female-only spaces, which are crucial in attracting and retaining women and girls in the sport.

The funding will support clubs in delivering female-focused judo sessions,  empowering women and girls to engage in judo within safe, inclusive environments. The programme will also include increased investment and opportunities for females in under-represented areas of the workforce to maximise the sustainability of this programme. Each of the selected clubs has demonstrated a strong commitment to expanding opportunities for female participation in judo.

Judith McCleary, CEO of JudoScotland, expressed her excitement about the programme’s impact: “We’ve been delighted by the response to our Judo Girls Rise fund. Due to the overwhelming interest, we’ve expanded our initial plan, now supporting 13 projects instead of the originally planned 8 clubs. As part of our Strategic Plan ‘Judo for All’ (2023-2027), we’re deeply committed to increasing female participation in meaningful ways. By supporting member clubs, we can provide greater opportunities for women and girls to engage in the sport.”

The following clubs have successfully secured funding through the Judo Girls Rise programme:

Carnegie Judo Club – Fife

Castle Douglas Judo Club – Dumfries and Galloway  

Clyde Judo Club – Paisley

Edinburgh Judo – Edinburgh

Edinburgh University – Edinburgh

Gairoch Judo Club – Aberdeenshire

Hamilton Judo Club – Hamilton

Just-Judo – Midlothian

Kanokwai – North Lanarkshire

Pro Judo – Glasgow

Sportif (2 x Club Projects)– Venues Across Scotland

Ultimate – Aberdeenshire

Are you ready to kickstart your career in sports administration while supporting Judo to become one of the most dynamic and inclusive sports? JudoScotland, the official governing body for judo in Scotland, is looking for a Business Support Modern Apprentice to join our team! This opportunity is ideal for anyone aged 16-24 with a disability or other barrier to employment.

As part of our strategy ‘Judo For All’ (2023 – 2027) our vision is to become a Scottish Governing Body renowned for excellence, enabling people of all ages and abilities to realise their potential.

As part of our Business Support Team, you’ll dive into a range of tasks, from membership services to communication and marketing, finance, and event support. You’ll also help us develop impactful programmes by providing essential data analysis on membership trends and club activities.

JudoScotland is working in partnership with Enable Works to support this role as we believe that every person who wants a job should have access to the support they need to get one. Enable Works is one of the largest and most successful providers of training and employability programmes in the UK. They help people who experience barriers to employment to find and train for work they enjoy and thrive in jobs they have chosen. 

Does this sound like the role for you? Find out more and submit your application using our Candidate Pack below.

48 hours before her bronze success in Prague, we caught up with Josie Steele to discuss all things judo, injury setbacks and Olympic aspirations.

Josie first stepped onto the mat at Highland Budokan in Inverness, under the coaching of Robert Inglis. “I played a lot of sports when I was younger, but I loved my first session there. Robert was great with the kids, so I stuck with it,” she recalls. As her Cadet career advanced, her achievements followed suit. “I started competing internationally and doing well. In my final year as a Cadet, I won a medal at the European Youth Championships.” Determined to advance further, Josie made the decision to relocate. “At 16, I moved to Edinburgh, left school after fifth year, and joined the Performance Programme at JudoScotland while starting at Heriot-Watt University.”

Going from training twice a week at Highland Budokan to everyday at the National Performance Centre took some adjusting, “It was quite intimidating at the start I’m not going to lie; I was young and it was my first time away from home. The first 6 months were tough but that was also to do with starting university. I didn’t know anyone at first, being able to make friends definitely helps. I noticed very quickly a big improvement in my performance level once I started training full time.”  Josie expressed her gratitude to Malin Wilson, Rachel Tytler, and Abbi Blackie, acknowledging their support in helping her settle in at the National Training Centre: “They were great, really helping me settle in and made sure I was always ok.”

Training alongside Olympic medalist, Sally Conway, Josie took the opportunity to learn good habits to advance further, “I picked up loads of good bits from Sal, the biggest one was actually not overtraining. Doing six good high quality randoris is better than doing 10 average ones and being at risk of injury. It doesn’t mean you work any less hard but when you’re at training just to make sure you are training.”

The success continued as she moved into the Junior ranks, picking up medals abroad and competing at the Junior European and World Championships in her first year training full time.

As is often the case in high-level sports, injuries became part of Josie’s journey. In her second year as a junior, she suffered a snapped elbow ligament, followed by a bulging disc in her neck, leading to an extended period away from the mat. After nine months of recovery, lingering neck issues resurfaced just three months later, prompting her to opt for surgery, where two metal discs were inserted into her neck.

Taking more time away from the mat led to Josie questioning whether she would be able to continue: “The rest is nice for the first couple of weeks, but I’ve had injuries and obviously covid has made me lose about 3-4 years. An injury is ok if you get told when you’ll be back. Initially the doctors weren’t actually sure if my neck would get better so it was a waiting game. I got three different scans on it and it wasn’t getting better at first. Injuries are really tough, especially your first major injury it feels like the end of the world but there is always things you can improve on when you’re injured. I did consider quitting but after the surgery I felt great. But I couldn’t imagine not doing the sport, whether that was recreationally or a performance level. I was also so young, only 22 so I felt I still had a lot to give. I was also still able to study and work so that balance was ideal.”

Recovering from the injury, Josie made the decision to go up and compete in the -63 category. “Moving up has been good for my overall health in terms of avoiding injury. I got a bronze in Latvia at the European cup, it was a big marker for me as it’s the first medal back since being injured and going up a weight. It was really important for myself as I knew I could still compete I also had my first Grand Prix earlier this month which didn’t go to plan but it was good to be competing in that level of competition as I feel I’m still just finding my feet.”

On long term goals, she says: “I take it week by week, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to be the best in the world. I’d love to be an Olympic champion, I want to compete for Scotland and GB. It’s very important to me and my goal is to be the best in the world.”

“I watched the first day of the Commonwealth Games in 2014. Steph Inglis was from my club and seeing her do well was a really big deal, and seeing Scotland do well was so good. Watching it I remember thinking I’d love to compete there, the Worlds and the Olympics.”

With our call nearing an end, the conversation moves to gender and what it’s like competing in a male dominated sport: “You definitely do face challenges based on your gender, mainly the lack of women in the sport and you tend not to have as many peers around you. As I get older it doesn’t affect me anymore, often you can be the only girl in the dojo. That’s fine with me now but as a young girl that would definitely be more difficult. I’d say it is getting better in the sport but I’m used to it.”

Though Josie reflects positively on the close bonds formed with her peers. “There are challenges in the sport, but it also means the girls who do it are usually quite close. You don’t have a choice — that might sound bad, but it’s actually really nice. You have to get along, so we form a close-knit group because there aren’t many of us, which is really nice. The girls here, especially, have always been a great group, and we’ve always got on.”

We end the call with advice she’d pass on to younger girls who are thinking of taking up the sport, “I would say get stuck in. Bring a friend if you feel a bit uncomfortable. There are loads of opportunities for girls in the sport, it’s not just a sport for guys – girls can fight too.”

Judoka from around the world gather in Largs every January for the JudoScotland Scottish Open. This year we are delighted to be adding to our programme of Judo at our flagship event which has seen Olympic Medallists and European Champions compete at the seaside town.  

We’re thrilled to introduce adapted categories for the 2025 Scottish Open, adding a new and exciting dimension to the event while enhancing its inclusivity and accessibility. The adapted categories allow judoka to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level of judo in Scotland in front of a packed crowd at the sportscotland National Sports Centre Inverclyde; it’s sure to be a monumental occasion. This is the first time we’ve included the adapted category, and it’s the perfect moment as Scottish adapted judo thrives both at home and abroad. Scottish judoka continue to excel, with Sean Allan winning gold at the Gdansk Get Together Tournament and Kirsten Taylor narrowly missing out on competing at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.  

The introduction of the adapted categories at the Scottish Open supports our strategy of fostering an inclusive, diverse membership, ensuring judo is a sport for all. Which has already seen our Disability Development Officer, Stephen Sommerville, working alongside clubs to develop training opportunities across Scotland and introduced online adapted workshops to enhance coaching for athletes with disabilities. 

JudoScotland CEO Judith McCleary said, “We are committed to making judo accessible and available for everyone. As such, our JudoScotland Equality Working Group is working with Moving to Inclusion to identify areas in our Culture, Leadership, Experiences, Relationships and Communication that require improvements. It’s fantastic to see meaningful actions taking place across the entire judo community that will ensure judo truly is for all.” 

“By offering adapted opportunities within prestigious events like the Scottish Open, we continue to develop and expand our Judo For All strategy; the inclusion of the adapted category is just the beginning. We are excited to see the impact this will have on the judo community, inspiring future generations of athletes and setting the standard for our future events.” 

If you would like to find out more about  The Scottish Open 2025, including how to enter, click here

We are pleased to present JudoScotland’s 2023 Annual Report ahead of our AGM on the 12th of October. This report highlights key achievements and milestones from January 1st to December 31st, 2023.

Kata has been a core part of Judo training in Scotland since 2009, steadily gaining recognition and importance among judoka of all ages and skill levels. Over the years, JudoScotland has seen a significant rise in interest and participation in Kata, with more judoka embracing it not just as a requirement for grading but as a lifelong learning journey that enhances both personal development and technical proficiency.

Last weekend marked a milestone for Scottish judo as a strong Scottish contingent headed south to compete in the British Kata Championships. It proved to be a successful weekend, with several standout performances. Paul Laverty and Alex Reid delivered exceptional displays, securing gold medals in both Katame-No Kata and Nage-No Kata, and a silver medal in Goshin-Jutsu. Colin Dunlop and David Gibson were in a competitive field of 12 kata teams and did well to achieve a bronze medal in the Katame-No kata. The pairings of Robert Milne & Andrew Gardner and Stanley Shaw & Peter McCann put in commendable efforts narrowly missing out on medals. In addition to their competitive achievements, Colin Dunlop and David Gibson were both promoted to the prestigious position of British Judo Kata Examiners, further solidifying Scotland’s growing influence in the Kata community.

Paul Laverty, who has performed in World and European championships, shared his insights on the evolving perception of Kata and how beneficial it can be in judo training. Speaking to Paul, it was clear that Kata is on the rise in Scotland and although some may view it as a requirement for grading purposes, it’s much more than a technical exercise.

“Kata can be whatever you want it to be,” Paul explains. “If you go into it with an open mind you’ll have a lifetime of learning from it. It benefits everybody, from your own personal development to coaching. I coach differently from before I started kata. I see things so differently. It teaches me best practice and breaks things down.”

Reflecting on the past weekend’s success, he says: “We went down with no other expectations other than to enjoy ourselves. Alex and I have a very good understanding of Kata, we felt we did ok.” Analysing  his partner Alex’s performance, Paul states: “There’s not many 65 year olds that can get thrown 30 times consecutively but Alex’s Kata technique is so impressive it’s almost effortless. It’s a controlled environment and shows what good Kata does for you.”

It’s fair to say the interest in Kata has grown significantly in recent years. With more courses on offer than ever before, it’s encouraged more judoka to explore its benefits. As Paul Laverty mentions, “It’s becoming more popular, the British championships this year are the busiest I’ve ever seen. It’s heartwarming to see.”

The continued growth and success of Kata in Scotland have been bolstered by courses such as this weekend’s Kime no Kata course, which has over 50 participants registered. This trend demonstrates a renewed interest and commitment to understanding the deeper aspects of our sport.

With Kata gaining more visibility and recognition, it is evident that it offers invaluable benefits to practitioners of all levels – from coaching insights to personal development, the rise is a testament to the dedication of judoka and coaches. As more people embrace Kata as an important aspect of their judo journey, we look forward to seeing an even bigger engagement within Scottish judo. The recent successes at the British Championships and sell out courses signal a bright future for Kata in Scotland.

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

Hi all 

On the 3^rd of the month, we tried something different, and piloted our first ‘Olympic Watch Party’.  This was an Olympic and Paralympic-themed day at Ratho, where participants could watch the judo from Paris whilst participating in a fun mini Olympics event to win prizes.  Oh and enjoy delicious food!  What’s not to like?  And hopefully, it’s something we can do again!

On that note, the GB Paralympic Judo players will be competing on Saturday and I wish Dan, Evan and Chris the very best of luck.  Hopefully, it will be a successful event for them and a productive championship.

On 5^th August Judith and myself visited Randori Judo Club in Midlothian to catch up with the coaches and see what they’re doing there.   They have a fabulous facility and we’re hoping to be able to work more closely together going forward.

On 16^th August, the Board of Directors got together for a fun evening at the  Edinburgh Festival.  I feel it’s very important that, as a Board, we get to know each other – so we can develop a cohesive Board that works well together as a collective.   Unfortunately, I’d previously come down with food poisoning so was in no condition to take part!   However, by all accounts, it was a great evening!

I did manage to catch up in August with Graham Campbell and Andrew Scoular, the CEO of British Judo.  Again, it’s important that we have good, constructive relationships with our peers and partners.    And, in fact, Andrew came along the next day to watch my wife singing in the Rock Choir at the Festival!

We held the Board of Directors meeting on 27^th August and as always, got through a pretty full agenda.

But overall, a quiet-ish month, bringing the holiday period to a close.  And now getting ready for a busy period including our Grand Prix event with Hibari Kan at Ravenscraig on 21^st September.  We will be hosting our annual MacMillan Coffee Morning at Ratho on Thursday 26^th September between 11 am – 1.30 pm and it would be great to see lots of you along to enjoy a blether and some home baking!

 Marc Preston

6th Dan

In addition to our existing awards, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of two exciting new awards: the Club of the Year Award and The Lifetime Contribution Award. These accolades are here to shine a spotlight on the incredible dedication of the Scottish judo community!

Coaches, officials, and volunteers are the true unsung heroes of our judo community; selfless, humble, and dedicated, tirelessly working behind the scenes without seeking recognition. Their efforts lay the foundation for everything we enjoy in this sport, from training to competition. Now is the time to celebrate their contributions by nominating them for a JudoScotland Coaching, Officiating, and Volunteering Awards!

Winners will be announced at The Gathering, then presented their award within their clubs, surrounded by the very people who nominated them. Don’t miss the opportunity to acknowledge those who make a real difference, nominate your judo hero today!

Entries Close Friday 27^th of September so get your nominations in now!

NEW FOR 2024 Club of the Year

This award recognises a club that has made a significant positive impact through the delivery, organisation, and development of judo, while promoting the core values of our sport and JudoScotland.

NEW FOR 2024 Lifetime Contribution Award

This award honours an individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to judo over a sustained period.

Community Coach of the Year

This award will be made to a coach who has supported the development of judoka and has significantly increased the Judo opportunities available and participation levels within their community.

Disability Coach of the Year

This award will be made to a coach working with people with a disability. The award looks for evidence of a person-centred delivery leading to successful performance and/or sustained participation of those taking part.

Technical Official/Referee of the Year

This award recognises the hard work and dedication that technical officials and referees make to the competition structure in Judo.

Pathway Coach of the Year

This award will be made to a coach who has supported the development of judoka and has significantly increased the Judo opportunities available and achievement levels within their community.

Volunteer of the Year

This award will be made to a volunteer in a non-coaching role, aged 26 years or more , who has made an outstanding contribution to their club, the wider judo community or to the development of judo.

Young Coach of the Year

This award will be made to a coach aged 25 years or younger . This award looks for young people who have invested in their development as a coach and have made a significant impact on the people they coach. The club will be a better place for having them in the team.

Young Official of the Year

This award will be made to a Technical Official or Referee aged 25 years or younger and recognises the hard work and dedication that these roles make to the competition structure; providing fantastic opportunities and experiences in judo.

Young Volunteer of the Year

This award will be made to a volunteer in a non-coaching role, aged 25 years or under who has made an outstanding contribution to their club or the wider judo community.