News

Hi all,

It was fantastic to have 4 Scots announced in the GB Team for the forthcoming European Cadet Championships; our congratulations to Eva Ewing (Whitburn), Coen Gilbert (Sportif), Jack Macleod (Gairoch) and Kevin Gordon (Hibari-kan) who are busy with their preparations ahead of travelling to Bulgaria later in June.

Our Senpai Programme (Young Leaders) had a residential at sportscotland Inverclyde over the weekend of 12-13 May with several workshops delivered by Scottish Sports Futures and coordinated by our Club Support Officer Sam. We are excited to see this programme evolve as we strive to be more youth-shaped and see young people taking more of a lead within clubs.

On 19th May Ultimate Judo hosted a masterclass by Michihiro Omigawa, a distinguished former member of the Japanese National Judo team and former UFC star.   It made me reflect that it’s incredible for a small country like ours to be able to attract such international talent – think Shohei Ono and Yoshihiko Iura!

On 25th May the Granite City Grand Prix was hosted by Aboyne in Aberdeen with the support of JudoScotland.  I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who competed in the event and subsequently provided us with constructive feedback which will be reviewed within event briefings.

On the 29th I had a meeting with British Judo to discuss their forthcoming Board meeting up in Scotland.  They intend to coincide with The Gathering so they can celebrate the vibe here in Scottish judo.  It’ll also be Graham Campbell’s final session before he steps down from his role on the JudoScotland Board.

Also on the 29th, I went along to the Talent Development session to see all the new, rising stars on the mat.  The training was hard and upbeat and I observed quite a few highly talented young judoka.  My thanks go to Gary Edwards for his hospitality.   The next day  I went to the High Performance programme where Euan Burton was putting the squad through their paces.  I thoroughly enjoyed looking at the video analysis session and was impressed at their hard work and commitment.

Marc Preston
6th Dan 

Heading to the British Teams in July?

Why not check out our JudoScotland Supporters Club package! Let us sort the travel and accommodation, and join our very own tartan army.

Package Includes:

• Accommodation:
  • Twin Room (sharing)
  • Single Occupancy Room

• Travel:
  • Departure: 12:30 PM on Friday, 5th July
  • Return: Saturday, 6th July straight after the event
  • Pick-Up Points: EICA, Ratho. There may be an East and West pick-up point, please indicate your preference.

• Supporters Pack:
  • An exclusive JudoScotland T-shirt
  • JudoScotland Clappers
  • Snacks & Water

Pricing

• For travel, supporters pack and accommodation: Twin Room (sharing): £120.00 per person or Single Occupancy Room £165 (Breakfast included)
• For accommodation only: Twin Room (shared) £55pp Single Occupancy Room £110
• For travel only: £45
• JudoScotland Supporters Pack: £20

We are planning an optional evening meal in Birmingham as a group. Please note that this is not included in the package, and details will be finalised nearer the time.

Additional Information:

• This trip promises to be a memorable experience as we rally behind our national team. If you wish to travel with JudoScotland and be a part of this supporter’s group, please reply no later than Thusrday, 6th June.
• A deposit of £20.00 is also due by Thursday, 6th June.

Contact us at 0131 333 2981.

Important: Joining the JudoScotland Supporters Club gives you access to travel, accommodation, and a supporters pack, but it’s completely optional. You can choose to participate in travel, accommodation, or both, based on your preference.

Membership Benefits:

• Travel with Us: Join our group for travel to and from Walsall.
• Accommodation Options: Stay with us overnight before the event, but it’s completely optional.
• Flexible Participation: Be a part of our community and enjoy the events you choose.

Join Today! Whether you want to travel, stay, or simply support us from home, there’s a place for you in our club.

If you’re interested in signing up or would like to learn more get in touch by email events@judoscotland.com or phone us on 0131 333 2981

JudoScotland’s Chief Executive Officer, Judith McCleary, travelled to Orkney to present our Community Coach of the Year award to Orkney Judo Club’s Reanne Wylie.

Reanne, who has been coaching at her club for five years, was delighted to receive the award: “I’m amazed and delighted to have won the Community Coach of the Year award. I am very proud of my club and everyone that is part of it, especially being part of a remote island community. I would like to thank those who voted for me, coaches who have and still do help in developing both my judo and coaching skills & knowledge and the amazing people I get to work with every week.

Reanne is an excellent example of how a coach adjusts their teaching style to meet the needs of the students by providing guidance to all judoka in her community. She embodies the spirit of judo, playing a pivotal role in her club’s growth and development. Reanne’s dedication extends beyond coaching; she leads a parent-led fundraising group, manages the club’s finances, and ensures compliance with child protection and safety regulations.

Judith, who was welcomed at Orkney Judo Club said: “One of my highlights at work is to get out and about in the judo community and it doesn’t get much better than visiting Orkney Judo Club on a beautiful sunny weekend! Reanne epitomises the array of skills that great coaches have. Through a chat with Reanne, she was sharing her own self learning ambitions that allude to Jigoro Kano’s philosophy of striving to perfect oneself in order to contribute to society. Well, Reanne is most certainly making a positive impact in her local community and is a deserved winner of the national Community Coach of the Year award”.

She has been instrumental in growing the club, first as a senior member, then as an assistant coach undertaking the Level 1 coaching course, followed by Level 2. Her involvement in the JudoScotland Coaching Academy has enhanced her coaching skills, benefiting both young and adult judoka. All of these efforts help her provide a calm and friendly environment for students to learn and enjoy the art of judo.

Reanne’s commitment to her club is further demonstrated by her initiatives, such as establishing a womens-only session and a technical squad for competitors, as well as her efforts in designing the club kit. The club has also recently set up an additional weekly judo session for under 8’s with a fantastic uptake. Starting judo as an adult, Reanne has become an invaluable asset to her island community, sharing her knowledge selflessly and fostering a supportive environment for all students.

JudoScotland is concerned that the changes proposed by the Scottish Government could have a significant detrimental impact on the safe delivery of judo in Scotland, and that the financial impact on volunteers and judo clubs will create an additional barrier at a time when volunteers have never been needed more. We strongly encourage as many people as possible to contribute their views.

The Scottish Government has opened a consultation and is seeking views on a new fee structure for the different types of disclosure under The Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020. This includes membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme and changes to how discounts and fee waivers are applied to volunteers and other groups.

Disclosure Scotland is proposing to apply discounts for people on benefits, care experienced young people and volunteers. However, the current scheme provides a fee waiver (free PVG) for all volunteers including those on benefits and care experienced young people. These discounts would therefore mean an increase in costs for volunteers from these groups and all volunteers involved in sport and other voluntary organisations.

These changes could:

• Create an additional barrier to people volunteering and ultimately may stop people volunteering within sport.
• Provide an additional financial burden on sports clubs and individuals.
• Increase the risk to children, young people and people from vulnerable groups as some individuals and clubs may decide not to get a PVG for financial reasons.

We urge you to read the briefing document and respond to the consultation which is in the document, prior to the consultation closing on 28th May 2024.

After being awarded his 3^rd Dan at Carnegie judo club, Peter McCann spoke to JudoScotland about his journey in judo so far.

Peter turned to judo initially for self-defence, prompted by his registration as blind and his apprehension about the area he grew up in. Reflecting on those early days, he recalls, “I was registered blind around 25 years ago and because of the area I grew up I felt vulnerable, I was worried someone might do something. I ended up being quite anxious and I felt something had to change. So I felt if someone does try anything I’d have a chance against them with judo. But I soon got the bug.”

His initial foray into judo quickly blossomed into a deep love for the sport. Peter found solace and empowerment on the judo mat. “I fell in love with judo not long after,” he shares. “I loved the people there, the independence it allowed me to have and how I was treated as an equal. I’ve pretty much been doing it twice a week for a long time. I’ve always been interested in martial arts from before I was blind.”

Peter’s journey in judo is not just about personal fulfilment; it’s also about setting an example for his daughters. “I’ve got two daughters,” he explains, “I wanted to show them that if you want to achieve something you can go and do it.” This drive to inspire others extends beyond his family, as Peter actively mentors a young visually impaired member at Carnegie Judo Club, sharing tips and techniques from his own experiences. “I try and pass on as much advice as I can and give him some cheeky bits and pieces that have helped me. I’m not the biggest or the heaviest so I have to depend on my technique and movement.”

Throughout his journey, he found unwavering support from mentors like Jim Feenan, who encouraged him to pursue his goals. “Jim is so encouraging and kept at us to do it (achieving his 3^rd Dan). He’s forever pushing me forward and telling me there are no barriers”.

“I do judo the same as everyone else, I don’t get any special treatment.” His accomplishments speak volumes about his tenacity and skill, including participation in GB squads, earning medals in the British, Lithuanian, and German Open, and achieving a remarkable 3rd Dan.

As he continued in the sport, Peter began to embrace the theory side “I like the technical aspect of judo,” he shares. “It is adapted for me slightly but I really enjoy learning the mechanics of the sport and finding ways in which I can adapt it to suit my body type.”

Beyond judo, Peter leads an active lifestyle, regularly cycling and kayaking. Yet, it’s the camaraderie and sense of community within the judo world that truly resonate with him. “It’s a friendly bunch,” he emphasises. “Everyone is out there to help you.”

Jim Feenan, head coach of Carnegie Judo Club, added: “Peter, together with his training partner Stan Shaw, is a stalwart of the Carnegie Judo Club and the JudoScotland Veterans sessions. He is known for his technical understanding of Newaza, and I often invite him to demonstrate alternatives to the main techniques practised.

I guess I pushed him quite hard over the last year, but Pete’s promotion to 3rd Dan acknowledges his determination and commitment to achieve this significant grade. He is an inspiration to anyone wanting to overcome difficulties, a mentor to many and a trusted adviser. Well done Peter, proud of you!”

As Peter reflects on his judo journey, he offers words of encouragement to aspiring judokas: “I’d say go for it, there’s no limit in judo. First and foremost enjoy it, and once you start to do that it will lead you to bigger and better things.”

Bellahouston Judo Club proudly marks its 50^th anniversary this year, kicking off a series of celebratory events. Founded in 1974 by Eric Kane, following the closure of the Osaka Club, the club started its journey at Bellahouston Sport Centre.

Over the decades, it journeyed through different locations, from The Palace of Arts to Pollokshields, finally finding its home at The Arc Sports Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Eric Kane has been a National Competitor, Coach, Team Manager and has held various Governing Body Positions throughout that time yet his enthusiasm has not diminished. He has been practising judo since 1967 and now in his 77^th Year, he is still on the mats each week.

Club Coach Derek McCutcheon presented Eric with a plaque adorned with the ‘7 Virtues of Bushido’, symbolising righteousness, loyalty, honour, respect, honesty, courage, and consistency—values deeply ingrained in Bellahouston Judo Club’s ethos.

This is particularly apt as Eric has always emphasised the teachings of Jigoro Kano (The Founder of Judo).

Jigoro Kano is well known for his motivational teaching and quotes such as ‘Maximum Efficiency, Minimal Effort’, ‘Mutual Welfare and Benefit’, ‘The purpose Of Judo Is to Perfect Yourself and To Contribute To Society’, ‘Judo Helps Us To Understand That Worry Is A Waste Of Energy’ and many more which are as valuable today as they ever were.

Club Members were issued with a specially struck commemorative medal and plans are in place for a dinner with past and current members.

Got a story you’d like to see on the JudoScotland website? Get in touch! alisterbean@judoscotland.com

Hi all,

Graham Campbell, who’s been a member of our Board of Directors for 30 years, will be stepping down from the post later this year.  As a player I was with Graham at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand where he won 2 bronze medals for Scotland.  As I’m sure you’ll agree, Graham has been an extremely valuable member of the Board and will be a great loss to us.

Together with Graham and Judith, I was part of an interview panel, to identify and recruit someone for the (soon to be vacant) position of Finance Director.

I’m delighted to say that, after Board approval, Anthony Daye will be joining us. Anthony has an excellent, relevant CV and we’re looking forward to working with him.  As part of our succession planning process, he’ll be attending the Board soon and learning about the role ahead of his official appointment later in the year. We all wish him well and are looking forward to working with him.

On the 27^th April I attended the Cluarankwai Judo Club 75^th Anniversary  event in Kilmarnock. The club was founded in 1949 and is believed to be Scotland’s oldest club.  To celebrate the occasion they put on a special masterclass with Gary Edwards – our National Talent Development Coach, and Takafumi Kitahara – Assistant High Performance Judo Coach.

Unfortunately I had a slight accident on the morning of the event and managed to split my head open whilst setting up to teach judo.  I had to go to hospital to have my head ‘glued’ in a couple of different places so I do apologise for the state of my hair when I arrived!

Apart from that it was a great day and a delight to catch up with a couple of top judoka from a previous time – namely Paul Cassidy and Jim McCormack, both fabulous players from the 70s/80s. Overall it was a great day celebrating an excellent club!

The next day on 28^th April, we were at the Lagoon Centre in Paisley for the Clyde Grand Prix. Again, good to catch up with the broader judo community and, as ever, the event was well run and went very smoothly. Watching some of the younger weight divisions, I was struck by the quality of the judo, hopefully signifying exciting times ahead!

On Monday 29 April I flew down to Birmingham for the British Judo Board of Directors meeting. They had arranged for us to be at the horse racing at Wolverhampton Race Track the evening before and a couple of their Directors walked away with a bucket full of cash, unfortunately not me! The Board meeting took place the next morning; an interesting session where all of the home nations have a prepared update, and linked up srategies across the NGBs is encouraged.

Elsewhere in the month, most of you will be aware that in April we went digital.  JudoScotland have brought us into the 21^st century and introduced new digital memberships you can access via your phone. To make things easier for clubs, they will soon be able to administer their gradings online too; music to many ears I’m sure!

And finally Judith and myself spent a bit of time this month in conversations with a few sporting facilities that may be of benefit to us for the future and keep us ahead of the game….more on that to come!

Marc Preston

6^th Dan

Say hello to JudoScotland’s brand-new Digital Membership – your key to easy access, seamless tracking, and a paper-free journey! We are excited to be launching this new membership feature to improve your membership experience.

Here’s what you need to know:

📱 Access your membership details via Apple/Google wallet – quick and hassle-free!

ℹ️ Everything you need – membership details, grade, and club info will just be a tap away!

📅 Our Digital Membership is now live!

💻Part of our commitment to the ‘Judo For All’ strategy – improving your digital experience

🌲 Going green! No more paper memberships or blue books

💷 Good news! We froze 2024 fees – so there is no extra cost for this digital leap.

📃No smartphone, no problem! Don’t worry if you don’t have a smartphone your email confirmation will act as your membership or you can log in via the JudoScotland website to access all your membership details.

All existing memberships will be transferred to a digital membership over the next three days, so keep an eye on your inbox. If you have any questions or would like to know more email info@judoscotland.com or call us at 0131 333 2981.