News

The traditional Scottish weather didn’t dampen the atmosphere of an incredible weekend of judo at this year’s Scottish Open Tournament. The sportscotland National Centre, Inverclyde welcomed over 485 competitors from 143 clubs across 14 countries for a display of some intense judo action.

Saturday morning began on a high note as the Adapted, VI, and Veteran categories took to the tatami. Edinburgh Judo set the standard early, topping the Veteran medal table. Euan Morse (VM1-2 –100kg) claimed gold after a strong performance in the final against Hackney Judo Club’s Dominic D’Paw. It was also an impressive showing from Bradford Judo Club, who secured four medals across the Veteran categories.

Pro Judo’s Solomon Rice built on his 2025 Scottish Open silver medal with an outstanding performance, taking Gold in the AD L1 –100kg category and winning every contest by Ippon. Max Karalus and Ethan Watkin of Kin Ryu Judo Club secured gold and silver respectively, contributing to their club topping the medal table in the adapted categories.

Competition reached a new level of intensity as the Cadets stepped onto the tatami on Saturday afternoon. Ealing Judo Club’s female athletes delivered standout performances, with Alexsandra Dudko securing gold in the –63 kg category and Deborah O’Neal dominating the +70 kg division to claim the top spot.

In the male Cadet categories, brothers Mohammed El‑Amir (–81 kg) and Najati El‑Amir (–90 kg) showcased exceptional skill and composure as they each captured gold, marking a remarkable double triumph for their family and club, Core Judo.

Adding to the international flavour of the event, the Canadian contingent proved formidable throughout the day, leaving a strong impression on Scottish soil and taking home five medals across the Cadet event.

On Sunday morning, the energy lifted and the tension sharpened as the Juniors took to the tatami. The Scottish judoka shone with gold medals for Rachael Gray (-52kg Destination Judo), Nicole Wood (-78kg Bishop Stortford), Joe Buchanan (-60kg Sportif) and Jaden Calder (-100kg Judo Club Esprit).

Once again, the Canadian Team dominated the Junior Male category with an impressive 5 medal win, with Wirral Judo Club topping the medal in the Junior female category.

With three all Scotland finals in the seniors in was a fierce battle for the top of the podium on home soil. First up Sunny Doig (Just Judo Yoshin) and Sophie Wood (Sportif) faced each other in the –63kg with Sunny Doig ultimately claiming gold by Ippon. In the –66 kg final, Nordine Adrif (Garioch Judo) faced Joe Buchanan (Sportif), and after a fiercely contested bout, Nordine emerged victorious to claim the gold. The final all Scotland contest of the day came in the –73kg category where Jack Macleod (Garioch Judo) claimed gold over Eden Heffernan (Pro Judo).

In an impressive –100kg final against Japan’s Otsuka Sakuya, Jaden Calder of Judo Club Esprit dominated to claim his second gold of the day. Aiden Moffat (Tayside) followed on Mat 5 soon after to win gold against Japan’s Koki Hase. Nicole Wood (Bishop Stortford) claimed her second gold medal of the day in the –78kg category, whilst Summer Shaw helped Camberly Judo Club top the Senior female medal table, with a gold in the –52kg.

It wasn’t just the competitors who shone this weekend, our incredible volunteers lit up the event every bit as brightly. Our dedicated Technical Officials and Referees kept the competition running seamlessly, but the volunteer effort didn’t stop there. We were supported by photographers, media volunteers, and countless coaches giving their time and energy to their players.

Our volunteer drivers, Michael Wilson and Robert Frood played an instrumental role this weekend in helping to transport our international players to and from the airport and their accommodation and we are incredibly grateful for their part in supporting the Scottish Open standing on the international stage.

We must also extend a special thanks to our international competitors, many of whom have stayed on to join our judoka for training this week at the National Training Centre in Ratho led by the JudoScotland Perfmance Coaching Team.

We’re truly grateful to the network of clubs that nurture and support these exceptionally selfless volunteers. Their commitment is what makes events like the Scottish Open not only possible, but exceptional.

Whether you’re across the country or across the globe, you don’t have to miss a second of the action. Tune in to the live stream and experience the event as it happens, wherever you are.

Date:

• Saturday 17th January: Adapted and VI, Cadets, and Veterans categories
• Sunday 18th Januray: Junior and Senior categories

Venue:

SportScotland National Centre Inverclyde, Burnside Road, Largs, KA30 8RW

Mat 1

Mat 2

Mat 3

Mat 4

Mat 5

Whether you’re across the country or across the globe, you don’t have to miss a second of the action. Tune in to the live stream and experience the event as it happens, wherever you are.

Date:

• Saturday 17th January: Adapted and VI, Cadets, and Veterans categories
• Sunday 18th Januray: Junior and Senior categories

Venue:

SportScotland National Centre Inverclyde, Burnside Road, Largs, KA30 8RW

Mat 1

Mat 2

Mat 3

Mat 4

Mat 5

The Scottish Open Judo Tournament takes place this weekend, 17th & 18th of January, marking the start of JudoScotland’s 2026 competition calendar and an exciting year for Scottish Sport.

The event returns to sportscotland National Centre, Inverclyde for an exciting weekend of international judo. The event will see over 700 competitors take to the mat from over 16 nations, including Japan, the USA, Germany, France and the Home Nations.

The weekend begins with the Veterans and Adapted & VI categories. Following the success of last year’s Adapted & VI categories, we are excited for them to return this year and see which judoka will be defending their titles.

European Champion Rebecca Lamb from Clyde will compete in the Adaptive Female L1 –52kg, whilst Castle Douglas Judo Clubs Sean Allan (-73 kg Adaptive Male L2) will also be competing following a successful 2025 season which included a gold medal win at the European Judo Union Gdansk Get Together Tournament.

European Champion Rebecca Lamb from Clyde will compete in the Adaptive Female L1 –52kg, whilst Castle Douglas Judo Clubs Sean Allan (-73 kg Adaptive Male L2) will also be competing following a successful 2025 season which included a gold medal win at the European Judo Union Gdansk Get Together Tournament.

In the Veterans category, Scottish judoka James McKelvie (M7 +100kg) of Boglestone Judo Club and Frazer McBeath (M1–M2 –100kg) from Alness Judo Club will take to the tatami. Both athletes return to competition following impressive performances at the Paris World Veterans Championships in November, where they secured 5th and 7th place finishes respectively.

In the afternoon, Cadets will step onto the tatami in pursuit of the Scottish Open Championship title. Among the competitors is Lois Goldie (Pro Judo), the 2025 sportscotland Young Sportswoman of the Year, who will contest the +70kg category following her bronze medal at the British Championships in December. She will be joined by fellow Scottish cadet Tabitha Callaghan of Judo Club Esprit (-40kg), who is fresh of her gold medal success at the British Championships last month.

On Sunday, it’s the turn of Juniors and Seniors. With the Commonwealth Games returning to Glasgow this summer, the Scottish Open offers a final chance for our judoka to compete against international competition on home soil.

European Cadet Championship bronze medallist Coen Gilbert (-60kg) continues his transition to the Junior ranks after an impressive bronze medal finish in the Junior category at the British Championships in December. Fellow –60kg judoka Joe Buchanan will also be aiming for the title after claiming the British Championship crown in December.

With Glasgow 2026 just around the corner, the Senior category at the Scottish Open promises world-class action, featuring six of the 14 Scottish judoka who have met a minimum standard for selection.

Leading the charge is Summer Shaw (-48kg – Camberley Judo Club), fresh from a bronze medal at the Tallinn European Open in July. She’ll be joined by Sunny Doig (-63kg – Just-Judo Yoshin), who demonstrated her strength with a podium finish at the Montreal Pan-American Open, and Nicole Wood (-78kg – Bishops Stortford Judokwai), stepping up from junior success after claiming silver and bronze at European Cups. Neil MacDonald (-66kg), will return to fight on home soil after becoming an African Open gold medallist in 2025. In the -100kg division, rising talents Kevin Gordon (Hibari Kan Judo Club) and Jaden Calder (Judo Club Esprit), both international medal winners, are set to battle for supremacy. With such depth and diversity, this year’s senior category promises thrilling contests and a glimpse of future Commonwealth Games stars.

Judith McCleary, JudoScotland CEO said: “We are pleased to open 2026 by hosting our flagship international event, welcoming judoka from across the globe to compete in Scotland. The Scottish Open is more than a competition, it’s a celebration of judo excellence on home soil. With Glasgow 2026 just around the corner, this weekend’s energy will set the tone for an unforgettable year of Scottish judo.”

The Scottish Open will take place this weekend on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th January at the sportscotland National Centre, Inverclyde. Click here for more information about the event.

Applications for the JudoScotland Kaizen Academy are now open.

Entering its fifth year, the Kaizen Academy continues to embody the Japanese philosophy of continual learning. The programme is designed to support club coaches to enhance their skillset, increase confidence and support their understanding and development of coaching principles to bring back to their dojos to continue to develop judo in Scotland.

Kaizen Academy coaches can expect to gain access to various coaching CPD opportunities throughout the year including: exclusive sessions with judo legend Neil Adams MBE, discounted invites to JudoScotland events and personalised dojo visits with a dedicated coach developer. Furthermore, involvement in the Kaizen Academy programme provides the opportunity to join a group of like-minded coaches and share experiences and learnings with each other.

JudoScotland Coaching and Volunteering Manager, Paul McGuinness said: “The Kaizen Academy offers valuable opportunities for judo coaches in Scotland to develop their skills and receive expert guidance and advice from coach developers.

“We are excited to welcome the next cohort of coaches from across the country into the programme and support them as they progress through their coaching journey.”

How to Get Involved

JudoScotland invites Level 1 or 2 coaches to join the professional development programme. Participation requires club support, and acceptance to the programme is based on an individual basis. Preference will be given to coaches whose clubs:

• Prioritise workforce development
• Show a strong commitment to personal and professional growth of coaches
• Demonstrate increased participation and pathway development opportunities

The two-year programme requires a £250 annual investment from clubs or coaches. The remaining cost of the programme (circa £2,000) will be subsidised by JudoScotland as part of our strategic commitment to workforce development.

The application period runs from Monday 12th January to Sunday 9th February 2026.

Anyone who wishes to apply for the programme should contact Paul McGuinness at 07949 888 278 or email paulmcguinness@judoscotland.com

Introducing the JudoScotland Podcast!
We kicked things off with a visit to our partners at Lost Shore, grabbed a coffee, and sat down for a great conversation with JudoScotland Vice Chair, Sandy Hodge. Hear from Sandy about his role with JudoScotland and his thoughts on the future.

This is just the beginning; we’ll be bringing you more voices and stories from the Board and the judo community throughout the year. Stay tuned!

Carnegie Judo Club has recently become the latest club to achieve JudoMARK accreditation status since the club accreditation scheme was updated in 2024.

The JudoMARK club accreditation scheme is for clubs that are committed to maintaining the highest standards of Safeguarding and Wellbeing, People Development, Club Management and Governance. As the national governing body for judo in Scotland, JudoScotland is committed to equipping affiliated clubs with the resources and support they need to create not only a safe environment but one where the sport can thrive.

When discussing the benefits of undertaking the JudoMARK accreditation scheme, Head Coach Jim Feenan said: “We had the older version of JudoMARK from back in 2015 and I think that was a useful exercise to have gone through. When we started on the journey for the latest one, we had assumed that we had much of the processes and procedures in place when in fact we had to relook at everything.”

“It’s been an extremely useful exercise to make sure that we are compliant across a number of areas whether that’s the coaching side of things or safeguarding. We wanted to focus a lot on safeguarding to make sure we were Three Step Safe, and I don’t think we would have reviewed everything so thoroughly if it wasn’t for the JudoMARK process.”

At JudoScotland, our goal is to equip affiliated clubs with the tools and resources they need to create safe, inclusive, and welcoming environments for everyone who steps on the mat. JudoMARK presents an ideal opportunity for clubs to assess various areas in their club infrastructure to ensure these areas are at the forefront of operations.    

Sam Ingram, Club Support Officer, presented Carnegie Judo Club with their JudoMARK plaque in December: “We are proud of Carnegie Judo Club achieving JudoMARK status, it’s a true testament to the club’s dedication to operating at a high standard and their commitment to the safety of their club members.” 

“We hope to see more clubs in 2026 begin and complete their own JudoMARK journey as we continue to work together to ensure that judo clubs across Scotland continue to provide safe and nurturing environments for people to thrive and take part in our sport.” 

To learn more about JudoMARK and to find out how your club can get involved click here. 

A brief update from the JudoScotland Chair Marc Preston on activity in December. 

As 2025 comes to a close, I’m delighted to announce that Judo Scotland’s membership of 9,300 is at an all-time high. I would like to thank everyone involved – staff, clubs, coaches, volunteers and members – for this amazing achievement, which really confirms the adage that sticking together makes us stronger!

The month started off on the 4th of December when I was involved in the Scottish Governing Bodies Chair Network. This involves Chairs across a wide variety of sports with the opportunity to debate what is relevant and topical across sports in Scotland. I started off with a short presentation about how JudoScotland is rolling out Three Steps Safe in 2026. We’ve struck up an excellent relationship with Scottish Gymnastics, and I would like to thank Brian Ewing (Chair) and Doc McKelvey, (CEO) for their valuable input in helping JudoScotland on our journey.

On 9th December we had our final Board Meeting. Instead of being at Ratho, it was held at our partners Lost Shore Surf Resort where we finished off with a meal and a social catch up with the team.

On 15th I was again involved with the British Judo Board in the morning – an online session. And, in the evening I was at the Scottish Sports Awards in Glasgow to represent JudoScotland with Tony Penfold and Richard Marsh. I’d like to congratulate John D’Ambrosio of Hamilton Judo Club Inclusion for winning the Disability Coach of the Year Award! I have known John for many years; he was a fine Scottish competitor! Well done John on the tremendous work you and Hamilton Judo Club Inclusion are doing, and good to catch up!

On the 18th myself, Judith, Andrew Scoular (BJA CEO) and Gerry Gaultieri (BJA Chair) had an online catch up. The topic was about making sure we are aligned going forward into 2026, and part of that was again, discussing both organisations and Three Steps Safe.

A huge congratulations to the all the Scottish competitors at the recent British Championships where we took a phenomenal number of medals. We are extremely proud of you all!

And finally, I’d like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. We’re looking forward to a bumper year in 2026 for JudoScotland!

Marc Preston, 7th Dan