Ronnie Saez Elected To European Judo Union Executive Committee
British Judo Chairman, Ronnie Saez, has been elected to the European Judo Union’s (EJU) Executive Committee in the role of Education Director.
Saez is one of 16 members that has been elected to the EJU Board alongside new President Laszlo Toth.
Saez has been Chairman of the British Judo Federation since July 2015 and was Vice Chairman for 4 years prior to that.
Earlier this year he stepped down from his role as Chairman of Judo Scotland, after 10 years, in order to take on the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer and currently holds the position of Secretary and Treasurer of the Commonwealth Judo Association in addition to being Chairman of Clyde Judo Club.
6th Dan Saez is a huge advocate for Masters Judo in the UK and is a 6-time medallist at British National Masters Championships, three of which were British Champion. Saez also represented GB Judo at the World Veterans Championships in 2002.
JudoScotland would like to wish Ronnie the best of luck in the role.
Dr George Kerr 10th Dan and Gordon McCathie Honoured at the Scottish Samurai Awards
On Sunday 19th June Dr George Kerr 10th Dan and JudoScotalnd Board member Gordon McCathie were honoured at the Scottish Samurai Awards at Broomhall House.
Based on the Japanese ‘Order of the Rising Sun’ (ORS), the Scottish Samurai Awards were founded in 1994 by Ronnie Watt. The awards celebrate those who excel and those who serve with distinction. In order to be nominated individuals are put forward because they are appreciated and admired for what they have done.
Dr George Kerr was promoted to the highest award the OSS Taisho ( General ) for his services to the martial arts, Japan and Scotland whilst Gordon McCathie received the OSS Shogun for his contribution.
Gordon MaCathie said "Kano said 'The purpose of the study of judo is to perfect yourself and to contribute to society.' This award recognises that achievement which is very humbling and confirms that we are on the right path."
JudoScotland would like to congratulate both Judoka on such a tremendous and well-deserved achievement.
Gary Edwards Awarded 7th Dan
JudoScotland is pleased to share that Gary Edwards has been awarded his 7th Dan diploma from the IJF. Obtaining a Dan grade is one of the highest accolades for a Judoka, working your way through the Dan grades is a truly phenomenal achievement.
In the words of Prof Jigoro Kano; “rank advancement should signify not only technical proficiency, but your level of advancement in issues of morality and character development, and contributions to society, community and the greater world around you."
Gary has dedicated his life to Judo, competing at the highest level for GB Judo at the World Championships in 1995 and three European Championships. In 2002, the former British no1 represented Scotland at the Manchester Commonwealth Games. In recent years Gary has been laying the foundations for the next generation of Scottish Judoka as the National Talent Development Coach for JudoScotland.
JudoScotland would like to congratulate Gary on his tremendous achievement of attaining 7th Dan.
Graeme Maclachlan Promoted To IJF A Referee
Scottish referee Graeme Maclachlan has been promoted to the highest level of referee recognised by the International Judo Federation at this weekend's Madrid European Open. Graeme successfully completed his examination under the supervision of IJF Head Refereeing Director, Daniel Lascau to become an IJF A Referee.
Graeme, shortly after his promotion, said: “I am very proud to represent both Great Britain and Scotland. This has been a dream for me for many years and I’m thankful to all my friends and colleagues who have encouraged and motivated me without each and every one of you I could not have come close to achieving this result.”JudoScotland would like to congratulate Graeme on this tremendous achievement, which is a true reflection of his hard work and dedication to the role. We look forward to seeing Graeme represent Scotland at future major championships.
Obituary: Alistair Davidson
Obituary: Alistair Davidson
It is with great sadness that we have recently lost a significant judoka in the North East of Scotland.
Alistair Davidson was laid to rest on Thursday 26th May 2022 at the age of 80 years old.
Alistair along with his wife Jean Davidson contributed a significant amount of their lives to judo over the years. Alistair was coach of Aberdeen Judo Club for many years, coaching several junior players to National and International success.
Alistair was a referee and was awarded his 5th Dan in 2015 as well as being a JudoScotland life member. Alistair was a role model and someone who inspired many that learnt from him for so many years.
Alistair will be greatly missed.
JudoScotland and Commonwealth Games Scotland Announce a Team of 11 for Birmingham 2022!
JudoScotland and Commonwealth Games Scotland Announce a Team of 11 for Birmingham 2022!
50 Days to Go: 11 Judoka Selected to Represent Scotland at Birmingham 2022
Team Scotland has marked 50 days to go to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games with the selection announcement of 50 athletes across seven sports including badminton, boxing, judo, netball, para-powerlifting, squash and triathlon.
Gold medalllists at Glasgow 2014, Sarah Adlington and Chris Sherrington lead an exciting line-up of 11 judoka and, should either repeat that achievement in Birmingham, they would become the first athlete to win two Commonwealth Games gold medals in Judo. The remaining nine judoka will all make their debut as the sport returns to the Games programme, having not been included at Gold Coast 2018.
Sarah Adlington said “It’s a great honour to be selected to represent Scotland at any event but even more so at a Commonwealth Games, I am really excited to compete! It is also another opportunity for the public to see some world class judo. I know there will be a lot of Scottish support in the crowd and this will be great for all the Scottish athletes.”
Team Scotland Chef De Mission Elinor Middlemiss said “I am delighted to welcome another 50 athletes to Team Scotland, taking our total selected so far to 119. What a special way to mark 50 days to go to the Games.
“It is a real honour to represent Scotland and I am really pleased for the athletes who have been selected. There is a real depth of experience and potential in this squad, and I have no doubt that our more experienced members of the team will actively support those who are making their Games debut.
“The excitement for Birmingham 2022 is now really starting to build and I am really looking forward to watching our athletes in action this summer and hearing the roar of support from our fans in the stands.”
The Judo competition will take place at Coventry Arena between the 1st and 3rd of August.
Kirsty Marsh -52kg
Hannah Wood -52kg
Malin Wilson -57kg
Rachel Tytler -78kg
Sarah Adlington +78kg
Dylan Munro -60kg
David Ferguson -60kg
Alexander Short -66kg
Finlay Allan -66kg
Billy Rodman -73kg
Christopher Sherrington +100kg
Tam Brown Steps Down as National Grading Officer
After over a decade in the role, Tam Brown has retired as National Grading Officer for Scotland. Throughout his tenure, Tam has contributed to the development of hundreds of Judoka and Officials, standardising the assessment process and advocating for senior examiners in Scotland.
Head of Business Delivery at JudoScotland, Tony Penfold said "Tam has given himself tirelessly to the role over the years, offering judoka valuable help through their judo journey. The sport has benefitted from his dedication, and he will be greatly missed at National gradings. We wish Tam the best of luck in the future and as a keen fisherman, hope that he enjoys some valuable time by the water."
Tam added, “I have enjoyed every minute in the role and have been lucky enough to make a lot of friends along the way.”
JudoScotland would like to take this opportunity to wish Tam all the best in the future and we look forward to welcoming him back to events as a guest.
Independent Director Vacancies
JudoScotland is seeking two individuals to join our Board of Directors.
We are looking for two candidates that will provide leadership for both Marketing & Communications and Legal & Governance within the Board of Directors.
About Us
As the recognised national governing body for the Olympic sport of Judo, JudoScotland represents our members, clubs, individual disciplines and hundreds of qualified, enthusiastic and committed volunteers delivering Judo across Scotland.
Our sport has an inherent ability to engender respect for others, a sense of fair play, and develops personal confidence and self-discipline within participants, whilst enabling those involved to develop themselves and contribute to a better society.
About the Director Positions
Now is an exciting time to join us as we put together our next strategic plan to best meet the needs of our membership and stakeholders.
Working as part of a team on the Board of Directors, you will be responsible for ensuring robust governance and finances of JudoScotland.
Your specific skills, knowledge and expertise will be used to provide strategic guidance within Marketing & Communications / Legal & Governance areas.
Commitment
The terms for Board Directors are 3 years (maximum of 2 terms of consecutive service).
Approximately 6 Board meetings are held per year which are generally around 2 hours in duration held on weekday evenings at the JudoScotland Office, Ratho with options to join meetings virtually.
Within the areas of Marketing & Communications / Legal & Governance, you will provide guidance for specific projects and areas of work at timescales agreed with you.
About You
We are looking for individuals who are passionate about the potential of JudoScotland and who want to help progress the sport as we move into the new strategic cycle.
With skills in the areas of Marketing & Communications / Legal & Governance, you will be able & willing to use your expertise to support and advise the Board of Directors and Management Staff within JudoScotland.
We encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, religion, belief or sexual orientation, and would particularly welcome applications from candidates with backgrounds that are under-represented on our current Board.
Applications
To apply for this role, please email hr@judoscotland.com with a CV and cover letter demonstrating how you will impact positively on JudoScotland.
The closing date for applications is Monday 11th July 2022. Provisional dates for interviews are w/c 18th July 2022.
If you would like any further information on the roles, please contact our CEO at judithmccleary@judoscotland.com.
Download the Candidate Information Pack here.
News From the Chair
A Brief update from the Chair of some key events and recent news from May.
Dear JudoScotland Membership,
It’s been a busy month so far with a number of great events and new initiatives organised by JudoScotland and the wider judo community.
On 7th May I attended a Charity Katame No Kata Course at Cluarankwai Judo Club in Kilmarnock. The event was organised by Alex Reid and Paul Laverty who set out to raise money for the Ukraine Humanitarian appeal and I’m delighted to tell you that they raised almost £1,500. Great job guys! The event itself was well attended with over 20 coaches (including myself). Thanks go to Paul and Alex for their expertise and help in teaching us the moves. In my case, an old dog doing new tricks!
The following day we had the Grand Prix Event – the Clyde Open at Bellahouston Sports Centre. I attended the event with our new CEO, Judith McCleary, her first visit to a judo tournament. Judith was introduced to the competitors, their parents and families and we had the privilege of presenting some of the medals. A great day!
Another great day was had on 14th May at Ravenscraig and the inaugural Keizuko. This is a new style event, aimed at judoka aged 8-12, who are looking to move beyond the club environment. It’s designed to provide a positive and fun development experience with lots of opportunities to participate in different activities and start to compete and win prizes. Judith attended the event and commented how impressed she was at the positivity she experienced – and the abundance of friendly and smiley faces!
I was delighted to hear that our new CEO Judith joined a group squad training session in the Dojo at Ratho and was shown a few techniques from one of our athlete’s Josie Steele. Judith, whose main participation sport is curling, said she loved her introduction to the sport and I’m secretly hoping her primary sport will change to judo!
Following the changes to the JudoScotland Board in April, a decision was made to co-opt Mark Brien to the Board until the AGM later this year. As a previous board member, Mark will allow the JudoScotland Board to run as a full Board until nominations open.
On a slightly sadder note, it’s been announced by JudoScotland that Tam Brown, Area Director of Examiners, has retired from this position which he’s held for the last 12 years. Tam has held many positions in JudoScotland and we wish him all the best with whatever he decides to do next. A big thank you from me personally for all the help he’s given me over the years. I’ve arranged to meet Tam over the summer – as you may know, he’s a keen fisherman and we’ll be fishing together, you never know, I might even get hooked!
And finally, we are delighted to say that we will be announcing our team for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games next week! Judo has been out of the games since Scotland’s historic medal haul of 2014 however Birmingham marks the start of Judo as a core sport. Following a tough qualification period, I am sure you will all join me in getting behind Team Scotland later this Summer. And if you haven’t already, I would encourage you to think about your club hosting judo taster sessions during/after the Games to get more people involved in our wonderful sport!
Kind regards,
Marc Preston
JudoScotland Chair
Club Spotlight: Jidel Judo 93
The JudoScotland Club Spotlight is a place to celebrate the hard work of our member clubs up and down the country and for this latest edition, we hear from a club with nearly thirty years under its belt who have established itself in its community with a strong club philosophy, Jidel Judo 93. We caught up with Head Coach Jonathan Imrie to find out how the club is getting on.
The last few years have been difficult for everyone, however, since November 2021 your club has seen incredible growth of 203% tripling its size. We know that this type of growth takes hard work and as a club, you have been busy delivering taster sessions, but how did the opportunities come about for you?
“Partnership working was helpful to our response, when the schools reopened again for taster sessions after lockdown because we had JudoMark, we had everything in place and were ready to go. The partnership with Active Schools meant that we could get into schools, the reaction from the children to the tasters meant that the headteachers asked us to come in to deliver two sessions a week during term time. This success didn’t happen because we were ‘so good’ it happened because as a club we had everything in place and were ready to go.”
What do you think makes your taster sessions a success in recruiting new members?
“Taster sessions are hard work and we have learnt from how our tasters have failed in the past. For Jidel the success of our tasters is down to our taster team of me, Tomi and Del. I have the experience, the sensei, whereas Tomi and Del are more relatable role models to children. Tomi inspires young girls as she doesn’t look like the perception of ‘someone that does Judo’ which helps to break down some of the barriers affecting young women in sport. Whereas Del brings the cool.”
“We have also worked out that 40mins is the ideal time for a taster as it gives you time to make it about fun, not just the judo content which can sometimes be too much for a beginner's session.”
“However, getting members in is only half the battle, retention and keeping members engaged is where the hard work really begins. For us, retention is about creating better people, when we get them in, we work with them as individuals and any podium success is a by-product of what we do. This speaks to parents who make decisions based on their children's happiness and development.”
What practical things do you do as a club to help keep your members engaged?
“The more JudoScotland or other club events we do, the more engagement our club members have with judo which helps their development and will mean that they stay involved with the club longer. So, we ask ourselves is this a good event? will it make my judoka happy? When the why of an event buys-in to our club philosophy it makes sense and if the governing body or other clubs are prepared to do the heavy lifting of running an event, why would I not get involved?”
“Not every JudoScotland initiative will work for every club, but this is how we do it. Our business model is going to be different to our colleagues at other clubs across the country but if together we can create a million Judo fans in Scotland, we will be one of the biggest sports in the world!”
We are always thrilled to hear good news stories from our clubs and members and have been delighted to hear great examples from our partners at Active Schools as well as the story our JudoScotland membership data tells. If you have a story you would like to share email rosannawood@judoscotland.com.