News

Ahead of this year’s AGM, we gave notice on the 29th of August for the nomination of one director to join our Board of Directors to help realise our strategic plan ‘Judo For All’.

Below you will find the eligible candidates who submitted applications by the closing date, along with their pen portraits outlining their skills and how they hope to contribute to the Board. The successful candidate will be elected at the JudoScotland AGM on the 28th of September.

To support our member clubs to be as well informed as possible, we are facilitating an online Q&A session with our candidates on Monday 8th of September at 7pm. This is a great chance for you to get to know the candidates and to ask questions. Registration for the session will close on Monday 8^th September at 12pm (noon) following which a meeting link will be circulated to attendees.

Iain Feenan 

Clubs supporting the application: 

Carnegie Judo Club  

Focus Judo Club

Richard Marsh 

Clubs supporting the application: 

Carnegie Judo Club  

GMAC Judo

All clubs that are eligible to vote will be contacted directly by Scottish Sports Association (SSA) on Thursday 11th September 2025. If you have any queries, please contact info@judoscotland.com.

JudoScotland is pleased to announce a major update to its nationally recognised  Mon Grade programme, marking a significant step forward in how young judoka experience progression and recognition on their judo journey. 

Following a strategic review of all three grading schemes, the Mon Grade system, being the largest in terms of membership, was prioritised for development. After extensive consultation with members and coaches, two key areas for improvement were identified: 

1. Simplifying the syllabus for better understanding 

1. Adding more value and meaning to the grading experience 

To address these priorities, JudoScotland collaborated with the Home Nations and Koka Kids to develop a series of interactive e-books. These resources are tailored for judoka aged 8 and above, providing a clear and engaging guide through each stage of the syllabus. 

New Resources and Rewards for Judoka 

As part of the developments, judoka will now receive exciting enhancements when completing a Mon grade, including refreshed certificates, badges, and a brand-new keyring reward system. At their first Mon grading, judoka will receive a mini judogi keyring and collect coloured obi charms as they progress, creating a visual and personal record of their judo journey. 

Tony Penfold, Head of Development at JudoScotland, shared: 

“We understand how exciting it is to progress through the grading system, and ensuring it remains consistent and fair is vital to the development of our sport. These enhancements are designed to make that journey more meaningful and memorable for every young judoka.” 

“The new keyring reward system offers a fun, age-appropriate way for judoka to share their love of judo and proudly showcase their progress. Meanwhile, the newly redesigned iron-on badges now feature a simple, easy-to-apply format, while the updated certificates help judokas track their progress and stay motivated on their journey.” 

The Mon Grade enhancements mark the beginning of a transformative journey for JudoScotland’s grading system. We’re excited to continue this evolution and look forward to unveiling the revised Kai and Kyu grade systems as development progresses. 

JudoScotland is proud to launch a brand-new event designed for judoka with physical, sensory or learning needs who are starting out on their competitive journey.  

Following the success of our regional and National Adapted and VI Training Sessions, we are excited to offer judoka an opportunity to continue to challenge themselves outside of their club environment and gain valuable competition experience.  

The Scottish Adapted & VI Open Judo Festival will take place in the afternoon on Saturday 22nd November 2025 at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility for judoka aged 8 years or older. This event is ideal for individuals who have just started their judo journey or have some experience at competitive judo beyond their club environment.   

All competitions will be adapted as needed to support every judoka’s individual ability and to ensure a meaningful and enjoyable experience. So, whether it’s your first time competing or you’ve had a taste of domestic events before we encourage everyone to come along. 

For more information and to register, click here.   

Just Judo has recently joined an exclusive group of three other clubs in Scotland that have achieved JudoMARK accreditation status since the club accreditation scheme was updated last year.  

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.  

For Just Judo, the process of achieving JudoMARK allowed them the opportunity to update and refresh their club policies, giving them the reassurance that they have reliable processes in place, should they need to implement them.  

On completion of the process, Just Judo said: “The timing was perfect for us – we knew we needed to refresh a few things at the club (the purpose of the club just wasn’t quite reflected in some of the policies or processes) and JudoMark provided a framework which we worked within.” 

Through establishing strong governance, clubs can feel confident that the policies and procedures they have put in place can support the growth and development of their club while providing current and future members reassurance.  

Just Judo found the process of obtaining JudoMARK a strong catalyst to explore and prioritise other ongoing projects at the club which could have otherwise fallen short:  

“Having invested a chunk of time into this, we decided to keep our foot on the gas and drive forward a couple of other initiatives that we were previously ‘too busy’ to tackle. For us, it was just the start we needed.” 

Sam Ingram, Club Support Officer, presented Just Judo with their JudoMARK award earlier in the month. Speaking about their recent achievement he said:  

“It was great to be able to present the club with their JudoMARK award. We are delighted to have clubs such as Just Judo committed to creating a safe and welcoming judo environment.” 

“JudoMARK is more than just a tick box exercise for clubs, it is a clear indicator that the club is committed to continual development and improvement for its members.” 

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 June.

Hope you’re all enjoying a well-deserved summer break and gearing yourselves up for the new season.

The month of July started with myself and my wife, Karen, representing JudoScotland at the Royal Garden Party at Holyrood Palace. Many of the guests were involved in sports, as well as representing different charities and community initiatives. It was a great privilege to accept the invitation, and a delightful afternoon was had by all (cucumber sandwiches and tea)!

Then on 2nd July I was part of the interview panel for the role of Head of Performance. I was delighted with the response to the position, and we were fortunate to have a wonderful shortlist with many top coaches from around the world.

On 4th July Katrina Downie was announced as the Team Scotland Judo Team Manager for the upcoming Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games – congratulations Katrina!

I went along to the National Team Championships in Walsall on 5th July. Huge congratulations to all our players who fought there. I was delighted to watch the most successful national team competing for Scotland in a very long time. I thought the standard of our players was fabulous and the team spirit at the event second to none from judoka and supporters alike! Whilst I was unable to stay down for the Veterans Championship the following day, it was great to have a strong contingent of Scots in contention with several JudoScotland staff cheering on from the stands.

On 10 July I was again part of the panel involved in the recruitment for the position of Performance Pathway Coach. These were all carried out online, due to the fact that most of the candidates were overseas (recruiting in holiday time)!

I’d like to take the opportunity to congratulate the successful candidates appointed for the positions – Alberto Borin, Head of Performance and Taka Kitahara, Performance Pathway Coach. We look forward to working with you as part of our team going forward.

We do believe in JudoScotland that we’ve made the best possible appointments to ensure success in our sport. I’d like to thank all the candidates who applied – the standard was extremely high. Good luck all for the future!

Next up, myself and Judith travelled to Austria to familiarise ourselves with their highly successful judo system. As per my previous updates, we had hosted Martin Poiger and Pepe Reuter from their Federation earlier in the year in Scotland. Thank you, Martin, for organising a great schedule with your team, to help us collect the information needed. I would like to thank Markus Moser, Sport Director, and Yvonne Boenisch, Olympic champion and Head Coach of Austrian Judo, for spending valuable time with us. The trip was absolutely invaluable in terms of the insights gained for JudoScotland as we enter this new exciting chapter.

Then it was time to down tools and get away for my family holiday – a lovely relaxing week in Italy.

Marc Preston, 7th Dan 

JudoScotland is excited to announce that entries are now open for the 2025 Scottish National Closed Championships, one of the most anticipated events on the Scottish judo calendar. Taking place at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th November 2025, this prestigious competition brings together judoka from across the country to compete for the coveted title of Scottish Champion. 

This year marks a significant step forward in inclusivity, with the introduction of a Veterans category, a welcome addition that reflects our commitment to making the event accessible and representative of the Scottish judo community. 

The National Closed is designed to offer an appropriate level of competition for athletes at various stages of their development. The minor, pre-cadet, cadet, junior and senior competition will take place on Saturday, followed by the Veterans on Sunday morning. We strongly encourage all prospective competitors to speak with their club coaches before entering, to ensure the event is suitable for their current stage of development. 

For more information and to register, click here. 

Glasgow 2026 has today revealed the official Session Schedule for the Commonwealth Games; setting the stage for 10 unforgettable days of world-class sport, landmark moments and packed venues across the city. The Judo event programme will take place on the final weekend from Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August.  

Running from 23 July to 2 August, the Games will bring together 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories to compete across 10 sports and six Para sports, with more than 200 medals to be won in 50 medal sessions. Events will take place in four of Scotland’s most iconic venues, the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and Arena, Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Pool and the Scottish Exhibition Campus (SEC).  

The action begins on 24 July with a powerful statement as the first medal of the Games will be awarded in Para Powerlifting, marking the first time in Commonwealth Games history that a Para sport opens the medal tally. Later that evening, fans can look forward to further medal events in Artistic Gymnastics and Swimming and Para Swimming, rounding off a thrilling opening day of competition.  

Glasgow 2026 will feature expanded programmes in several sports, offering more sessions and more opportunities for fans to experience the action. Bowls and Para Bowls will run across all 10 days of the Games — the longest competition programme for the sport at a Commonwealth Games since Delhi 2010. 3×3 Basketball and 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball will see three additional sessions compared to Birmingham 2022, reflecting the growing popularity of the fast-paced format. In the pool, fans will be able to dive into Games firsts including the men’s 800m freestyle and women’s 1500m freestyle featuring for the first time, expanding the swim programme to its biggest ever at a Commonwealth Games.  

The first weekend of the Games (25 and 26 July) promises to be a showstopper. Netball takes centre stage with a high-energy opening, with six sports lighting up the city across Saturday and Sunday, including 3×3 Basketball and 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball, Artistic Gymnastics, Bowls and Para Bowls, Boxing, Swimming and Para Swimming, and Weightlifting. With packed venues and eight medal sessions across 30 sport sessions, it’s shaping up to be one of the most electric weekends in Glasgow’s sporting history.  

On Monday 27 July, Athletics and Para Athletics begin, starting six days of stunning action at Scotstoun Stadium, including the return of the iconic Commonwealth Mile, back for the first time since 1966. This historic race is expected to be one of the most anticipated events of the Games. Swimming and Para Swimming will conclude on Wednesday 29 July, with evening sessions set to deliver high-stakes finals and emotional podium moments.  

From 30 July, Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling take over the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, featuring the elimination race for the first time in Games history. The schedule includes more sessions than ever before, giving fans extra chances to witness speed, strategy and spectacle.  

Super Saturday on 1 August promises wall-to-wall action, with medals on the line in Athletics and Para Athletics (both morning and evening sessions), plus Boxing, Judo and Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling, creating a blockbuster penultimate day for fans in the stands and around the globe.  

The Games will close on 2 August with a dramatic final day. The last medal is expected to be awarded in either Judo or Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling, though the exact moment will depend on the flow of competition, adding a final twist to an unforgettable 10 days.  

Phil Batty OBE, Chief Executive of Glasgow 2026 said “Glasgow 2026 will be an incredible Games. Packed full of medal moments, a brilliant platform for Para Sport, and a thrilling programme of sport across ten-days. From the very first session to the last, Glasgow 2026 will deliver stand out moments to packed venues, creating sporting memories for spectators across the Commonwealth.”  

“Today’s session schedule sets out the biggest Para sport medal programme in Commonwealth Games history. It’s only fitting that the very first medal awarded will come from a Para Sport; a powerful statement of intent from the outset of the competition. Fans can expect unforgettable drama, fierce rivalries and the kind of sporting magic that only the Commonwealth Games can deliver.”  

Katie Sadleir CZNM, CEO of Commonwealth Sport added: “The release of the Sport Schedule is another exciting milestone for Glasgow 2026, which will deliver an unforgettable celebration showcasing the best of the Commonwealth’s athletes. This refreshed and focused programme reflects the evolving spirit of the Games — more inclusive, more events in many sports and just as inspiring. It’s a major step forward as we build towards another landmark moment for Commonwealth Sport.”  

For information on the full session schedule, read the full article here. 

The Scottish Open Judo Championship is set to make a triumphant return to the sportscotland National Centre in Inverclyde on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th January 2026, marking an exciting start to the new year.  

As anticipation builds ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, the Scottish Open promises to deliver a weekend of thrilling judo. Recognised as the premier judo open in the UK, the event consistently attracts judoka from around the globe, offering a dynamic showcase of skill, strength, and sportsmanship. 

JudoScotland can confirm that several popular features will return for the 2026 edition, enhancing the experience for both competitors and spectators. The gallery will be open throughout the weekend providing expanded seating to accommodate growing crowds of fans and families eager to support their athletes. 

Inverclyde continues to serve as the proud home of the event, with strong collaboration between local authorities, the venue, and event organisers ensuring a smooth and welcoming experience for all involved. 

Schedule for 2026 

Building on the success of previous years, the competition will follow a  two-day format featuring : 

• Saturday: Adapted, Cadets, and Veterans categories 

• Sunday: Junior and Senior divisions 

Entries Now Open 

Athletes and clubs are encouraged to register early, as interest is expected to be high in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games. With its reputation for excellence and its role as a key fixture on the judo calendar, the 2026 Scottish Open is not to be missed. 

For more information and to enter click here.  

We are pleased to share that in line with the current Articles of Association we are looking for a Director to join the Board of JudoScotland, awarded Scottish Governing Body of the Year in 2024.

This is an exciting opportunity for a committed individual to contribute to the strategic leadership and governance of JudoScotland. The successful candidate will work closely with the Chair, fellow Board members and the Senior Leadership Team to help shape the future of our organisation. As a Director, you will be expected to attend Board meetings regularly, actively participate in discussions, and to provide informed input and constructive challenge to support decision-making.

We are looking for an individual to complement and enhance existing skills on the Board. Ideally we are seeking an individual with expertise in one or more of the following areas; income generation & fundraising, high performance, public relations and / or human resource management.

The voting process for this year’s AGM will be administered by Scottish Sports Association (SSA).  All nomination forms received that meet the requirements of the Articles will be issued to member Clubs as part of the formal notice of the AGM, to be sent at least fourteen days prior to the date of the AGM. To support our member clubs to be as well informed as possible, we are facilitating an online Q&A session with our candidates on Monday 8th of September at 7pm. This is a great chance for you to get to know the candidates and to ask questions.

JudoScotland 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on Sunday, 28 September 2025, at the EICA , The Patey Suite, South Platt Hill, Newbridge, EH28 8AA, starting at 1:00 PM.

Are you passionate about judo and want to help shape the future of the sport in Scotland? We’re on the lookout for two committed and enthusiastic individuals to join our volunteer workforce in vital roles: 

• National Referee Co-ordinator (NRC) 

• National Technical Official Co-ordinator (NTOC) 

Both roles are key to the growth and development of referees and technical officials across Scotland, ensuring we have the people, standards, and support in place to deliver a world-class events programme. 

What you’ll do: 

• Support the development of current referees/officials 

• Actively recruit and welcome new volunteers into the pathway 

• Deliver a structured, inclusive pathway tailored to individual needs and event demands 

• Work closely with JudoScotland’s Events and Coaching & Volunteering Managers 

• Maintain accurate records and provide access to opportunities for all involved 

• Motivate, empower and build strong relationships across our judo community 

These roles are perfect for individuals who understand the value of great volunteers, enjoy working with people and are committed to raising standards in a supportive and inclusive environment. 

If you’re ready to make an impact behind the scenes and help grow the sport you love, we’d love to hear from you! 

Download or view the Application Pack’s below for more information: