Destination Judo has put men’s mental health at the centre of their club with Head Coach Callum Woods launching Chat on the Mat initiative in Levenmouth.
Callum felt inspired after attending a The Changing Room session at Hibernian Football Club, an initiative delivered in partnership by SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) which uses football clubs as a catalyst to spark conversations about men’s mental health.
Callum could see a lot of social parallels between the two sports and wondered if something similar could be done in judo clubs to help men improve their mental health and overall wellbeing. Speaking about starting the Chat on the Mat at the club, Callum said:
“What’s not to love about the sport of judo? It helps improve fitness, builds confidence, and often leads to lifelong friendships. It’s hard not to connect with someone when you’re throwing each other over your shoulder. Judo naturally breaks down barriers—both physical and emotional—making it a great space for men to talk.”
Session attendees are actively encouraged to talk and connect with each other during the session. Within the traditional judo class set up of skills sessions and randori, there is dedicated time factored in for socialising and exploring the practical tools available to help support mental health and wellbeing.
Callum is using his own experience with mental health alongside his tenure as a judo coach to help others who may be struggling.
“I believe it’s important to be well-informed when it comes to mental health and mindset. With 22 years of experience coaching judo and my own personal journey with mental health, it’s great to be in a position to help others.
“I’m a certified transformational life coach and a trained mental health first aider. Chat on the Mat is a programme that brings all of these experiences and skill sets together under one roof—combining sport, conversation, and support to create change.”
The programme will run for 10 weeks with participants tracking their mental wellbeing with the Warwick-Edinburgh Wellbeing Questionnaire each week. It is the hope that by the end of the programme, participants will see clear improvements which can be used as evidence to support future initiatives. 
Although Chat on the Mat is still in its infancy, Callum can see huge potential for the programme moving forward.
“After just the first session, I saw 15 strangers laughing and joking together by the end. That’s when I knew this concept has real potential to make a positive impact.
“The feedback so far has been positive, and it’s been great to see interest within the judo community – people are genuinely curious about how the programme is going. It’s an exciting time… so watch this space!”
If you’d like to follow the club’s journey with Chat on the Mat or would like to get in touch with Callum directly, he is happy for people to connect with him via Instagram – @callumwoodscoaching.
If you’re struggling with your mental health, please know that support is available and reaching out is a sign of strength. Whether you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, low mood, or just feeling overwhelmed, help is within reach.
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Talk to someone you trust – a friend, family member, coach, or colleague.
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Speak to your GP for professional advice and support.
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Reach out to mental health charities and helplines, such as SAMH.