MONTHLY CLUB ROUND UP (MAY + JUNE '25)
- EdinburghJudo
- Jul 1
- 4 min read
We've got a back-to-back edition of the round up for you with all the action from May and June; featuring plenty of competitive outings, new visitors and collaborations - plus lots of new belts earned by our members!
A group of our development squad members had a great day at the Jidel Judo Cherry Blossom to kick off May.
Coaches Scott and Nick supported the five young EdinburghJudo members who took part. There were some nerves to begin with, but once the competition got going we saw lots of good judo and determination. Players were grouped by age and ability, giving everyone a fair and fun chance to get stuck in and try their best. Well done to all who took part; great effort, lots of smiles and good judo throughout!
A big thank you to Jidel Judo for organising a great development event, and to all the volunteers, parents and coaches who helped out on the day.
We teamed up with Musselburgh Rugby to run new Judo4Rugby sessions for their players, led by our performance coach Nick Thwaits.
It was brilliant to see the team picking up some of the skills we utilise in judo that will support their balance, strength and movement on the pitch. Great energy and effort from everyone so far, and we’re excited to keep working and developing together!
Well done to all of our juniors who successfully completed their grading in May!
There was excellent judo, effort and enthusiasm shown by everyone across the two days of technical demonstrations. It was great to see so many excited young judoka with their new belts, alongside plenty of proud family and friends who came to watch and support!
Thank you to our staff, coaches, and volunteers for making sure the day went smoothly for everyone - and a huge thank you to all of our members for making our community and the club a great place to be.
If you missed it, you can catch up on our grading day gallery by clicking the button below:
A team of juniors made the trip up to Aberdeen to compete in the Granite City Grand Prix - the last Grand Prix event until the Highland Budokan Grand Prix in October. Some tough contests for the group and plenty to work on back in training, but overall there was good performances by all and some nice judo on display.
Thank you to Sarah and Craig for coaching on the day, and well done to the following players on their podium finishes:
Kirsty W - Gold
Evan L - Bronze
CiCi F - Bronze
Ella CL - Bronze
To round off the competitive action in May, some of our squad players took to the mat at the National Kyu & Dan Grading for under 30s in Kilmarnock.
Liam picked up 40 points towards his 2nd Dan, narrowly missing out on completing his line up against heavier opponents. Archie also secured 10 points towards his 2nd Dan after three hard fought contests, whilst Nathan and Andrea both came back strong from a loss to claim 10 points towards their 1st Dans.
Congratulations to Omar, who won the last line up of the day in style to obtain all of his competitive points for his 1st Dan! Just the theory to go now before he can wear his black belt with pride.
Thank you to Nick for supporting the team throughout the day - a lot of positives, things to work on and more points to come.
Continuing the grading success, 26 beginners successfully earned their 6th kyu (red belt) to round off the third edition of our Beginners Judo Course for adults.
There was brilliant technique demonstrated throughout the grading, plus a great atmosphere on the mat and camaraderie from the group.
Thank you to everyone who participated over the six weeks and congratulations on achieving your first grade - it’s been a pleasure having you all on the mat and we’re looking forward to seeing you continue on your judo journey!
Well done to all the juniors who took part in the Tanoshii Team Rumble alongside our friends from PortyJudo.
For many it was their first experience of a team event, a much different competitive environment compared to individual events, but once things got going everyone gave it their all, cheered each other on and had fun along the way.
Thanks to coaches Karen and Nick for guiding the youngsters on the day, and thank you to all of the family and friends who were there to support!
It was great to have Paralympians and IBSA World medallists Jack Hodgson and Evan Molloy join us on the mat for a session, alongside Team GB Paralympic coach Ian Johns.
The guys got stuck into some quality randori with our seniors and squad players, giving our members a great opportunity to practice with some of the country’s top VI players.
We hope you enjoyed your time in Edinburgh and we look forward to welcoming you guys again next time you're north of the border!
As we head into July, the club will be closed for our two week summer break.
We'll be back open on Monday 14th July for plenty of judo and our popular kids summer camp, with club classes running on an amended timetable (see above) for the duration of the holidays.
Still looking for something to keep your child active and engaged during the school holidays? Our upcoming Summer Camp has got you covered! Camp will run for two weeks over the break: Monday 14th July - Friday 18th July, and Monday 21st - Friday 25th July.
Summer Camp is open to members, non-members, friends and family aged 5+ years, with single-day and full-week booking options available. Each day of camp will be packed full of fun activities, team games and judo action; all led by our team of qualified coaches.
You can book a place for your child, or get in touch for more information/with any questions, by emailing us at enquiries@edinburghjudo.com.
Have a good summer break and we'll see you in the next round up!
The EdinburghJudo Team ⛩️
