Strathclyde University Judo Club

01/08/2025

"THE 🥋🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 GATHERING 2025!"
The "Gathering" 2025 Welcomes Men's: Under 81 Kilos, Olympic Medallist, "Triple" World & European Judo Champion Tato Grigalashvili from Georgia. 🇬🇪
We are thrilled to announce that Tato Grigalashvili, one of the most talented Georgian 🇬🇪 Judoka of all time, will be joining us at The "Gathering" 2025!

Achievements:
🥈 Silver Medallist – Paris 2024 Olympic Games
🥇 3 x IJF World 🌏 Champion 2022, 2023, 2024
🥇 3 x EJU European 🇪🇺 Champion 2020, 2022, 2024
🏅 17 IJF World 🌏 Tour Medals

Known for his explosive throws, unorthodox gripping, and relentless fighting spirit, Tato embodies the powerful and dynamic Georgian style of Judo.
This is a rare and incredible opportunity to learn from one of the sport’s true greats — an experience guaranteed to challenge, inspire, and elevate Judoka of all levels!

A Fresh Look for The Gathering 2025
This year, The "Gathering" has gone through a bit of a transformation! We’ve listened to your feedback and made some exciting changes to improve the weekend experience.

New Venue: Emirates Arena, Glasgow
To welcome even more Judoka, we’re moving to the world-class Emirates Arena for 2025. This bigger venue means more space, more judoka and more opportunity. Open to Judoka aged 12 and up of all levels.

Pricing
JudoScotland Members:
JudoScotland members non-residential (Saturday & Sunday) £100.00
JudoScotland members day pass (Saturday OR Sunday) £75.00

Non-JudoScotland Members:
Non-JudoScotland members non-residential (Saturday & Sunday) £120.00
Non-JudoScotland members day pass (Saturday OR Sunday) £95.00
For non-JudoScotland members, please call the JudoScotland office on 0131 333 2981 to book your space. 🥋🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇪 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇪 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇪

We are thrilled to announce that Tato Grigalashvili, one of the most talented Georgian Judoka of all time, will be joining us at The Gathering 2025!

03/02/2025

LORETTA DOYLE: A TRUE PIONEER IN THE WORLD OF JUDO, AND NOW A 9TH DAN! Today, history has been made. Loretta Doyle, an icon of Judo, has achieved an unparalleled milestone by being awarded her "Kudan" (九段) 9th Dan. This remarkable feat makes Loretta the first ever British female Judoka and Kōdan-sha (高段者) "High Ranking" to reach such an "esteemed rank" and places her among a very select group of International Judoka who have attained this grade. It is a moment of celebration, recognition and deep admiration for a woman who has dedicated her life to the art, sport and philosophy of Judo. 🥋 Red Belt 9th Dan 🟥 👏👏👏

Today, history has been made. Loretta Doyle, an icon of judo, has achieved an unparalleled milestone by being awarded her 9th Dan. This remarkable feat makes her the first ever British female judoka to reach such an esteemed rank and places her among a very select group of international judoka who h...

28/01/2025

JUDOSCOTLAND: NATIONAL KYU & DAN MALE AND FEMALE GRADING (INCLUDING VETERANS) NPE. 📢 NATIONAL GRADINGS 2025 📢
JudoScotland are pleased to announce that the first (NPE) National Kyu and Dan Promotion Examination 'Grading' of 2025 will take place on (Easter) Sunday, 20th April' 2025 at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility, 1 O'Donnell Way, Wishaw, Motherwell ML1 2TZ.
These events are tailored for Judo Kenshū-sei (研修生), trainees striving to progress on their Kyu or Dan pathway. With a range of grading opportunities available, including (as well as our full National Grading events):
for Under 30 years, Veterans, Competitive Dan Grade Skills & Technical Dan Grade Examinations and even our Technical grading weekend, there’s something to support your personal Judo journey through the grades 🥋
Entry Fee:
Kyu Grades (4th – 2nd Kyu) £15.00
Dan Grade Theory only (1st Kyu and above) £15.00
Competitive Dan Grading without Theory (1st Kyu and above) £30.00
Competitive Dan Grading with Theory (1st Kyu and above) £35.00
Technical Dan Grade (1st Kyu and above) (one off fee) of £55.00
GRADING TIMETABLE:
9-10.45am Theory Exams
10.00-10.45am Competitive Check In
11.00am Formal Bow with theory awards and welcome, Preliminary Contests,
Dan Grade Promotional Line Ups.

JUDOGI:
The wearing of "WHITE" Judogi is compulsory for this event.
Competitors must have their own blue and white belts.
Competitors must always wear suitable footwear and clothing when off the mat. 🥋

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas!
Hoping everyone finds ippons under their trees today!

Judo returns on Friday the 10th at 7pm, so enjoy your holidays and get ready to get back on it in time for the SSS in Jan. 🎄💪☝️

03/10/2024

Happy Women & Girls in Sport Week!

This year’s theme is Leadership, and what better way to highlight this theme within our club than by talking about our assistant coaches; Justyna, Iona, Kiera & Rebecca.

Justyna got into coaching because she felt the need to give back to the club that raised her. She wanted to help shape the confidence of the next judo generation. Her biggest achievement in the sport was keeping the club alive by hosting running sessions during the pandemic
as Captain. She has been in the club since 2018, but says it does not feel like it has been that long and she says her favourite strathclyde judo memory is everytime Coach John does his victory dance! Even better when she gets to join in!

Iona has been going to Strathclyde Judo Club for 2 years now. She decided to start coaching after coming to university and getting her black belt, she felt like she had knowledge and experience to offer to those just starting the sport she loves. Iona’s biggest achievement in judo is winning the Scottish Championships in 2019, and then again as part of the university club in 2023. And her favourite memory of Strathclyde Judo is always getting locked in places - from Kaja’s bathroom (twice) to Bishopton Community Center.

Kiera got into coaching for the opportunity to give back to the club and help players develop. She’s been at the club since September 2022. Her biggest achievement in judo is winning bronze at the British Schools Championships. Kiera’s favourite memory at Strathclyde Judo is doing the season review at the last Christmas Dinner.

Rebecca originally got into coaching at her home club, where she had the opportunity to teach some of the younger kids at the club. She found coaching to be really rewarding and loved being a part of such a positive community and seeing the benefits that it was giving to others. When she joined the Strathclyde Judo coaching team she found coaching students here to be just as fulfilling. She says it’s not only good fun, but it’s also a fantastic way to make friendships, socialise and better her physical and mental health. She says her biggest judo achievement is obtaining her black belt and she has been a coach at Strathclyde for about a year and a half. Her favourite memories are either fight night or John’s “ten units of force” teaching moment.

27/06/2024

GLASGOW JUDO CLUB 'ADULT NOVICE INTRODUCTORY BEGINNERS COURSE': JUDO for ADULT BEGINNERS.
Hi Folks the Club is running an Adult (16 years plus) "Novice Introductory Beginners Course", over the School summer break.
Develop Strength, Flexibility and fitness while learning dynamic throws, take downs and self-defence techniques.
Starting, Wednesday 3rd July 6.00pm to 8.00pm.
The First lesson is "FREE"!
Venue: Court 1, Glasgow Life, Maryhill (Pool)
34 Gairbraid Avenue, Maryhill, Glasgow, G20 8YE.
Course Dates: Wednesday, 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st July, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th August' 2024.
Time: 6.00 to 8.00pm
N.B. A Judoka (Judo Player) that has successfully completed a formal beginner’s course such as a club introductory course, can in their first grading be promoted up to a maximum of Yellow Belt 5th Kyu.
This must be a formal course with a minimum of 12 hours of instruction. Completion of the course must be specified on the Grade Registration Sheet.
Course Tutor: John Watt PG Dip 6th Dan
UKCC: Level 4 'Master Coach' in Judo
All are welcome give me a call if you or any of you, your old family are interested. 🥋 🙂 🧎‍♂️🧎‍♀️
John Watt 6th Dan
Head Coach: Glasgow Judo Club
Text John on: 07443332693

04/06/2024

Congratulations to everyone who fought this year! We took home 6 Gold, 6 Silver and 11 Bronze medals this year! 23 total medals across 6 competitions! 💪❤️🥇🥈🥉

27/03/2024

UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE SPORTS UNION: JUDO COLOURS 🥋👩‍🎓👨‍🎓 ‍🎓
Congratulations to both Club Captain/ Club President: Orla McEntee 🥋 and Sidarth Sasi 🥋 👏👏👏
Orla 🟦 Belt 2nd Kyu SSS: ‘2023 and 2024 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish and BUCS: 2023 🇬🇧 British Women’s under 57 kilo Gold Medallist Champion. 🥋🥇
Club Welfare Secretary: Sidarth Sasi 🟫 Belt 1st Kyu 2023 SSS & BUCS Men's under 81 kilo Medallist 🥈🥉

21/03/2024

10/03/2024

❗️❗️Open to all Judo Scotland Members❗️❗️
As part of our 75th year celebrations we have arranged a Masterclass on Saturday the 27th April with guest coaches Gary Edwards- National Talent Development Coach for Judo Scotland and Takafumi Kitahara- Assistant High Performance Coach For Judo Scotland.

This event is open to anyone with a Judo Scotland membership! We are welcoming Judoka from the surrounding areas to come together with us to celebrate 75 years as a club promoting Judo in the local area.

The Coaches

Gary Edwards- Gary has dedicated his life to Judo, competing at the highest level for GB Judo at the World Championships in 1995 and 3 European Championships. In 2002, the former British No1 represented Scotland at the Manchester Commonwealth Games. In recent years Gary has been coaching the next generation of Scottish Judoka as the National Talent Development Coach for JudoScotland. Gary was awarded his 7th Dan by the IJF (International Judo Federation) in 2022.

Takafumi Kitahara– Currently working as the assistant high performance coach at Judo Scotland Takafumi Kitahara has also worked as the assistant coach of Olympic and World Medallists and reached Top 5 in the all Japan Kodokan Championships.

Session times

The Junior session up to 13 years old: 10am - 12am
Cost £3 (Cash only on the day of the event)
Lead by Gary Edwards with 1.5hrs of coaching followed by 30mins of randori

The seniors session for 14+: 1pm - 4pm
Cost £5 (Cash only on the day of the event)
Lead by Takafumi Kitahara with 2hrs of coaching followed by 1h of randori

Tea, coffee and small snacks will be available from our small cafe area for parents and visitors. A light buffet lunch will be supplied between sessions for coaches who have players attending both sessions.

Sign up for this event by following the link below-
https://bit.ly/75thAnniversaryMasterclass

Please contact us via the club page or at [email protected] if you have any questions.

We look forward to seeing everyone on the 27th of April!

JudoScotland