Quarter 1 2025 Highlights from Judo Academy Northampton

The first quarter of 2025 has been packed with development, determination, and growth across every level of our club. From stepping onto national podiums to launching new training groups, we’ve made big moves on and off the mats.

4 January – NHC Regional Area Randori, High Wycombe

We kicked off 2025 with energy and focus at the NHC Regional Area Randori at High Wycombe Judo Centre. Our players showed real determination and gained valuable experience on the mat. After the junior session, coaches Matt and Adam stayed on to take part in the adult randori, continuing their own development as part of their ongoing coaching journey.

25 January – Midland Area Regional School Championships

On Saturday 25 January, six Judokas proudly represented Judo Academy Northampton at the Midland Area Regional School Championships. Each one stepped onto the tatami ready to compete against some of the region’s toughest opponents—and their efforts paid off with six well-earned medals.

Results:
Keira – Silver
Milan – Silver
Dima – Bronze
Luca – Bronze
Oscar – Bronze
Atticus – Bronze

1 February – Chinese New Year Celebration

To mark our first Chinese New Year since the founding of the club, we hosted a special themed session on 1 February. Students learned about the traditions and meaning behind the Chinese Zodiac, and we took time to explain the inspiration behind our academy’s dragon logo—created in honour of our founding year, 2024, which was the Year of the Dragon. Although the new lunar year marked the beginning of the Year of the Snake, our celebration focused on bridging the cultural heritage of Asia with the discipline and values of judo. The two-hour session was packed with drills, games, and discussion, and we’re proud to have introduced our Judokas to traditions that connect deeply with the origins of our sport.

Early February – Launch of Under 7s and Elite Tuesday Sessions

We expanded our training schedule with two brand new classes. First, the introduction of our Under 7s group has been a massive success.

Under 7 Judo Classes

These sessions are tailored to the developmental stages of our youngest Judokas. With shorter drills, playful structure, and a strong focus on coordination and respect, our youngest group has shown remarkable progress from week to week. This class now has a permanent spot on our timetable. A huge thank you goes to Luca, who regularly supports this group, showing patience and leadership in helping his younger judo friends grow and learn. Their support has been vital, and our coaching team is incredibly proud of the culture we’re building.

Invite only Tuesday Elite Development Class

Alongside that, we also launched our Tuesday Elite Development class. These high-intensity sessions are run by Sensei Matt and reserved for our invite-only competition squad. Ten handpicked players who consistently show commitment, discipline, and technical progress have been selected to train at an advanced level. These sessions are physically demanding, technically detailed, and push our Judokas to reach for excellence in every area. They are a reward and a challenge in equal measure for our most competitive players.

23 February – Family Fun Day at Flip Out

We took things off the mat for a much-needed Family Fun Day at Flip Out. Players, parents, and siblings bounced, flipped, and shared laughs in a relaxed, energetic environment. The day was all about spending time together as a community. Several of our Judokas even found new ways to apply their balance and agility in a very different setting, while some parents surprised us all with their own creative moves. It was a fantastic reminder that judo is about connection, not just competition, and that we’re building something special beyond the dojo walls.

March 2025 - Player of the Week Returns With a New Look

This quarter, we also re-introduced our Player of the Week recognition—now with bold, new medals to mark the achievement. This isn’t just about handing out awards. It’s about spotlighting the progress, attitude, and resilience shown during training. By highlighting standout performances, we aim to motivate all our Judokas and reinforce the values we teach on the mat—effort, focus, respect, and consistency. Seeing their peers recognised helps younger or newer players understand what it means to grow in judo and sets a clear example of what’s possible when you put your best into every session.

‍

8 March – British Schools Championships, Sheffield

This national event brought together top talent from across the country, and only two of our Judokas were chosen by our coaches to represent the club. They both rose to the occasion.

Keira took gold. Luca secured bronze after battling through a 17-player category.

The British Schools Championships is one of the most competitive events for school-aged Judokas, and medalling here speaks volumes about the standard of training and commitment within our club.

‍

30 March – Bishop Stortford Red, Yellow & Orange Championships

Four of our Judokas competed at the Bishop Stortford Red, Yellow & Orange Championships. Known for drawing tough competition from surrounding regions, this event tested everyone who stepped onto the mat.

Gloria – Bronze
Luke – Bronze
Dima – Bronze
Bertie – Bronze

We’re proud of the way each player performed, showing solid technique and great sportsmanship throughout the day.

Wrapping up Q1 2025

The first quarter of 2025 has been one of the most active and fulfilling periods in the journey of Judo Academy Northampton so far. We added new sessions to our schedule, including the Under 7s group, which quickly became a thriving part of our community. With support from more experienced players, these young Judokas have shown real development in both skill and mindset. On the other end of the scale, we introduced the Elite Tuesday sessions—pushing our top squad to new levels with structured, demanding training designed to prepare them for high-level competition.

We also expanded our physical space with new mats and equipment, continuing to invest in the quality of our training environment thanks to two separate donations—a massive thank you to our community that doesn't stop surprising us. And perhaps most notably, we competed in an impressive number of competitions this quarter—five in total—ranging from regional events to one of the UK’s most prestigious judo championships. These experiences continue to develop our players’ confidence, resilience, and real-world self-defence skills. The ability to stay calm under pressure, apply learned techniques in live situations, and reflect on each performance is what shapes future champions. We are proud of every individual who stepped up to compete, and just as proud of those who trained hard behind the scenes.

Thank you to our players, parents, coaches, and extended judo family. The bar has been raised—and Q2 is already shaping up to be just as exciting.