A dynamic two-day Kata coaching seminar brought energy and innovation to the British judo community on 11–12 April, as 44 coaches from the British Judo Association (BJA) gathered to refine their approach to teaching Kata.
Centred on children and youth development, the seminar placed strong emphasis on modern, engaging coaching methods, blending play-based learning with the core principles of judo. The aim was clear: equip coaches with tools to make Kata both accessible and meaningful across all age groups.
Day two moved from theory to action. Young judoka from local clubs joined the tatami, giving coaches the chance to immediately apply their learning. The session culminated in a demonstration, with the children confidently performing sequences of Nage-no-kata and Katame-no-kata, adapted to their level.
Dr. Slavisa Bradic, EJU Head Kata Commissioner praised the impact of the weekend:
“I am incredibly pleased with the work of the BJA coaches. It was particularly rewarding to see the children, after just one hour of practice led by the coaches, successfully demonstrate sequences of Nage-no-kata and Katame-no-kata. I would like to commend the BJA leadership for their commitment to guiding youth development toward a high-quality mastery of fundamental judo techniques and principles.”
BJA Development Director Karen Roberts echoed the sentiment:
“The British Judo Association were delighted to host an EJU ‘Kata for All’ weekend, led by Dr Slavisa Bradic. It was a fantastic opportunity for our coaching community to come together and develop the skills required to incorporate Kata into their judo clubs. We explored how to use Kata in our coaching to develop sound fundamental principles with children and adults to support their acquisition of judo skill. I personally enjoyed the ideas generated by utilising small blocks or techniques from Nage-no-kata and Katame-no-kata to connect with other drills you may carry out in training sessions. This seminar provided a fantastic stimulus for our British coaches to continue to learn and innovate.”
With practical learning, collaboration and fresh ideas at its core, the seminar marked another positive step in strengthening the foundations of judo coaching across Great Britain.
Author: EJU Media