18 November 2024
While the November chill lingered outside the dojo walls, inside there was the familiar warm Aberdonian welcome as Ray Stevens stepped onto the tatami.
For Gordon, the event was another opportunity to share the mat with one of his lifelong judo idols — a man whose influence helped shape his own journey in the sport. For Stuart, Ray Stevens was one of the reasons he first tied on a judo belt. The seminar offered a rare opportunity to refine his “tall man judo” under the guidance of a world-class athlete who understood exactly how to use height, reach, balance and leverage effectively in competitive judo.
Ray Stevens is one of Britain’s most respected judoka and remains Britain’s last male judoka to win a medal at the Olympic Games. He earned a silver medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and holds the rank of 7th Dan in judo.
Despite his achievements, Ray brought no ego or ceremony to the mat. The atmosphere throughout the seminar was relaxed, welcoming and highly interactive, allowing beginners and experienced Dan grades alike to learn directly from one of British judo’s greats.
Ray Stevens’ coaching style combined technical precision with warmth, humour and accessibility.
From the beginning, he broke the ice with stories from his competitive career, drawing laughs and putting everyone at ease. His demonstrations reflected decades of elite-level experience — calm, efficient and highly effective.
He took great care showing the youngsters how to perfect their osoto-garis and the adults an uchi-mata that seemed effortless, as well as a ko-soto-gake executed with the timing of a master.
Ray’s newaza was equally exceptional, reflecting a grappling expertise that has earned him worldwide recognition beyond Olympic judo. At the time of writing, Ray Stevens is also a 4th Dan Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and notably became the first black belt awarded by BJJ legend Roger Gracie. Throughout the seminar, he dedicated a significant portion of the day to newaza fundamentals, breaking down positioning, pressure, transitions and control in a way that made high-level groundwork accessible to judoka of every grade. Each technique was a lesson not just in judo, but in discipline, efficiency and simplicity.
Rather than presenting techniques as complicated systems, Ray simplified movements into clear, repeatable concepts that players could immediately apply in training.
For experienced judoka, Ray introduced subtle technical details that transformed familiar throws into highly effective competition techniques. For beginners, he made advanced judo feel approachable and achievable.
One of the most powerful moments of the day came when Ray Stevens shared the story of his road to the 1992 Olympic Games.
Just months before competing in Barcelona, he suffered a ruptured ACL — a devastating injury for any athlete preparing for elite competition. Through determination, rehabilitation and mental resilience, he fought his way back to win Olympic silver.
His message to the club was simple but powerful:
Nerves are not something to fear. They are proof that what you are doing matters.
Ray encouraged players to trust their training, embrace pressure and give everything on the mat when competition day arrives.
Throughout the day, Ray shared stories from life both inside and outside elite sport, including balancing intense judo training while working as a nightclub bouncer in London during his competitive years.
These stories resonated because they were grounded in hard work, struggle, humour and perseverance — qualities familiar to judoka everywhere.
As the seminar progressed and training kits became heavier with sweat, the atmosphere remained positive, relaxed and full of enthusiasm. Events like these are a reminder of what makes judo special: continuous learning, mutual respect and community.
The learning continued long after training ended.
Over dinner, Ray shifted seamlessly from coach to storyteller, sharing memories from decades on the tatami and listening with genuine interest as local coaches discussed their own experiences in judo.
A particularly meaningful conversation unfolded between Ray Stevens and Ian Guthrie, a fellow Budokwai alumnus. Together they reflected on their shared experiences at the historic dojo and the lifelong bonds formed through judo.
It was a fitting end to a day that celebrated not only elite performance in British judo, but also the friendship, humility and community that define the sport.
Ray Stevens is a British Olympic judoka best known for winning a silver medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
Ray Stevens won an Olympic silver medal in judo at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
Ray Stevens holds the rank of 7th Dan in judo and is also a 4th Dan Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.
Ray Stevens remains Britain’s last male judoka to win a medal at the Olympic Games and is widely respected for his technical knowledge, coaching and contribution to British judo development.
Ray Stevens is known for:
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Before the 1992 Olympic Games, Ray Stevens suffered a ruptured ACL but still returned to compete and win Olympic silver.
The seminar focused on:
