23 December 2024
Finally, a Place to Call Home
For years, we were like nomads, lugging mats from place to place, packing up after every session. But this year? Game-changer. We finally landed our very own dojo at Ruthrie Terrace. No more moving around, no more back-breaking pack-ups—just a proper home for Ultimate Judo.
This place isn’t just walls and floors; it’s where we’re planting roots. It’s where kids learn not just how to throw but where they belong. It’s late-night sessions, laughter, sweat, and maybe a few bruises. And honestly? It’s only the beginning.
On the Mats: Winning Big and Pushing Limits
With our dojo finally sorted, our judoka hit the mats hard—and wow, did they deliver:
- Granite Open Grand Prix and Highland Budokan Grand Prix: Medals, medals, medals!
- Nathan Staudt: Nabbed bronze at the Scottish Open Masters and smashed his way to 2nd Dan.
- Coach Stuart: This man’s a legend. Just six weeks after heart surgery, he earned his 3rd Dan. Some say it’s resilience; others might call it insanity. Either way, he crushed it.
- Alessandro Scotti won his hard earned points for his black belt, hoping to complete the technical element early in 2025.
Coaching: Always Learning, Always Growing
This year, we proved that even coaches never stop learning:
- First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, and specialized training for supporting female athletes and young sportspeople? Check.
- Awareness courses on diabetes, autism, and epilepsy? Done.
- Stuart and I even nailed our **Level 1 Kata Certification**, covering up to 6th Dan.
- Oh, and Stuart became Treasurer of Club Sport Aberdeen, while I got voted Chair. Plus, I’m still Vice Chair of Judo Scotland. Keeping busy, as always!
Judo Without Borders
This year, we took Ultimate Judo global.
- At The Gathering, we trained with double Olympic champions Takanori Nagase and Shohei Ono—absolute legends.
- We hosted top-tier visitors like Michihiro Omigawa and Olympic medallist Ray Stevens.
Michihiro’s visit was extra special. What started as a lockdown friendship, during our 2023 Japan tour became a lifelong bond. Judo’s amazing like that—it brings people together from every corner of the world and makes cross culture friendships.
The Future of Judo: Kids, Camps, and Big Dreams
The next generation of judoka? They’re in good hands.
- We relaunched the Judo Academy, a perfect blend of academic study and training, with a dream trip to Japan coming in 2026.
- Camps? We ran three of our own and helped out with four more at ISA, introducing over 1,000 kids to judo. Across schools and activity weeks, we taught over 1,800 kids and clocked over 1000 hrs in 1,136 sessions at the dojo.
That’s a lot of throws—and a lot of potential future black belts.
Recognition, Inclusivity, and Fun
This year, the world noticed:
- We became the first Scottish club to earn the Judo Mark Award, a huge honor for governance and excellence.
- I coached at London’s legendary Budokwai and contributed to Marc Howes’ book, which became a martial arts bestseller on Amazon.
- We championed inclusivity, becoming a Period Positive Club in partnership with Fab Little Bag and Judo Scotland.
And to keep the fun going, we launched a slick new website, an app, and even hosted a Christmas movie night that raised over £300 for charity.
Sam Lynch: Forever in Our Hearts
2024 wasn’t all victories. We lost one of our own, Sam Lynch, at just 18 years old. Sam had been with us for 14 years, an incredible guy loved by everyone. His loss hit hard.
In honour of his incredible talent and dedication, Sam was awarded his 1st Dan by the British Judo Association. His legacy is woven into the fabric of our dojo, and we’ll carry his spirit with us always.
What’s Next?
As 2024 wraps up, we’re looking ahead to 2025—our 15th anniversary in Aberdeen! With our dojo, our community, and our passion, there’s no limit to what we can achieve together.
Here’s to another year of throws, laughs, and memories. Ultimate Judo isn’t just a club—It's a family and it’s a way of life.