Event date: 6th December 2026
Sunday 6th December 2026
12:00–15:00
National Dojo, Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, Ratho
Open to Ultimate Judo 1st & 2nd Kyus
The first session will bring 1st and 2nd Kyus from both clubs together for three hours of training at Scotland's National Dojo in Ratho.
Reaching black belt is a significant challenge and we want our members to be as well prepared as possible, but this pathway isn't simply about passing a grading.
Training with another club gives our judoka the opportunity to work with different partners of a similar age, grade and ability, experience different styles of judo and get valuable randori outside their normal training group.
It is also about building relationships.
Many of these judoka will see each other again at gradings, competitions and training events as they continue through judo. Rather than simply being people standing across from each other on a mat, we want to encourage them to get to know each other, train together and develop friendships through their shared love of judo.
You're going to see each other at gradings, so why not be friends?
Another important part of the experience is simply getting the opportunity to train at the National Dojo.
During the session we will work through elements of the black belt syllabus, with particular attention given to areas that will help prepare judoka for the theory element of their 1st Dan grading.
This will then be followed by training and randori, giving everyone the chance to put their judo into practice against different partners.
For our 1st Kyus, this is direct preparation for the next stage of their journey.
For our 2nd Kyus, it is an opportunity to start understanding what will eventually be expected of them and begin preparing early rather than waiting until they reach brown belt.
We want the journey to be part of the experience too.
Ultimate Judo is looking to arrange a private coach from Aberdeen so that our team can travel together. Apart from making the day more enjoyable and helping the squad bond, this also takes away the pressure and commitment on parents having to spend most of their Sunday driving to Edinburgh and back.
The estimated cost of the return coach journey is around £40 per person, although the final price will depend on numbers.
If sufficient numbers travel by coach, Ultimate Judo will cover the cost of the training session for those travelling with the squad.
Members can make their own way to Ratho if they prefer, particularly those living or studying away from Aberdeen. The training fee for anyone travelling independently will be £20.
Anyone making their own way must arrive in plenty of time. Neither club will allow late arrivals to join the session, so please plan your journey accordingly.
This opportunity is open to all Ultimate Judo 1st and 2nd Kyus, including members who are currently away from Aberdeen at university or for work.
You are still part of our team.
We know that as members get older, university, work and life can take them away from Aberdeen, so opportunities like this are also a great excuse to get everyone back together, get on the mat and train as a squad again.
We need to establish numbers before confirming the coach, so please register your interest by 13th October.
Register here:
https://forms.gle/XfVrTqiiv9Qdek2q6
If we don't have sufficient numbers to make the private coach financially viable, unfortunately we will have to abandon the coach travel plan.
This isn't intended to be a one-off training session.
Our aim is to work collaboratively with Destination Judo to create more opportunities for higher-grade judoka to train together, expand their pool of training partners and properly prepare for the challenge of achieving 1st Dan.
Whether someone is already a 1st Kyu preparing for that final step or a 2nd Kyu beginning to look ahead, the work towards black belt starts long before the grading itself.
Judo might be an individual sport, but nobody gets to black belt on their own.
Ultimate Judo x Destination Judo
Black Belt Pathway | Always Forward
