Event date: 8th November 2026
Growing up has never been without its challenges, but young people today can face pressures from many different directions. School, exams, friendships, social media, expectations and the fear of failure can all affect confidence and mental wellbeing.
For those involved in sport, there can be additional challenges. The pressure to perform, the disappointment of losing, worries about letting others down or simply feeling that you're not good enough can sometimes take away from something that should be enjoyable.
At Ultimate Judo in Aberdeen, we've always believed that our responsibility goes beyond teaching judo techniques. We want to help young people develop into confident, resilient individuals who feel supported, valued and comfortable asking for help when they need it.
That's why we're delighted to be hosting three completely free mental health workshops on Sunday 8th November 2026, as part of the Ahead of the Game initiative.
Performance anxiety isn't something that only affects elite athletes. It can affect anyone, regardless of age, experience or ability.
A young person might feel nervous before a judo competition, worry about making mistakes during training or become upset when they don't achieve the result they hoped for.
The same feelings can appear before school exams, presentations, interviews or other everyday challenges.
A certain amount of nervousness is perfectly normal. In fact, learning to manage those feelings can be an important part of personal development.
The difficulty comes when the pressure becomes overwhelming, affecting confidence, enjoyment or the willingness to try.
As coaches and parents, we need to recognise that not every young person responds to pressure in the same way.
Some thrive on competition and challenges. Others need more reassurance, time and encouragement. Neither approach is necessarily right or wrong.
Our job isn't simply to teach young people how to win. It's to help them develop the confidence to try, the resilience to cope when things don't go their way and the understanding that their worth is never determined by a result.
Although these workshops are being hosted at our judo club, the challenges being discussed extend far beyond sport.
Young people may experience anxiety about school, friendships, relationships, body image, social situations or expectations placed upon them.
Sometimes those pressures are obvious. Other times, a young person may appear happy and confident while struggling privately.
It's important that we create environments where talking about mental health feels normal, rather than something to be embarrassed about.
Sport can provide a fantastic support network through friendships, physical activity, positive role models and a sense of belonging. However, sport alone cannot prevent mental health difficulties, and coaches are not substitutes for trained mental health professionals.
What we can do is help create a supportive environment, recognise when someone may need additional help and encourage open conversations.
Young people don't face these challenges alone, and the adults around them can make an enormous difference.
Sometimes, with the very best intentions, we can place expectations on young people without realising how those expectations are being received.
A parent encouraging their child to do well, or a coach challenging an athlete to improve, may be trying to build confidence and ambition.
But there's a balance between encouragement and pressure.
Understanding when to push, when to listen and when to offer reassurance is something we can all continue learning.
That's why we've arranged a dedicated workshop for parents, grandparents and coaches.
Supporting young people's mental health isn't just about knowing what to say when something goes wrong. It's also about building relationships and environments where young people feel comfortable speaking up in the first place.
For the first time, we've been able to arrange three targeted sessions, recognising that the challenges faced by a 12-year-old can be very different from those experienced by an older teenager or the adults supporting them.
All three workshops will take place at the Ultimate Judo dojo in Garthdee, Aberdeen.
Sunday 8th November 2026
11:30am–12:30pm | Ages 12–15: A dedicated mental health and wellbeing workshop appropriate for younger teenagers.
12:30pm–1:30pm | Ages 16–18: A session tailored to older teenagers and the challenges relevant to their stage of life.
2:00pm–3:00pm | Parents, Grandparents and Coaches: A workshop for adults supporting young people, helping develop greater awareness and understanding of mental health.
Each session is tailored to its audience rather than delivering the same workshop to everyone.
Venue: Ultimate Judo, The Scout Hut, Ruthrie Terrace, Garthdee, Aberdeen, AB10 7JY.
Cost: Completely FREE.
Registration: Essential in advance.
Since opening in Aberdeen in 2010, Ultimate Judo has always tried to offer more than simply a place to learn a martial art.
We want our members to develop confidence, friendships, discipline, respect and resilience, with lessons that remain valuable long after they leave the mat.
Not everyone who joins the club wants to become a champion, and that's absolutely fine. Everyone has their own reasons for doing judo, and our responsibility is to help them get the most from their individual journey.
Mental wellbeing is an important part of that.
Whether someone is preparing for a major competition, struggling with confidence or simply needs a place where they feel accepted and supported, we want them to know they're part of a community that cares.
These workshops are another opportunity to build on that commitment.
We would particularly encourage our Tombo development squad members of the appropriate age, Coaching Academy students, parents, grandparents and coaches to attend wherever possible.
The workshops are completely free, but they can only go ahead if we reach the minimum number of participants required for each session.
It would be a real shame to lose such a valuable opportunity, especially when we've been able to arrange workshops specifically for the different age groups within our club.
Places are limited and registration is compulsory.
BOOK YOUR FREE MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOP HERE
We hope as many members and families as possible will take advantage of this opportunity.
Because developing good judoka is important, but helping develop confident, resilient and supported young people matters even more.
Ultimate Judo – Always Forward.
Yes. All three workshops at Ultimate Judo in Aberdeen on Sunday 8th November 2026 are completely free. Advance registration is required.
There are separate sessions for young people aged 12–15 and 16–18, plus a dedicated workshop for parents, grandparents and coaches.
The workshops will be held at Ultimate Judo's dojo at The Scout Hut, Ruthrie Terrace, Garthdee, Aberdeen, AB10 7JY.
Yes. Places are limited and each workshop requires minimum attendance numbers to go ahead. You can register using the online booking form.
Performance anxiety is one of the important challenges highlighted in this article, particularly for young people involved in sport. The workshops are focused on age-appropriate mental health and wellbeing, although the exact subjects covered will depend on the workshop programme.
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