About Us
This welcoming club is open to judoka of all levels, from beginners to experienced practitioners, and aims to deliver an enjoyable and comprehensive judo experience.
Meet The Team
Level 2 Coach
David started training in 1984 as a child in Musselburgh. He is passionate about Judo and believes that it should be available to all and no boundaries should be in place to allow access to it.
David has experience in other martial arts and has trained in Europe and Asia, but he has chosen to focus solely on Judo after he fell in love with it. He gets great enjoyment out of seeing students learning and smashing their goals.
Level 2 Coach
Iain has been involved with grappling sports since the early 90s. Starting at Lasswade Judo Club at age 5, he continues his passion for developing his knowledge and skills in grappling such as Judo, BJJ and Wrestling.
As a competitive 1st Dan and Level 2 coach, Iain brings his passion and knowledge of Judo to support others who are keen to learn and embrace Judo.
Club Welfare Officer and Treasurer
Andrew helps ensure a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for all members. As Treasurer, he is responsible for overseeing the club’s finances and supporting its ongoing sustainability.
Alongside his committee roles, Andrew is also a student at the club, giving him a strong understanding of the member experience and allowing him to represent the interests of students effectively.
The History of Judo
Judo, often translated as “the gentle way”, is a Japanese martial art and Olympic sport founded by Jigoro Kano (1860–1938). Kano developed judo in the late nineteenth century by drawing on classical jujutsu schools and refining them into a system that emphasised safe practice, technical efficiency, and character development alongside effective throwing, holding, and groundwork.
In 1882, Kano established the Kodokan in Tokyo, which became the centre for judo’s development and teaching. The Kodokan helped standardise training methods, a formal curriculum of techniques, and a structured grading system that allowed students to progress through coloured belts towards black belt.
Judo grew rapidly in Japan and then internationally in the early twentieth century. Kano’s guiding principles—Seiryoku Zenyo, maximum efficient use of energy, and Jita Kyoei, mutual welfare and benefit—remain central to how judo is taught and practised.
Judo made its Olympic debut at the 1964 Tokyo Games, cementing its global status as a major sport. Across all settings, judo’s culture of respect, safety, and continual improvement reflects Kano’s enduring legacy.
