British Judo Successfully Delivers Pilot Judo Grade Assessment for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu players
June 09, 2026
British Judo successfully delivered a pilot of the BJA Judo Grade Assessment tailored for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) practitioners on 30th May, hosted at the Ray Stevens Academy in New Malden.
The inaugural judo masterclass and grading event attracted strong interest, with 19 participants attending and actively taking part.
Following the masterclass, attendees were given the opportunity to have their judo proficiency formally assessed, with successful candidates receiving official recognition of their judo grade.
This initiative aims to remove barriers to entry and create a parallel progression pathway, enabling those already developing skills and techniques in BJJ to engage with the judo grading system.
The event was led by 1992 Olympic silver medallist and BJJ 5th degree black belt, Ray Stevens, with the full endorsement and support of the British Judo Association.
The grading process was overseen by BJA Senior Examiner Dave Duffy, ensuring quality assurance and consistency of standards. Coaches from Ray Stevens Academy — Ed Semple, Clement Raphael, and Len Stevens — were also present to support participants throughout the session.
British Judo Development Director Karen Roberts, alongside Derek Hopkins of the Southern Area Coaching Committee, attended the pilot to observe and gather insights for future development.
The masterclass and grading were extremely well received, with participants providing highly positive feedback on both the structure and delivery of the session.
British Judo would like to congratulate everyone involved in delivering this successful pilot, and all participants who achieved their judo grade!
