British Judo Hosts Inspiring Kata Coaching Seminar
April 13, 2026
British Judo proudly welcomed 44 coaches from across the country to Bishop’s Stortford on 11–12 April for a dynamic two-day “Kata for All” coaching seminar, delivered in collaboration with the European Judo Union.
The event formed part of our ongoing commitment to developing high-quality coaching across the UK, with a particular focus on making Kata more accessible, engaging, and relevant for judoka of all ages.
Throughout the weekend, coaches explored innovative ways to teach Kata, with a strong emphasis on supporting children and young people. Sessions blended traditional judo principles with modern, play-based learning approaches, equipping coaches with practical tools to enhance delivery within their clubs.
Led by EJU Head Kata Commissioner Dr Slavisa Bradic, the course encouraged coaches to think creatively about how Kata can underpin fundamental movement, technique, and understanding across all levels of judo.
Day two saw the learning brought to life as young judoka from local clubs joined the tatami. Coaches were able to apply their newly developed skills in real time, guiding participants through adapted sequences of Nage-no-kata and Katame-no-kata.
The session culminated in confident demonstrations from the young athletes, highlighting the effectiveness of engaging, structured Kata delivery.
The seminar represents another important step in British Judo’s wider strategy to embed strong technical foundations across the sport. By integrating Kata into regular coaching practice, we aim to support the long-term development of judoka—from grassroots participation through to performance pathways.
Dr. Slavisa Bradic, EJU Head Kata Commissioner praised the impact of the weekend:
“I am incredibly pleased with the work of the BJA coaches. It was particularly rewarding to see the children, after just one hour of practice led by the coaches, successfully demonstrate sequences of Nage-no-kata and Katame-no-kata. I would like to commend the BJA leadership for their commitment to guiding youth development toward a high-quality mastery of fundamental judo techniques and principles.”
BJA Development Director Karen Roberts echoed the sentiment:
“The British Judo Association were delighted to host an EJU ‘Kata for All’ weekend, led by Dr Slavisa Bradic. It was a fantastic opportunity for our coaching community to come together and develop the skills required to incorporate Kata into their judo clubs.”
“We explored how to use Kata in our coaching to develop sound fundamental principles with children and adults to support their acquisition of judo skill. I personally enjoyed the ideas generated by utilising small blocks or techniques from Nage-no-kata and Katame-no-kata to connect with other drills you may carry out in training sessions. This seminar provided a fantastic stimulus for our British coaches to continue to learn and innovate.”
As highlighted by our coaching leadership, the weekend provided valuable ideas on how small elements of Kata can be incorporated into everyday training, helping judoka build essential skills while maintaining enjoyment and engagement.
