British Judo Stars Set to Headline 2026 National Technical Conference
October 09, 2026
British Judo is delighted to announce that Olympians Winston Gordon, Chelsie Giles and Natalie Powell will feature at the 2026 National Technical Conference, taking place on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November at the University of Wolverhampton’s Walsall Campus.
The annual conference promises another fantastic weekend of technical development, practical learning and knowledge sharing, bringing together coaches and judoka from across the country to learn from some of Britain’s most experienced and successful international athletes.
This year’s event will feature a series of engaging on-the-mat sessions led by Winston Gordon and Chelsie Giles across both days, with former world number one Natalie Powell joining the conference on Sunday.
A three-time Olympian and former European medallist, Winston Gordon brings a wealth of international competition and coaching experience to the conference. Having represented Great Britain at the highest level, Gordon will share his technical knowledge and expertise with delegates throughout the weekend.
Joining him will be Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallist Chelsie Giles, one of Britain’s most successful judoka of recent years. A European Champion and World Championship medallist, Giles will offer delegates an invaluable insight into the techniques, preparation and skills required to succeed on the international stage.
Natalie Powell will join the team on Sunday 29 November, bringing her own extensive experience of competing among the world’s elite. A former world number one, Commonwealth Games gold medallist and two-time Olympian, Powell will provide another exciting opportunity for delegates to learn from a highly accomplished British judoka.
Together, the trio will help make the 2026 conference an unmissable opportunity for coaches and judoka looking to enhance their technical understanding and take new ideas back to their clubs.
The conference is aimed at all BJA-licensed coaches and judoka graded 2nd Kyu and above, with all on-the-mat sessions led by Gordon, Giles and Powell.
Key details at a glance:
Saturday 28th November: 9:15am-3:30pm
Sunday 29th November: 9:15am-4:00pm
Two days – £60.00 (3 x Coach Revalidations)
One day – £35.00 (1 x Coach Revalidation)
Venue: University of Wolverhampton, Walsall Campus, Gorway Road, WS1 3BD
Refreshments: Tea & coffee provided throughout; please bring your own lunch.
| DAY 1 SATURDAY 28TH NOVEMBER 2026 | |||
| 09:15 – 10:00 | Registration & Information | Dermot Heslop | NTC |
| 10:00 – 10:15 | Welcome & Introduction | Joyce Heron/Dave Duffy | Dojo |
| 10:30 – 12:00 | On-the-Mat Session 1 | Winston Gordon/Chelsie Giles | Dojo |
| 12:00–13:00 | LUNCH BREAK | ||
| 13:00 – 13:45 | Skill Acquisition | Darren Warner | Dojo |
| 14:00 – 15:20 | On-the-Mat Session 2 | Winston Gordon/Chelsie Giles | Dojo |
| 15:20 – 15:30 | Closing Remarks | Joyce Heron/Dave Duffy | Dojo |
| 16:00 – 17:00 | BJA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (Lecture Theatre) – Optional | ||
| DAY 2 SUNDAY 29TH NOVEMBER 2026 | |||
| 09:15 – 10:00 | Registration & Information | Dermot Heslop | NTC |
| 10:00 – 10:15 | Welcome & Introduction | Joyce Heron/Dave Duffy | Dojo |
| 10:30 – 12:00 | On-the-Mat Session 3 | Winston Gordon/Chelsie Giles/Natalie Powell | Dojo |
| 12:00–13:00 | LUNCH BREAK | ||
| 13:00 – 13:45 | Discussion – CIMSPA Coaching Qualifications & online CPD Development | Joyce Heron & Dave Duffy – Delegate breakout groups | Dojo |
| 14:00 – 15:30 | On-the-Mat Session 4 | Winston Gordon/Chelsie Giles/Natalie Powell | Dojo |
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Open Forum/Closing Remarks | Joyce Heron/Dave Duffy | Dojo |
