Obituary: Mick Leigh
July 02, 2026
It is with a heavy heart that we let the Judo world know that Mick Leigh has passed away after a short illness, aged 93.
Mick devoted seventy years of his life to Judo and was still Vice President of the BJA, President of the Southern Area and President of Brighton JC and Kin Ryu JC, the Sussex clubs he founded sixty and fifty years ago respectively.
Mick was presented with his 9th dan in 2023, one of only 13 British recipients of the grade. He started Judo in 1955 at the London Judo Society (LJS). He later joined the Renshuden and then moved to Sussex in 1965 where he founded several successful clubs and was a founder member of Sussex County and the Southern Area. He represented England and GB in judo and three styles of wrestling and was a reserve for the GB Team for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
He served two terms as BJA Chairman and was an IJF (B) referee, honorary national coach, senior examiner and worked for the EJU on their Olympic Solidarity Coaching programme. He was incredibly innovative, responsible for setting up the Kata Working Party (now Kata Commission), the National Veterans Championships, the Self-Defence system, the Kai system for U8s (Kano Club) and the Special Needs Working Party (now Inclusion Commission).
He continued to have influence into his eighties, coaching in the UK, South Africa and Australia and still enjoyed attending events and presenting medals. Mick was a very special man, supporting and influencing people across the Judo world for seven decades. He will be deeply missed.
Rowena Birch, President British Judo said:
“Mick has been part of the backbone of British Judo for several generations, inspiring, supporting and building judo both at home and abroad. His passion for learning, deep interest in all areas of judo, and the tireless desire to pass that knowledge, experience and thinking on, leaves behind a strong legacy and many friends. A truly valued member of our Judo Family who will not be forgotten.”
In the words of Colin Draycott, Vice President British Judo
“Mick you lived for your family, your clubs and JUDO. It is now time to rest. Goodbye my friend. Rest in peace.”
