The Original Judo Podcast

In the run-up to Tokyo Olympics two nations ended up with very high profile domestic rivalries, that played out on the world stage. At -66kg Olympic hosts Japan held a fight off between their world champions Abe and Maruyama. At -57kg Canada let their judoka Klimkait and DeGuchi resolve the race to qualify at the Budapest World Championships. Over the next 14 weeks the podcast is going to run a mi...

In the run-up to Tokyo Olympics two nations ended up with very high profile domestic rivalries, that played out on the world stage. At -66kg Olympic hosts Japan held a fight off between their world champions Abe and Maruyama. At -57kg Canada let their judoka Klimkait and DeGuchi resolve the race to qualify at the Budapest World Championships. Over the next 14 weeks the podcast is going to run a mi...

In the run-up to Tokyo Olympics two nations ended up with very high profile domestic rivalries, that played out on the world stage. At -66kg Olympic hosts Japan held a fight off between their world champions Abe and Maruyama. At -57kg Canada let their judoka Klimkait and DeGuchi resolve the race to qualify at the Budapest World Championships. Over the next 14 weeks the podcast is going to run a mi...

Delighted to welcome this weeks guest to the show. Colton is a double Olympian for the USA, medaling 4 times in Pan-American Games and competing at both Rio and Tokyo Olympics. We talk through his start in judo, how living and training in Japan as a teenager became the launch point for his future achievements, and discuss as well both of the Olympic cycles he competed through. Since Tokyo Colton h...

This week we are joined by Dr Jagjit Singh Khera, founder of Lions Judo and one of the event organisers of the Craig Fallon Cup. We recorded this episode just a couple of days after this years Craig Fallon Cup. The event was set up in memory of Craig and we talk through the event and what they want it do as Craigs legacy, as well as the amazing support it received from the British Judo community....

This week we welcome back to the show Connah Anders who updates us on his journey towards Paris 2024 Paralympics and recent promotion to Dan grade. The show is also joined by Judo newcomer Josh Till, and we get into his experience of judo so far (poisoned by me!) as well as comparisons with BJJ. Towards the end of the show we dig into the sticks and sunglasses club in VI Judo (athletes who play th...

This week we welcome Tokyo Olympian Prisca Awiti Alcatraz to the show. We talk through her fantastic recent performance at the recent Doha Worlds, where she dethroned 2022 World Champion Horikawa en route to a 5th finish. We also discuss her confidence on the mat when she's facing up against the biggest names in the sport, coming up through Enfield JC, as well her Tokyo 2020ne experience with Team...

Regular co-host Fitz Davies joins the show and we get into 3 or 4 of the big controversies to come out of the recent Doha World Championships. We go through the no-score ride and roll in the Riner Tasoev final (and subsequent IJF statement and then apology), head-diving is back (and in a big way!), shido’s deciding fights, and Pinot’s cheeky leg grab ko-uchi in the Teams final. Finally, we chat th...

This week we're joined on the show by GB's -57kg Acelya Toprak. We talk about the challenges of managing full time judo alongside education, her commonwealth games experience as well as what its like being of a big group of GB talent at -57kg. Follow Acelya’s journey on Instagram @acelyatoprak

This week the show is joined by GB’s Charlie Young. Recent winner of the Rome European Open, we talk through his selection for the upcoming Worlds and goals, his performance in Rome and he explains TikTok to me! Follow his journey toward Paris 2024 at @ctotheharles on TikTok and @charlesyoungie on Instagram.

This week we welcome Scotland's Aiden Moffat to the show. Aiden is a multiple GB medallist, took a 5th place in 2011 Youth Olympics, and spent several years training full time at both the GB Judo centre of excellence in Walsall, and then the Scottish Judo centre of excellence in Ratho. Aiden talks openly about his life in judo, the challenges of holding his body together, and returning to his home...

Almost 4 years ago the Judo community was rocked by the news of the death of Craig Fallon (World Champion 2005 -60kg). Whilst Craig was a hero to many in the world of Judo, a World and European champion, he struggled with depression. His suicide shook the whole community, and devastated his friends and family. The Craig Fallon Foundation last year ran its inaugural event, the Craig Fallon Cup, a c...

The podcast is back! Back into it with double Commonwealth medalist Jemima Yeats-Brown joining the show this week. Mima joins us fresh from a weeks training at the Nymburk Olympic training camp, and just days before she heads out to Tbilisi Grand Slam. We talk about injuries, changing weight categories, and getting a last minute call-up for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014. Jemima’s really a...

This week we welcome to the show a man who’s had many roles within performance Judo. A British Champion, Team GB Coach and most recently CEO of Welsh Judo. We talk about his life in the sport, incuding working with Gemma Gibbons on her way to Olympic Silver, coaching Natalie Powell on her way become world no.1 and a double Olympian, as well as his goals for growing welsh Judo. Really enjoyed the t...

This week the show welcomes former British Champion Stuart Mcwatt to the show. We catch up around his return to the mat, injuries, being backstage at the Commonwealth Games and manning the British Judo Instagram account. Follow Stuarts return to the mat on his instagram @judostu

A brief ramble this week looking ahead to the judo at the end of the year and what’s coming up for the podcast.

Absolutely loved recording this episode with US triple Olympian and Rio Olympic silver medallist Travis Stevens. Travis had a stellar career, including, in 2012 Olympics, one of the most iconic fights in the sport. We talk through his career in judo, that match and going onto win Silver four years later, transition away from his competitive career, goals for JudoFanatics, as well as a brief discus...

This week we welcome Dutch National coach Matt Purssey to the show. After a storied career as an athlete Matt has coached at a performance level with JudoScotland, British Judo, and is now with the Dutch National Team. We talk through the high’s and low’s of his time as an athlete, his transition into coaching, and how this experience lead him to the coaching role in Netherlands.

This week we welcome Scotlands Commonwealth Bronze Medalist Malin Wilson to the podcast. Malin talks about the challenges of finding Judo in the Highlands of Scotland, her commonwealth games experience and hows she's ended up living and training in Madrid. Follow her journey towards Paris 2024 on Instagram @malw57

This week we welcome Paralympic Bronze medalist Ben Quilter to the pod. Ben is a double Paralympian and talks about his journey through Judo, winning world and european championships, in the run up to his bronze medal run at London 2012 Paralympics. He talks about his journey through judo, early influences in his career, the challenges he faced in the weeks up to London 2012, and the experience of...

This week we welcome back to the show GB's under 63kg European Champion and Double Olympian Gemma Howell. We talk through her amazing journey since 2019 which includes covid, Tokyo Olympics, Sofia European Championships and Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Love this interview, Gemma is so open and great fun to chat to. Follow her journey toward Paris2024 on twitter @gemh7

Just me this week, talking through the good, the bad and the ugly of the worlds and other judo news from the last fortnight. I try not to rant. Basically, we talk lightweight judo, some of the results, the effect of the rules (28% of fights ended in in a hansoku) and lastly the subscription service rolled out without warning by the IJF. Oh and did I say that Judo missed out on the next Commonwealt...

Last minute worlds preview. Let me know what you think, let me know who you’ve got for the medals.

This week we take a step away from Commonwealth Games themed content, and welcome Bahrain's Mahmood Saeed. Mahmood was over in the UK having just taken part in the IJF Coaching Academy sessions. We talk about his journey through judo and efforts to support the growth of the sport in Bahrain in setting up his club. Unfortunately, there's a bit of an echo, the room we recorded in obviously wasnt gre...

Our Commonwealth Games theme continues, and I'm delighted to get Ireland and Northern Irelands Eoin Fleming on the show. Eoin was involved in an absolute battle for bronze, one of the most emotionally engaging matches of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. We talk through that match as well as his experience competing at two Games, Irish Judo and his goals from here. I will try to find a link...