Westland Judo Club – 2025 Year in Review
As 2025 draws to a close, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on what has been a busy, successful, and inspiring year for Westland Judo Club. From junior development and grading success to national and international competition results, this year has shown the strength, depth, and spirit of our club.
A Strong Year for Competition
2025 saw Westland judoka competing across junior, senior, and veteran levels, both in the UK and overseas:
- Brad stepped up onto the senior circuit with confidence, competing internationally at the Bytom Open in Poland, gaining invaluable experience and representing the club with maturity well beyond his years.
- He followed this with an outstanding gold medal at the High Wycombe Senior Open, winning all contests by ippon and earning significant points toward his 3rd Dan, as well as strong ranking points.
- Brad also enjoyed success at the Welsh Junior and Senior Open, taking silver in the juniors and bronze in the seniors, continuing a consistent run of results.
Our veteran competitors and coaches were equally impressive:
- At the BJA British Veterans Open, Steve claimed gold, Rick earned silver, and Matt narrowly missed out on bronze — all against high-level international opposition.
- At the High Wycombe Masters, Steve once again took gold, Rick secured bronze, and Matt narrowly missed the podium in a highly competitive category.
- The Welsh Veterans Open rounded off another strong weekend with gold for Rick and silver for Matt.
Junior & Intermediate Development
While competition success has been a highlight, junior and intermediate development remained at the heart of club life:
- Our juniors and intermediates enjoyed a fantastic day at the Devizes Mini-Mon, coming away with gold, silver, and bronze medals, wins across the board, and plenty of smiles.
- Several of our female intermediate members attended women-only open mat sessions at Gracie Barra Frome, gaining valuable experience, confidence, and new friendships across the wider martial arts community.
Gradings & Progression
Grading success was another key feature of 2025:
- Seniors took their first steps on the grading ladder, with members achieving 6th Kyu (Red Belt) — proving that judo grading is about learning, commitment, and persistence, not just competition.
- Juniors progressed through the Mon grading system, including a well-earned junior red belt.
Exceptional Coaching & Leadership
One of the most special moments of the year was the recognition of our Head Coach, Mike Sullivan, who was awarded his 7th Dan by the International Judo Federation (IJF) — an honour achieved by only a very small number of judoka nationwide. This achievement underlines the depth of experience and quality of coaching available at Westland Judo Club.
Throughout the year, our coaching team consistently supported members at competitions, gradings, and training sessions, ensuring a safe, inclusive, and positive environment for judoka of all ages.
Looking Ahead
2025 has been a year of growth, achievement, and community, with strong representation at every level of the sport. Whether it’s a first competition, first grading, or competing on the international stage, Westland Judo Club continues to offer opportunities for everyone.
Thank you to all our judoka, coaches, parents, and supporters for making this year such a success. We look forward to building on this momentum and making 2026 even better.
See you on the mat! 🥋
