Britain’s coaches put kata to work with kids on the tatami

Bishop’s Stortford got a real burst of judo energy over two packed days. On 11–12 April, 44 coaches from the British Judo Association (BJA) came together to sharpen how they teach kata, with a clear focus on making it relevant in everyday club training. The message was simple: kata shouldn’t feel distant or only for specialists.

The weekend leaned hard into children and youth development. Coaches explored modern, engaging ways to teach, blending play-based learning with judo’s core principles. The aim wasn’t to water anything down, but to give coaches practical tools so kata can be both accessible and meaningful for all ages.

Good kata teaching doesn’t slow progress down—it builds it.

Day two moved from classroom-style learning straight to action. Young judoka from local clubs joined the tatami, giving the coaches an immediate chance to test ideas in real time. The session finished with a demonstration, where the children confidently performed sequences from Nage-no-kata and Katame-no-kata, adapted to their level.

Dr. Slavisa Bradic, the EJU Head Kata Commissioner, praised what he saw across the weekend. He highlighted how rewarding it was to watch the children successfully show sequences from Nage-no-kata and Katame-no-kata after a short practice period guided by the coaches. He also commended the BJA leadership for committing to youth development built on high-quality mastery of fundamental judo techniques and principles.

BJA Development Director Karen Roberts echoed that positive mood, calling it a strong opportunity for the coaching community to grow together. She pointed to the value of using small blocks or techniques from Nage-no-kata and Katame-no-kata and connecting them with other training drills. With collaboration and practical learning at its heart, the seminar marked another constructive European step for British coaching foundations.

Source: EJU_News