British Judo Association
British Judo Association is the official UK national governing body for judo, serving roughly 38,823 members and 890 affiliated clubs across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland via membership subscriptions, coaching and safeguarding services, retail merchandise, and elite Olympic and Paralympic performance pathways.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1948
- HeadquartersGreat Barr, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What British Judo Association does
British Judo Association (BJA) is the official national governing body for judo in Great Britain, established in 1948 and incorporated in 1978 as a company limited by guarantee. It is recognised by UK Sport, Sport England, the British Olympic Association, the British Paralympic Association, the International Judo Federation and the European Judo Union, and operates across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland through four Home Nation programmes. BJA serves approximately 38,823 individual members, 890 affiliated clubs, qualified coaches, referees, club welfare officers, volunteers, and elite Olympic and Paralympic athletes, delivering structured pathways from grassroots taster sessions through to the World Class Performance Programme and the Olympic & Paralympic National Training Centre at the University of Wolverhampton Walsall Campus.
The product and service portfolio centres on an annual membership programme (Introductory, Recreational, Judo Kids, and Full tiers) sold through The Dojo self-service platform at bjadojo.co.uk, with auto-renewal via Direct Debit. Membership includes personal accident and civil liability insurance, grading progression, competition eligibility, safeguarding resources (including online DBS checks via FADV KnowYourPeople), anti-doping education via UKAD, adaptive judo programmes, and a complimentary AI mental health coaching benefit through the Remi InsideOut app. Commercial revenues also flow through the BJA Shop (operated by TeamElite) selling branded apparel and through CIMAC distributing adidas-approved judogi. Additional services include a club finder, live-streamed competitions, coach and referee registration, NTC accommodation priced £30-£130 per stay, and safeguarding/Inclusion & Diversity initiatives such as the Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan and Female Fighters Festival.
BJA operates as a not-for-profit governed by member-club-elected directors and executive staff, with revenue drawn from membership subscriptions, sponsorship (Adidas as official sponsor), Sport England and UK Sport lottery funding, merchandise sales, accommodation, and course/training fees. No revenue or ARR figures are publicly disclosed; the organisation's economics are typical of a UK national governing body heavily dependent on public funding alongside distributed consumer member revenue.
British Judo Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- British Judo Association
- Legal name
- The British Judo Association
- Website
- https://britishjudo.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1948
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- British Judo Association is the official UK national governing body for judo, serving roughly 38,823 members and 890 affiliated clubs across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland via membership subscriptions, coaching and safeguarding services, retail merchandise, and elite Olympic and Paralympic performance pathways.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
British Judo Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sports Governing Body
- NAICS
- Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (71121)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International Sport Federations (IFs) (MPAKAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Combat Sports Sanctioning Bodies & Commissions (Boxing/MMA/Kickboxing) (MPAKAFAI), Combat Sports Gyms & Dojos (MMA, Boxing, Wrestling, Martial Arts) (MPAKAJAG)
Keywords
Where British Judo Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Great Barr
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
British Judo Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Annual membership fees paid by individual members. Membership is non-refundable and auto-renews annually via Direct Debit unless cancelled. Various membership tiers available including Introductory (free 1 month), Recreational, Judo Kids, and Full membership.
- Retail Merchandise Sales: Sale of judo merchandise including uniforms, apparel, caps, backpacks, and event merchandise through the BJA Shop and approved partners like TeamElite and CIMAC. Products include branded items like the British Judo 1/4 Zip Hooded Performance Sweat Top (£40), Undershorts (£20), Caps (£15), and Adidas-approved judo uniforms.
- NTC Accommodation and Event Services: National Training Centre accommodation services for visiting athletes at Walsall Campus, priced from £30 per night for 1 night up to £130 for 7 nights. Also provides IBSA event payments and Paralympic Games tickets.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free 1-month introductory membership for new members to the sport |
| Subscription | Annual | Standard membership tiers for existing participants |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | NTC Accommodation pricing (1-7 nights) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
British Judo Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The British Judo Association (BJA) is the official national governing body for judo in Great Britain. It sells annual membership subscriptions (Introductory, Recreational, Judo Kids, and Full tiers) that provide insurance, grading access, competition eligibility, and member benefits; operates an online retail shop for BJA-branded and Adidas-approved judo merchandise; runs National Training Centre accommodation and competition services; and delivers coach registration, safeguarding/DBS services, anti-doping, and wellbeing programmes to its 38,823-strong membership across 890+ affiliated clubs.
Product overview
The British Judo Association (BJA) operates a multi-layered product and service portfolio centred on judo sport development and member management across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. At its core, the BJA offers a Membership Programme (available via The Dojo platform at bjadojo.co.uk) with tiered plans (Introductory, Recreational, Judo Kids, Full) providing insurance, grading access, and competition eligibility, alongside a BJA-branded merchandise Shop and a live streaming service for competitions. Supporting the sport's ecosystem are additional services including Find a Club (club locator), Coach Register & Training, Grading management, Kata and Adaptive Judo programmes. A significant pillar of the BJA's offering is its Safe Sport Platform, which encompasses Safeguarding & DBS Checks (using FADV KnowYourPeople for online DBS applications), Clean Sport/Anti-Doping (in partnership with UKAD and IJF), Inclusion & Diversity initiatives, and Wellbeing Support (including a complimentary InsideOut App with Remi AI coach). For elite performance, the GB Judo Performance Programme provides access to the Olympic & Paralympic NTC, WCPP selection, and Home Nation Squads. The EJU e-Platform serves as a supplementary educational tool. The BJA also retails its own-branded apparel (undershorts, hoodies) alongside adidas-approved judogi and gear through its official shop.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BJA Membership Programme Annual subscription memberships for individual judo practitioners providing personal accident and civil liability insurance, access to 890+ affiliated clubs, grading progression, competition eligibility, exclusive training resources, member-only events, priority event access, and discounts on BJA-approved gear.
- BJA Shop Merchandise Online retail of British Judo-branded merchandise including the BJA 1/4 Zip Hooded Performance Sweat Top (£40), BJA Undershorts with phone pocket (£20), branded caps (£15), and event merchandise.
- National Training Centre (NTC) Accommodation Bookable accommodation at the BJA's National Training Centre for visiting athletes, priced from £30 for one night up to £130 for seven consecutive nights, with a £10 late-checkout surcharge before 10am.
- GB Judo Performance Programme High-performance pathway for elite judoka delivering access to the Olympic & Paralympic National Training Centre, the World Class Performance Programme, Home Nation Squads, and selection for international events including World Championships, European Championships, and Paralympic Games.
- Coach Register & Training National coach registration and professional development service for qualified judo coaches operating within affiliated clubs, including safeguarding verification, DBS checks, and access to continuing coaching education.
- Safeguarding Training Courses Structured safeguarding training (3-hour Level 2 and 1.5-hour refresher courses), online DBS application processing via FADV KnowYourPeople, and Club Welfare Officer support for clubs, coaches, and officials.
- Clean Sport / Anti-Doping Programme Anti-doping rules, Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) guidance, testing procedures, and athlete education resources delivered in partnership with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and the International Judo Federation.
- adidas Club Judo Uniform (350g) Official BJA-approved adidas club-level judogi weighing 350g, priced at £37.99, distributed via CIMAC Approved Products.
- adidas Champion III Judo Uniform (750g) Premium IJF-approved adidas Champion judogi weighing 750g, priced at £78.99, for competitive judoka meeting International Judo Federation specifications.
- British Judo 1/4 Zip Hooded Performance Sweat Top BJA-branded quarter-zip performance hoodie for members and supporters, priced at £40.00.
- British Judo Association Undershorts BJA-branded training undershorts with a phone pocket, priced at £20.00.
Companies that use British Judo Association
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
British Judo Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
British Judo Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, flagship and minor.
- UK SportcoreUK Sport is the strategic body responsible for elite sport in the UK, providing lottery funding support to British Judo's Olympic and Paralympic programmes. The organization is lottery funded and supports high-performance sport development.
- Sport EnglandcoreSport England provides funding and strategic support for grassroots and elite sport development in England, supporting British Judo's participation initiatives and club development.
- British Olympic Association (BOA)coreBritish Judo represents Great Britain internationally as a member of the British Olympic Association, enabling Olympic pathway participation for elite judoka.
- British Paralympic Association (BPA)corePartnership supporting Paralympic judo athletes and pathways for visually impaired judoka competing at Paralympic Games.
- International Judo Federation (IJF)coreBritish Judo is a member of the International Judo Federation, enabling participation in World Judo Tour, World Championships, and other international competitions.
- European Judo Union (EJU)coreMembership in EJU enables participation in European Championships, European Cups, and other continental-level competitions.
- UK Sports InstitutemajorProvides scientific and medical support services to British Judo athletes, including sports science, physiology, and performance analysis.
- AdidasflagshipProudly Sponsored By Adidas - official sponsor providing approved products including judo uniforms, apparel, and equipment for British Judo members.
- University of WolverhamptonmajorHouses British Judo Head Office at Walsall Campus and the Olympic & Paralympic National Training Centre (NTC). Provides academic partnership and facility access.
- TASS (Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme)majorGovernment-funded scheme supporting talented athletes with financial assistance for training and competition expenses.
- Sports AidminorCharity providing support and funding opportunities for up-and-coming British athletes.
- England JudocoreHome Nation programme for England, operating as part of the British Judo network and managing English judo development.
- Judo ScotlandcoreHome Nation programme for Scotland, operating as part of the British Judo network and managing Scottish judo development.
- Welsh JudocoreHome Nation programme for Wales, operating as part of the British Judo network and managing Welsh judo development.
- Northern Ireland JudocoreHome Nation programme for Northern Ireland, operating as part of the British Judo network and managing Northern Irish judo development.
- Commonwealth JudomajorPartnership for Commonwealth Games judo competition, enabling judoka to compete for their home nations in Commonwealth Games.
- Howden GroupminorInsurance partner providing commercial and organizational insurance services to British Judo.
- PhysiqueminorPartner providing physiotherapy and sports therapy services or products.
- CIMACmajorOfficial approved products retailer for Adidas judo uniforms and equipment. Runs the Approved Products programme for British Judo.
- TeamElitemajorOperates the official BJA Shop for British Judo merchandise including uniforms, apparel, and accessories.
- British Judo Council (BJC)minorPartner organization representing another segment of British judo practitioners.
- Amateur Judo Association (AJA)minorPartner organization representing amateur judo in Britain, with AJA welfare officers and coaches operating within the British Judo ecosystem.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
British Judo Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Welsh Judo: Home Nation programme for Wales within the BJA network. Same governance, membership, and competition structure as BJA at sub-national level.
- British Judo Council (BJC): Parallel national judo governing body in Britain representing a different segment of practitioners. Closest direct competitor in the British judo governance market.
- Judo Scotland: National governing body for judo in Scotland and a Home Nation programme within the BJA network. Operates the same membership-club-competition model as BJA at sub-national level.
- England Judo: Home Nation programme for England within the BJA network, managing English judo development. Direct structural and operational peer delivering grassroots and competitive judo programmes.
- British Taekwondo: UK national governing body for taekwondo with similar NGB structure: recognised by UK Sport/Sport England, Olympic pathway, membership tiers, club affiliations, and safeguarding programmes.
- USA Judo: United States national governing body for judo with the same IJF membership, Olympic/Paralympic pathway, and federation membership-fee model as BJA.
- Karate England: National governing body for karate in England offering membership, club affiliation, grading, and competition pathways — closely comparable NGB structure to BJA.
- Amateur Judo Association (AJA): UK-based amateur judo organisation operating in parallel to BJA with its own welfare officers, coaches, and club network. Direct competitor for British judo participation and affiliation.
Broad incumbents
- England Boxing: National governing body for boxing in England with membership, club affiliation, and competition sanctioning analogous to BJA — direct peer in the UK combat-sport NGB category.
- International Judo Federation (IJF): Global governing body for judo of which BJA is a national federation member. Operates the same federation structure one tier up — analogous governance, sanctioning, and athlete pathway design.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
British Judo Association social profiles
Digital presenceBritish Judo Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
British Judo Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
British Judo Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
British Judo Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about British Judo Association
What does British Judo Association do?
The British Judo Association (BJA) is the official national governing body for judo in Great Britain. It sells annual membership subscriptions (Introductory, Recreational, Judo Kids, and Full tiers) that provide insurance, grading access, competition eligibility, and member benefits; operates an online retail shop for BJA-branded and Adidas-approved judo merchandise; runs National Training Centre accommodation and competition services; and delivers coach registration, safeguarding/DBS services, anti-doping, and wellbeing programmes to its 38,823-strong membership across 890+ affiliated clubs.
Is British Judo Association a public or private company?
British Judo Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was British Judo Association founded?
British Judo Association was founded in 1948. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is British Judo Association based?
British Judo Association is headquartered in Great Barr, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does British Judo Association make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are retail Merchandise Sales and NTC Accommodation and Event Services.
Who are British Judo Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Welsh Judo, British Judo Council (BJC), Judo Scotland, England Judo, British Taekwondo, USA Judo, Karate England and Amateur Judo Association (AJA). Broad incumbents are England Boxing and International Judo Federation (IJF).
Does British Judo Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for British Judo Association.
What industry is British Judo Association in?
British Judo Association's product category is Sports Governing Body. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAFAB, International Sport Federations (IFs), with a secondary code of MPAKAFAI, Combat Sports Sanctioning Bodies & Commissions (Boxing/MMA/Kickboxing). Its NAICS code is 711211 and its SIC code is 7997.