Judo Scotland

What Judo Scotland does

Judo Scotland is the sportscotland-recognised National Governing Body for judo in Scotland, headquartered at the Ratho national training centre near Edinburgh. The organisation functions as a membership-based non-profit, serving individual judoka, affiliated clubs, coaches, officials, and high-performance athletes across Scotland. Its core service lines comprise membership registration (Junior Under 8 at £20, Junior at £30, Senior at £40, Family £38–£58), technical grading through the Kai Grade national syllabus (£10–£25 per grading event), coach and official education, and the Player Development Framework (PDF) performance pathway that feeds into British Judo and Team Scotland representation.

The business model combines individual and family membership dues, grading fees, sportscotland grant funding, and commercial partnerships such as the Fighting Films judogi agreement signed in 2026. Revenue is long-tail and diversified across thousands of participants and hundreds of affiliated clubs, with no single customer concentration. The organisation operates community programs including the Senpai youth initiative, Adapted and Visually Impaired judo, and female-engagement activities, alongside a Summer of Sport 2026 funding initiative that signals continued public-sector support.

Operationally, Judo Scotland relies on a small central staff and a volunteer base of more than 500 individuals who deliver club-level activity, officiating, and event support. The high-performance pathway is anchored in the Ratho centre and is being expanded ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, where the organisation has secured an enlarged judo squad allocation relative to Birmingham 2022. Recent leadership changes include the appointment of Michael Horley as Performance Pathway Coach, Katrina Downie as Team Scotland Judo Team Manager following Sarah Adlington's retirement, and an ongoing Chair succession process.

Name

Judo Scotland

Legal name

Judo Scotland

Website

https://judoscotland.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Judo Scotland is the sportscotland-recognised National Governing Body for judo in Scotland, delivering membership, grading, coach education, and a performance pathway for clubs, players, and high-performance athletes from its Ratho base near Edinburgh.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Judo Sports Governance

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Disability & Adaptive Sport Governing Bodies (Paralympic & Sport-Specific) (MPAKAFAL)

Keywords

• Judo sports governance
• Judo membership programs
• Sports club accreditation
• Judo grading administration
• Athlete development pathways

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees provide core revenue. Membership categories include Junior Under 8 (£20), Junior (£30), Senior (£40), and Family memberships (£38-58). New members receive four months free provisional membership. Membership provides access to competitions, gradings, insurance, and benefits.
2. Grading Fees: Fees collected for grading assessments at various levels: Kai grade £10, Mon grade £11, Kyu grade £15, Dan grade £25. Grading fees are paid to clubs who submit applications through JudoScotland.
3. Club Affiliation Fees: Judo clubs operating within Scotland affiliate to British Judo Association through JudoScotland, providing insurance cover and access to benefits. Clubs must affiliate annually by 31st March.
4. Kaizen Academy Programme: Professional development programme requiring a £250 annual investment from clubs or coaches, with remaining costs (approximately £2,000) subsidised by JudoScotland.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Judo Scotland administers the sport in Scotland as the sportscotland-recognised national governing body. It provides annual memberships, club affiliation and JudoMark accreditation, grading assessments, coach, referee and technical-official development, a performance pathway, and programmes for adapted, visually impaired, veteran, and female participants.

Product overview

JudoScotland is Scotland's sportscotland-recognised national governing body for judo, offering a comprehensive portfolio of programmes and services. The core offerings include membership programmes across multiple tiers (Junior Under 8, Junior, Senior, and Family) providing insurance, competition access, and development pathways. The organisation operates a hierarchical grading system (Kai, Mon, Kyu, Dan grades) and delivers coach education through UKCC Level 1-4 qualifications. Club support is provided via JudoMark accreditation and the Performance Pathway programme. Supplementary services include Adapted Judo, Visually Impaired Judo, Veterans Judo, Female Engagement initiatives, the Senpai youth programme, Kaizen Academy for coach development, Community Awards, and the Summer of Sport funding initiative. The Judo For All Strategy 2023-2027 frames the inclusive approach across all offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• JudoScotland Membership Annual membership programme providing Personal Accident and Civil Liability insurance, competition and grading access, exclusive retail discounts, performance coaching support, national squad selection eligibility, and subsidised coach education.
• Club Affiliation Annual affiliation service through which Scottish judo clubs affiliate to the British Judo Association via Judo Scotland and access insurance, national grading, club-marketing, and accreditation-related benefits.
• JudoMark Club Accreditation Club development and accreditation scheme covering governance, safeguarding, people development, and club management, with digital resources, policy templates, progression frameworks, and club benefits.
• Judo Scotland Grading Assessments Paid competency assessments for the Kai, Mon, Kyu, and Dan grading levels, with applications submitted through clubs and separate fees for each level.
• Coach Education (UKCC Level 1-4) Coaching qualification pathway from UKCC Level 1 assistant coach through Level 4 advanced sports coaching practice, supplemented by continuous professional development requirements.
• Technical Official Training Training pathway for technical officials progressing from timekeeper or scorer through competition recorder, senior recorder, and competition controller, with examination requirements at each level.
• Referee Certification Multi-level referee certification pathway from provisional through international referee, including eligibility criteria, authority levels, and revalidation requirements.
• Kaizen Academy Programme Two-year professional development programme for Level 1 and Level 2 coaches featuring sessions with judo experts, discounted event access, and personalised dojo visits.
• Performance Pathway Structured athlete pathway from Academy to Commonwealth and World Class Performance, providing training programmes, strength and conditioning, and access to performance nutrition and support services.
• Adapted Judo Pathway Six-level progressive adapted judo programme aligned with European Judo Union and International Judo Federation standards for athletes with disabilities.
• Visually Impaired Judo Specialised programme for visually impaired judoka with B1, B2, and B3 classifications, following IJF Para-Judo rules and supporting the Paralympic pathway.
• Veterans Judo Monthly training sessions, national gradings, and domestic and international competition opportunities for judoka over 30 years of age.
• Female Engagement Programme Programme focused on increasing women's and girls' participation through the Judo Girls Rise fund and a FabLittleBag partnership supporting access to period products at clubs and talent-pathway events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 volunteers deliver judo experiences across Scotland
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fighting FilmscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 June 2026Official judogi partner for Team Scotland judo athletes at Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Fighting Films provides competition judogi for Scottish judoka representing Scotland.
• Blue Print Fitness PaisleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTraining facility supporter located next to Clyde Judo Club in Paisley, providing Team Scotland judoka access to first-class training facilities ahead of Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
• Howden Sports BenefitscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive partnership providing JudoScotland members with range of discount benefits on shopping, days out, and motoring. From Adidas to Alton Towers, members access savings through their membership.
• Lost Shore Surf ResortminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive benefits for JudoScotland members at Scotland's premier inland surfing destination: 10% discount on surf lessons/sessions, 15% discount for club groups of 16+, and 10% discount in tea, coffee and pastries at National Training Centre.
• SportsHotels.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive hotel booking platform for JudoScotland members offering up to 40% off hotel rates worldwide with over 1 million properties ranging from chains to boutique and luxury hotels.
• sportscotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial recognition as national governing body for judo in Scotland. sportscotland provides funding, support, and strategic alignment. Key collaboration on Summer of Sport funding and coach development programmes.
• International Judo Federation (IJF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal governing body for judo. JudoScotland works within IJF framework for international competition, rules, and standards.
• European Judo Union (EJU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinental governing body for judo in Europe. Alignment on Adapted Judo Pathway standards and European competition opportunities.
• British Judo Association (BJA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome Nation governing body for judo in England (JudoScotland is equivalent for Scotland). JudoScotland Mon, Kyu and Dan grade systems are aligned with BJA, ensuring consistent development across the UK.
• Commonwealth Games ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners for Team Scotland judo representation at Commonwealth Games. Allocation increased from Birmingham 2022 to Glasgow 2026.
• Scottish Disability SportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for adapted judo and visually impaired judo programmes. Collaboration on inclusion initiatives and disability-specific judo opportunities.
• Scottish Disability SportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquality Standard signatory demonstrating commitment to equality in sport. Collaboration on disability inclusion strategies.
• MacroncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial kit sponsor providing JudoScotland-branded training clothing and merchandise. Exclusive store access for members with retail discounts.
• FabLittleBagminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership addressing period stigma by providing Coach's Bags with essential period products and disposal bags distributed across clubs and talent pathway events.
• Scottish Sports FuturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivers educational workshops for Senpai Programme participants including Working with Young People in Sport, Goal Setting, Planning Effective Physical Activity, Communication, and Disability Identity and Sport.
• UK Anti-Doping (UKAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on anti-doping education and clean sport protection. JudoScotland works with UKAD to ensure athletes, parents and coaches have access to latest anti-doping information.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• British Judo Association: The home nation NGB for judo in England and the UK-wide umbrella body. Directly comparable as a judo NGB with aligned grading systems (Mon, Kyu, Dan), club affiliation, coach education, and anti-doping integration, on a larger geographic and member scale.
• Scottish Gymnastics: Scotland's recognised NGB for gymnastics, with a comparable nonprofit operating model: sportscotland recognition, membership subscriptions, club affiliation, coach education, performance pathway, and inclusive programming. Closely matched in scale, governance, and funding structure.
• Scottish Athletics: The NGB for athletics in Scotland, sharing sportscotland recognition, a club-based membership model, Coach Education pathways, and Performance/Commonwealth Games pathway delivery. Comparable operating footprint and member-tier structure.
• Scottish Wrestling: Scotland's NGB for wrestling. A fellow combat-sport NGB within the same sportscotland framework, with overlapping athlete pools, similar grading/competitions structure, and parallel Commonwealth Games performance pathways.
• Scotland Karate: Scotland's governing body for karate, another combat/martial arts NGB with a comparable sportscotland-recognised model, club affiliation, membership tiers, and coach education pathways.
• Scottish Squash: Another Scotland-based sportscotland-recognised NGB with a similar nonprofit operating model, membership subscriptions, club affiliation fees, and structured coaching pathways.
• Scottish Hockey: Scotland's NGB for hockey, operating with similar sportscotland recognition, club affiliation, performance pathway, and Commonwealth Games representation — a structurally comparable Scottish NGB.
• British Taekwondo: The UK home nation NGB for taekwondo. Operates a closely analogous membership and grading model, club affiliation, performance pathway, and is recognised by the equivalent of IJF (World Taekwondo) and sportscotland-aligned home nations bodies.

Broad incumbents

• England Boxing: The home nation NGB for boxing in England — a larger, more established combat-sport NGB with overlapping club affiliation, coach education, and member insurance frameworks relevant for benchmarking JudoScotland's operating model.

Others

• Commonwealth Games Scotland: The umbrella body coordinating Scottish athlete representation at the Commonwealth Games. JudoScotland is a member federation; they share the Glasgow 2026 cycle and partnership/athlete-allocation structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/judo-scotland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Judo Scotland