BUCS Judo Championships 2025 Showcases University Talent
The BUCS Judo Championships 2025 brought together both experienced and novice university athletes from across the UK to Walsall. Organised by BUCS and a dedicated team of volunteers, including “Smudge” Smith MBE, Malcolm Limrick, Peter Holmes, Neil Lawcock, Alan Lingham, Graham Bayley, Katrina McDonald, and Paul Grady, the event was an incredible success!
This year, for the first time, the championships included a novice section for 5th and 6th kyu grades. This addition allowed athletes relatively new to the sport to experience competitive judo, supported by enthusiastic teammates who created a welcoming atmosphere. It was amazing to see newcomers embraced by their peers, marking a significant step in the growth of university judo.
Throughout the event, team support was electric, especially with vocal backing from universities like Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bath, and Nottingham. The team finals attracted large crowds, amplifying the excitement and showcasing the strong camaraderie characteristic of university sport. The atmosphere reflected the dedication of both the athletes and their supporters.
The level of competition demonstrated the high standard of university judo in the UK, reinforcing the importance of the BUCS Championships as a platform for developing student talent.
While the BUCS Judo Championships is a celebrated event in its own right, it also contributes to university standings in the BUCS overall tables and serves as a stepping stone for selection to the European University Games. Last year’s championship acted as a selection event for the prestigious competition, underlining the event’s significance.
“BUCS was a great event, to see the Higher Education judo sector come together to compete in teams and as individuals was fantastic,” said Katrina McDonald from Anglia Ruskin University, who helped organise the event.
“The atmosphere from the universities was fabulous, with the new addition of a novice section bringing a dynamic not seen at this event before. It was wonderful to see seasoned competitors encouraging those students taking part in their first competition.
“There was a real sense of being welcomed to the judo family. Thank you to everyone who made it such a success.
“Feedback is always important, so please do share any comments to improve via email at Katrina.McDonald@aru.ac.uk.”
The official BUCS points for judo will be added soon and can be viewed here.
Watch out for further news from British Judo by checking out our latest news section. You can also catch up via our official social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The post BUCS Judo Championships 2025 Showcases University Talent appeared first on British Judo Association.