British Judo and French Judo Unite to Inspire the Next Generation

British Judo has strengthened its international ties with a successful second year of collaboration with the French Judo Federation, delivering an ambitious school-based initiative aimed at introducing young people to the sport and building long-term grassroots pathways.

Over two days at Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill in Wembley, the joint programme engaged approximately 700 pupils ranging from early years through to sixth form, with every year group given the opportunity to experience the sport firsthand.

The collaboration reflects a shared vision between British and French judo organisations: to increase accessibility to judo within educational settings and create sustainable participation pathways. With judo not traditionally embedded in UK school sport provision, the programme provides a rare opportunity for many students to encounter the sport for the first time.

Coaches worked with children to deliver inclusive and engaging sessions designed to showcase the fundamentals of judo while building confidence, discipline, and enjoyment. For many participants, this was their first exposure to martial arts, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from both students and school staff.

A key strength of the initiative lies in its collaborative delivery model. Coaching teams from local clubs, including Ealing Judo Club and Hillingdon Judo Club, worked alongside French counterparts and Britain’s own Olympic and Paralympic medallists Gemma Gibbons and Chris Skelley MBE, enabling a dynamic exchange of coaching practices and ideas. Their involvement provided additional inspiration, helping young participants connect with the sport and envision future opportunities within it.

This shared learning approach is central to the partnership. French judo has a well-established presence within schools, offering British Judo valuable insight into effective delivery models that could be adapted and scaled across the UK. At the same time, British coaches contribute their own expertise, creating a mutually beneficial development environment.

Beyond the immediate impact, the initiative is designed with long-term sustainability in mind. A central aim is to establish Anglo-French judo academies within international schools across Great Britain, each linked to local judo clubs. This connection ensures that students who discover a passion for the sport have clear progression routes into regular training environments.

Maintaining strong ties with local clubs is considered essential to the programme’s success, providing both coaching infrastructure and continuity for new participants.

Following the success of this year’s delivery, British Judo and its French partners are already planning to expand the programme. Future ambitions include extending delivery across additional international schools in the UK, hosting evening showcase events featuring elite British and French athletes, developing holiday camps and summer programmes and exploring reciprocal opportunities in France within English-speaking international schools.

As the programme continues to grow, it stands as a model for how international cooperation can drive participation, inspire young people, and shape the future of sport at grassroots level.

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