17th John Davies Western Area & England Judo International Summer Training Camp 2026

Five incredible days of learning, development and inspiration came to an end as the 17th John Davies Western Area & England Judo International Summer Training Camp concluded at Kingsley School.

Recognised as one of the UK’s leading summer judo camps, the event continues to support the vision of British Judo and England Judo by providing an outstanding opportunity for judoka of all ages and abilities to train together, learn from some of the world’s best coaches and experience everything that makes our sport so special. Bringing together athletes from clubs across the country, the camp creates an environment where friendships are formed, confidence grows and a passion for judo continues to flourish.

Hosted at Kingsley School, the camp also reflects the school’s long-standing commitment to developing judo within education. From its origins at Grenville College to today’s Kingsley Sports Pathway, the school has championed judo as a vehicle for developing character, resilience and leadership alongside sporting excellence.

Throughout the five days, participants enjoyed an exceptional programme of technical coaching, randori, strength and conditioning, tactical workshops and world-class masterclasses. We were honoured to welcome Japanese legend Yoko Tanabe, a three-time Olympic medallist, winning bronze at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games before claiming silver medals at both the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, alongside multiple World Championship medals and the prestigious All Japan Championship title.

Joining Yoko were Commonwealth Games medallists Lele and Ethan Nairne, England Coach Pete Douglas, Ben Almond, author of Judo Thinking, and the Kingsley coaching team, all of whom inspired athletes with their knowledge, passion and experience.

We also welcomed Karl Found from FC Rise Strength & Conditioning, who delivered an exciting athletic development programme, challenging our young athletes through movement, speed, power and mobility sessions while reinforcing the importance of physical preparation alongside technical judo development. Supporting recovery, our yoga specialist Christianne once again delivered an outstanding session, helping athletes appreciate the value of flexibility, mobility, breathing and recovery in achieving long-term sporting success.

A unique feature of the camp remains the annual surfing experience with Surf Up and Rob’s fantastic team of instructors at Westward Ho!. The experience allows many judoka to challenge themselves outside the dojo, developing confidence, resilience and teamwork in a completely different environment. Together with the traditional camp BBQ, evening games and open randori, it creates an atmosphere unlike any other judo camp, blending elite performance with fun, friendship and unforgettable memories.

The camp is organised by Simon Ward, Director of Sport at Kingsley School, Head Coach of Kingsley Judo Club and Western Area Head Coach. The original vision for the camp was created by John Davies, former Judo Coach at Grenville College, together with Juergen Klinger from the University of Bath. Their ambition was to create a summer camp that brought together outstanding coaching, friendship and enjoyment to inspire the next generation of judoka. In 2010, Simon and Sandra Klinger turned that vision into reality by delivering the very first camp, and seventeen years later it continues to grow stronger than ever.

Kingsley School extends its sincere thanks to every guest coach, volunteer, parent and supporter who helped make the camp another outstanding success. Most importantly, thank you to every judoka whose enthusiasm, commitment and willingness to learn made the 17th John Davies Western Area & England Judo International Summer Training Camp another unforgettable celebration of our sport.