Recap: Inspiring High-Performance Coaching Course

Inspiring High-Performance Judo in Innisfail

Inspiring is the only word that truly captures the High Performance Coaching Course held in Innisfail this past weekend.

The course brought together members of the Judo Australia and Judo Queensland state teams for an intensive weekend of high-level training and development. Leading the course were Stewart Brain (‘88 Olympian and 2012 Olympic Coach), three-time Olympian Cathy Brain and Aya Topp, a specialist in Women in Judo.

It was fantastic to see the high calibre of judo Queensland has to offer on the national stage and even more exciting that Townsville Judo was able to learn and grow from this experience. Townsville Judo was proudly represented by three athletes and two coaches, all of whom gained invaluable insight from training alongside some of the state’s best. Thank you to Innisfail Judo Club for hosting.

Back to the Roots of Judo

The focus of the course was on basic but vital grassroots judo - what some might describe as the essence of “old-style” Japanese judo teaching. The weekend reinforced the importance of strong fundamentals as the foundation for high-performance outcomes.

The course began with a physical warm-up incorporating throws, breakfalls and footwork. From there, participants focused on achieving the correct grip, understanding how to use that grip effectively, breaking balance and applying these principles across many forward throws in judo.

The afternoon session centred almost entirely on one throw: uchi-mata. Judoka spent nearly two hours refining this technique before moving into an extended randori session. This final block was where Queensland’s best truly came to life - the technique, stamina and overall excellence on display were nothing short of inspiring.

Sunday morning was devoted to ne-waza techniques and principles, followed by more randori, allowing participants to consolidate learning across both standing and groundwork contexts.

Growing Judo in the North

With the growth Townsville Judo has experienced over the past two years, combined with the success of our recent competition, Townsville Judo has been invited to host the Queensland State Judo Championships in March 2027 - a significant milestone for our club and our region.

It is incredibly encouraging to now be recognised as the third-largest judo club in Queensland. We are committed to contributing not only to judo as a sport, but also to the development of high-quality judoka, coaches, families and communities in North Queensland - and to the broader Judo Australia pathway.

What’s Next

For those who missed the Innisfail course, there is good news. Townsville Judo is actively exploring the opportunity to host a similar high-performance training and coaching event in conjunction with our local competition in July/August, alongside a formal grading assessment for coaches.

We believe it’s important for athletes to know that coaches are equally committed to ongoing development and are subject to assessment and progression just like players. Creating repeat opportunities for high-level training and coaching ensures that everyone in our club - athletes and coaches alike - continues to grow together.

Events like this reaffirm our belief in investing in people, fundamentals, and community and we look forward to building on this momentum in the months and years ahead.

View some photos from the sessions below: