2024 / 2025 Registration Information

Believe in Yourself

Be the Best You Can Be

What We Offer

OUR CLASSES

Junior Class (6-11)

Intermediate Class (12-15)

Senior Class (16+)

High Performance (12+)

Women's Self Defence

The Moral Code of Judo

redefine your workout

Courage

In Japan, where judo was born, the courage dimension is an integral part of Bushido

respect

The notion of respect is at the very heart of the practice of judo. Any judoka knows this from the first day they step on a tatami and will tell you without hesitation that respect is symbolised by the bow.

modesty

On the tatami, once all the roughness of social origin has been erased, once the judogi is re-hung, there is no other choice than to be modest and humble

sincerity

To be a sincere judoka is effectively to express oneself without disguising one's thought.

honour

in judo, honour consists of going to the end of one's abilities, in learning to exceed them, while respecting the rules, the decisions of referees and the opponent; all this avoiding any form of cheating.

friendship

The magic paradox of judo is that beyond the notion of opposition which is linked to the very nature of sport, it generates ties which strengthen understanding both at the individual level and at the level of nations.

politeness

When children arrive for the first time on a tatami and are interested in the practice of judo, one of the teacher's missions is to create the necessary conditions for the practice in common, with respect for each one and especially in the respect for the differences.

self control

To control our emotions, we learn by practising judo, not to repress what moves us, but on the contrary, we learn to let ourselves be invaded by emotions while preventing them from dictating our behavior.

code of conduct

full body workouts that leave you energized

go beyond your limits

Our Athletes Believe in Us

Here Is What They Are Saying

"I've been with the Medicine Hat Judo Club for eight years now. I like how friendly a place it is, and how the Club looks for what each member is trying to get out of judo. There's no one-size-fits-all approach here."
Donovan H
"They've pretty much become a second family to me. There are 3 or 4 main coaches with judo dads/brown belts who know things, so teaching is very diverse and open to all age groups and experience levels. There are regular focus nights on basics, more advanced competition techniques, cardio, and technical procedures required to progress in belt ranking. If you want to just watch for a bit that's fine too!"
Jen Y
"Definitely one of the best clubs I've ever had the opportunity to attending! The sport has developed me in many ways since I was a young child! The instructors are excellent with kids, and it truly is one of the best decisions I've made in years!"
Matt G
"Great judo club! Very helpful, friendly and so patient with the little ones! 10/10 would and do recommend!"
Haleigh R
"Great accepting environment that works for people who want self defence, competitive success or just a fun structured environment for an active lifestyle. As a member of the junior class I learned about respect and begun fitness while having a blast at class everyday and as a teen in the senior class I’ve found a great place to take a break from the stress high school can bring."
Ethan H

Train With Experts

MEET THE coaches

Scot McAlpine
NCCP Level I

Shodan

Stev Young
NCCP Level II

Nidan

Robin Kurpjuweit
NCCP Level I

Shodan

Donovan Hoggan
NCCP Level II

Shodan

commit to health and fitness

challenge yourself. take it to the next level.

Join Us Today

Thank You For Supporting Our Judoka!

2024 / 2025 Judo Schedule

Junior

Ages 6 – 8

Monday’s 5:45PM – 6:30PM

Wednesday’s 5:45PM – 6:30PM

Activities:

Develop fundamental movement skills

Introduce the ABC’S of Athleticism: Agility, Balance, Coordination and Speed. Accomplished through general exercises and a variety of Judo related games

Ukemi Waza (Falling Techniques)

Osaekomi Waza (Pinning Techniques) and Escapes

Nage Waza (Throwing Techniques)

Ne Waza Randori (Pinning Technique Open Practice, ie Competitive Style)

Nage Waza Randori (Throwing Technique Open Practice, ie Competitive Style)

Intermediate

Ages 9 – 14

Monday’s 6:30PM – 7:30PM

Wednesday’s 6:30PM – 7:30PM

*Thursday’s 7:30PM – 9:00PM

Activities:

Develop fundamental movement skills

Introduce the ABC’S of Athleticism: Agility, Balance, Coordination and Speed. Accomplished through general exercises and a variety of Judo related games

Ukemi Waza (Falling Techniques)

Osaekomi Waza (Pinning Techniques) and Escapes

Nage Waza (Throwing Techniques)

Ne Waza Randori (Pinning Technique Open Practice, ie Competitive Style)

Nage Waza Randori (Throwing Technique Open Practice, ie Competitive Style)

Shime Waza (Choking Technique)

Kansetsu Waza (Joint Locking Technique)

*High Performance nights (Thursdays) will cover advanced techniques, and therefore participants require Sensei Stev’s invitation to attend

Senior

*Ages 15 and up
(Including Beginner Adults)

Monday’s 7:30M – 9:00PM

Wednesday’s 7:30PM – 9:00PM

*Thursday’s 7:30PM – 9:00PM

Note:

Progression of training tailored to specific
learner needs and development objectives

Activities:

Develop fundamental movement skills

ABC’S of Athleticism: Agility, Balance, Coordination and Speed. Accomplished through general exercises and a variety of Judo related drills

Ukemi Waza (Falling Techniques)

Osaekomi Waza (Pinning Techniques) and Escapes

Nage Waza (Throwing Techniques)

Ne Waza Randori (Pinning Technique Open Practice, ie Competitive Style)

Nage Waza Randori (Throwing Technique Open Practice, ie Competitive Style)

Shime Waza (Choking Technique)

Kansetsu Waza (Joint Locking Technique)

*High Performance nights (Thursdays) will cover advanced techniques, and therefore participants require Sensei Stev’s invitation to attend

Women's Self Defence

All Ages

Sunday’s 10:00AM – Noon

Note:
 
All techniques are tailored to the individual students’ abilities.
 
Activities:
 
Setting and enforcing appropriate boundaries
 
Confidence Building
 
Legal Considerations
 
Psychology of Stressful Encounters
 
Predicting Attacks
 
Continuum of Attacks and Continuum of Responses
 
Standing Work – escaping grabs, joint locks, chokes, strikes and throws
 
Ground Work – Controlling position, escapes, joint locks, chokes, strikes.
 
Full Force Practice – Judo students participate as “Bad Guys” allowing WSD students to learn techniques slowly, then practice them at full force and full speed

Welcome to the Medicine Hat Judo Club,

Your journey here is all about you. It will be what you make it and only you can decide where to start and where to end. How much energy you expend and how much time you put in will directly impact what you take with you. I could go on about our rich history, over 30 years as a part of this community but the heart of the matter is truly our people. All volunteers contributing not only time but resources to ensure we have a safe, friendly, inclusive and nurturing environment in which to practice this wonderful art of judo. We are a fully accredited dojo sanctioned by Judo Alberta and Judo Canada with a qualified and dedicated coaching staff. My own judo journey started in Saskatchewan in 1971. A single car garage was made to convert to a dojo for practice and then park the car after we left. I spent some time in Manitoba but settled at the Medicine Hat Club in 1991. Head instructor Keon Clift joined our club in 1997 and brings a wealth of competitive experience. Sensei Keon earned his black belt training in Japan as an exchange student. Our coaching ranks have been grown over the years and we now have four certified NCCP judo coaches and several more in the certification program. This allows us to offer the safest and best possible judo instruction available here. We pride ourselves on offering personalized instruction with one on one attention from our instructors as different people develop at different speeds. We are also a very intimate environment with room for no more than20 dedicated judoka. We hope that your experience here will give you a wealth of memories and a way of life that will follow you wherever you may go.

Jay Hitchen
Medicine Hat Judo Club

What is Judo?

Code of Conduct

Judo Code of Conduct

The Medicine Hat Judo Club is a safe, supportive, and friendly environment. To that end, all students are required to behave in a manner that shows respect to themselves, their peers, their instructors and the art of judo itself. When issues arise, we begin with coaching the individual on what our behavioral expectations are, why they are important and what they must do to meet them. If that doesn’t work, we will try redirection or other supportive strategies to get the athlete on track. Next, we would resort to time spent out of class and, finally, if necessary for the safety and well-being of the individual or other club members, we would ask the student to leave for one or more classes. We are far more interested in supporting people through learning proper behaviour than removing them for inappropriate behaviour.

Harassment and Bullying

We define harassment and bullying as using words or actions to deliberately hurt someone else. We do not tolerate it in our club and consider it a violation of the foundations of judo. While it is rarely an issue, when it does come up, it is dealt with as described above.

Coaching Staff

Sensei and Instructors will follow the Judo Canada Coach’s Code of Conduct. Activities will be well-communicated, timely, and well-organized. When teaching or demonstrating a skill, sensei and instructors will emphasize safety. Positive feedback and adaptive teaching methods will be used to foster engagement, learning, enthusiastic participation, and steady improvement. Injuries will be tended to immediately and appropriately. The coaching team will do what it can to ensure the best learning environment possible for participants. I took out the bit about self esteem, since that seems to be marketed towards the heads of clubs interested in getting their senior belts out for coaching.

Judoka

Participants will be required to respect all dojo rules, such as bowing properly, using respectful language in the dojo, deferring to senior judoka, and showing respect of personal space and property. They will actively cooperate with their fellow judoka and sensei. They are expected to tell the sensei of any injuries. The judoka will commit to a goal and steadily work towards it. Judoka will control their emotions in the dojo.

Parents

Parents are welcome to ask questions of the coaches about any aspect of their child’s coaching or the club in general- they’re even welcome to join in! They will be expected to support their child in their effort to improve while being mindful of the difference between supporting a child and pushing them. There will be continuous respect of their child’s opponents and fellow judoka- parents are cheerleaders! Let us do the coaching.