Is Your Judo Club Actually Holding Judo Back?
Vince Skillcorn
Judo Disruptor - challenging the status quo whilst building one of the biggest judo clubs in the country.
This might... No, sorry, This WILL ruffle some feathers, but it needs to be said…
Judo clubs across the UK are unknowingly holding the sport back.
Not because they aren’t passionate.
Not because they don’t care.
But because the way most clubs operate creates a false economy—one that makes it nearly impossible for judo to grow beyond its current limitations.
Let me explain…
The Hidden Problem with Volunteer-Led Judo Clubs
Most judo clubs in the UK are run as charities, CAS, or volunteer organisations.
That sounds noble, and in many ways, it is. Volunteers pour their hearts into the sport, giving their time for free to keep the doors open.
But here’s the catch…
These clubs don’t have to pay proper wages for coaches. They don’t have business rates. They often receive funding to cover rent, equipment, or running costs.
So what happens?
They set fees that don’t reflect the real-world cost of running a judo business.
Meanwhile, a judo club that runs as a real business—one that actually pays its coaches, hires admin staff, covers rent at commercial rates, pays for advertising, insurance, marketing, and everything else needed to grow—has to set pricing that makes sense.
One club charges ￡2 a class, and another charges ￡59... ￡79... ￡99 a month.
Parents are then confused. Now, you would assume that parents would just join the cheaper club ... but is that the case?
Studies have proven that when people are unsure about what something should cost, they will generally TRUST the more expensive option.
But within the judo community the market has been conditioned to believe judo should be cheap.
This isn’t just an issue for club owners who want to build sustainable businesses…
It’s an issue for the entire future of judo in the UK.
What Happens When We Keep This Model?
Coaches Can’t Make a Living – If fees don’t reflect the actual cost of running a club, how do we expect coaches to survive? We lose talented people to industries that actually pay.
Growth Stalls – Without revenue, clubs can’t invest in facilities, advertising, or staff. And if clubs don’t grow, neither does judo.
Athletes Have No Pathway – Where do judo athletes go when their competitive careers end? In other sports, they move into coaching or club ownership… but in judo, that’s rarely an option because it doesn’t pay.
The Harsh Reality: If Judo is Going to Grow, It Needs to Change.
This doesn’t mean the community club model is bad. But it does mean that we need to stop pretending that’s the only way forward.
We need more professional judo clubs. Clubs that operate like real businesses, with real pricing, real wages, and real opportunities for growth.
This is exactly why we launched Dojo LaunchPad—to help judo clubs break free from the volunteer mindset and build clubs that actually thrive.
If you want to be part of the solution and create a sustainable, growing, and profitable judo club, it’s time to take the first step.
Reply to this email to book a FREE 60-minute consultation with me, and let’s talk about how you can grow your club the right way.
We have a NEW coaching programme coming VERY SOON.
The Future of Judo is in Your Hands.
You have two choices:
1?? Keep running your club the way it’s always been done and hope things magically improve.
2?? Start thinking like a business owner, not just a coach, and build something that actually supports you, your members, and the sport itself.
Judo can grow in the UK. But it won’t happen by accident.
It happens when coaches like you step up and build something better.
Are you ready to take that step?
To your success,
Vince Skillcorn
Dojo LaunchPad?
P.S. If you’re tired of seeing judo stagnate and you’re ready to grow your club the right way, let’s talk. Click here to book your free consultation: [email protected].
Judo Disruptor - challenging the status quo whilst building one of the biggest judo clubs in the country.
2 周Unfortunately, I see posts like this too frequently. Good people trying to do good things. But if you run a basic pay as you go model, you will always struggle to pay bills during half term and holidays. Coaches and volunteers will be left to make ends meet.
Budget & Revenue Officer at City of Decatur, Illinois
2 周The only sound economic point you make is the psychology of the subjective attribution of value. Nobody who runs a Judo club should expect a dime. In fact, charging anything past operating expenses is gravy. Judo coaching as a job leads to the McDojo problem endemic in the striking arts. Even former Olympians running big clubs have to have side jobs. Your average sensai, let's face it, is a middle aged non-high level competitor (with medals from regional competitions) but also with a full time day job to pay the bills. They are teaching at a YMCA as a side gig, but more likely to give back.
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2 周Love this