From February 6th to March 13th, 2025, Killarney Judo Club successfully ran an afterschool Women in Sport (WIS) initiative at Lissivigeen N.S., introducing young girls to self-defense and judo techniques.
👩👧 Empowering the Next Generation
Led by Tim Kelly (3rd Dan Black Belt), the program aimed to build confidence, teach fundamental judo throws, and create a safe space for girls aged 10-12 to engage in sport. Each session welcomed between 7 to 11 participants, with 9 officially joining the Irish Judo Association through WIS funding!
📌 What They Learned:
✅ Self-defense techniques – Escaping holds & grips
✅ Fundamental judo throws – O-Goshi & O-Soto-Gari
✅ Groundwork & control techniques – Kesa-gatame & tachi-waza
✅ Randori introduction – Encouraging fun, learning, and confidence
👀 Growing Interest in Judo!
Many of the girls had no prior judo experience, coming from Gaelic Football, cheerleading, and gymnastics backgrounds. The program gave them a new opportunity to explore judo in a fun, structured, and supportive environment. Some even rediscovered their love for the sport after previously stopping training!
📣 What’s Next?
Though the afterschool program has ended, the demand for girls-only judo classes remains high. The success of this initiative highlights the importance of accessible training opportunities and shows that women’s judo continues to grow!
A huge thank you to Killarney Judo Club, Coach Tim Kelly, and Women in Sport funding for making this possible. We look forward to seeing more young girls step onto the tatami!
Read more about it HERE
💬 Interested in running a WIS initiative at your club? Contact the Irish Judo Association for support and funding opportunities!
