1. Welcome Back
Judo Queensland Newsletter is back!
It's been a while! We’re relaunching the Judo Queensland newsletter to keep you in the grip of what’s happening across our community — competitions, training, education, accreditation, board updates, new clubs, and the people behind it all. Stay tuned… we’re back in action.
2. Athlete Spotlight: Anneliese Fielder and Rika Hirose
Anneliese Fielder One Incredible Journey
After 18 years on the mat, Anneliese Fielder has made the tough decision to step away from competitive judo. In her own words: "I have decided to step away from competitive judo after 18 years of loving it. I want to thank every single person, with all of my heart, who was on this journey with me. This is something I will treasure forever.❤️" Countless rounds, comps, and memories. Thank you, Anneliese, for everything you've given to our sport. Wishing you all the best for your next chapter!
Rika Hirose - Medal Success at Nationals 2026
🎉 Huge congratulations, Rika! National medals and so much more to come. You are an inspiration! 🥇 Cadet 🥇 Junior 🥇 Senior RIKA HIROSE, IN HER OWN WORDS "My medals remind me the hard work pays off. They give me confidence and push me to keep learning." "I train hard, listen to my coaches, and never give up. I learn from every win and every loss." "Grateful to my family and coaches for being with me every step. My goal now? Take on the best in Australia and the world."
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3. Board Update
Brisbane International Open and National Schools Championships - Save the date! Judo Queensland is bringing the Brisbane International Open and National Schools Championships together at a new venue, Hibiscus Stadium in Upper Mt Gravatt, September 19th–20th. Neil Adams Technical Video Access Exciting news for clubs and members — Judo Queensland has secured access to the Neil Adams Judo technical video library. Full access details coming soon! Judo Her Way Judo Her Way! is on track, with 12 member clubs across Queensland now participating: Maishin, Ohori, MTG, KRJJ, Ryuhakushin, Brisbane, Shin Gi Tai, UQ JC, Innisfail, Cairns JC, Coral Coast, and Townsville. A great step forward for growing participation and opportunities for women in judo across the state! National Digitisation - Judo Manager Judo Queensland continues to work with Judo Australia on moving member records and systems online through Judo Manager. Testing is underway, with clubs expected to be able to start adding their details late July.
4. Competitions & Nationals 2026 Results
2026 Judo Australia National Championships
Queensland showed up. 107 shiai competitors, 13 kata pairs, and 87 medals to bring home. 25 gold. 25 silver. 30 bronze in Shiai. Plus 2 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze in Kata. 🥇 1st in Australia — Veterans 🥈 2nd in Australia — CW/CM, JW/JM, SW/SM, Kyu, Adapt 4th in Australia — U13s, U15s Huge congratulations to every athlete, coach, and club who made this happen!
We want your feedback! 5 quick questions. Anonymous. 2 minutes. Scan below 👇
Isshindokan Judo Club Competition
27 competitors. Big heart. Bigger sportsmanship. What a day for Isshindokan Judo Club!
Tiffany Day Memorial Tournament
All female. All levels. Great vibes. All absolutely smashing it!
SAVE THE DATE!
📅 24 July — Monthly Points Competition for JA Kodokan Members (Shin Gi Ti) 📅 6 August — Judo4Kids Competition (Shin Gi Ti) 📅 14 August — Monthly Points Competition for JA Kodokan Members (Shin Gi Ti) 📅 16 August — South Queensland Regional #3 — Kata & Shiai 📅 11 September — Australian Adaptive Judo Games 2026 📅 19–20 September — Brisbane International Open & School Championships
5. Club spotlight: Welcome, Hirose Judo Academy
Based on the Gold Coast, Hirose Judo Academy was founded by a coach who lived judo in Japan — as both an athlete and a coach. The goal? Create a place where people can grow through authentic judo. Respect. Discipline. Perseverance. The courage to keep challenging yourself. That is what judo teaches, and that is what Hirose Judo Academy is all about. Winning is not the only focus here. Strong fundamentals, steady improvement, and every student supported at their own pace. From children stepping on the mat for the first time, to competitive athletes and adult beginners — everyone is welcome! Looking ahead, the dream is big. Develop Gold Coast athletes who represent Australia on the world stage, while building a club loved and respected by the local community! In June, that dream took a big step forward. At the 2026 Australian National Championships, Rika took gold in the Cadet, Junior, and Senior divisions. Sakura claimed silver in the Junior division and bronze in the Senior division. On the international stage, Rika wrapped up the European tour with silver in Poland and bronze in Portugal — competing in a new weight category against strong international opposition. A huge congratulations to both athletes. Welcome to the Judo Queensland family, Hirose Judo Academy — great to have you with us!
"Judo is something that can help people grow throughout their lives"
Education & Accreditation
Eight Judoka Just Levelled Up!
Big congrats to the eight judoka who completed the Sensei Coach Course at Shin Gi Tai Judo Club on 27/06. Practical training. Theory. Safety. Coaching skills that inspire. They covered it all. Great turnout, great energy. This is what keeps Queensland judo growing. Congratulations to Korfoi Biu (Shin Gi Tai), Clemens Krammer (PCYC Qld), Wooram Choi (Pittsworth), Michael Kendall (Bulimba), Glendon Cauley (Maleny), Brian Eiffe (Bulimba), Nikita McDonald (Maishin), and Tayissa Tomlin (Shogun Hills). Big thanks to Ross Kiepe for his ongoing work growing our coaching community.
Kata Grading Course - Cairns
Kata in action up north! Earlier this month, our team headed to Cairns to run a Kata Grading Course alongside local judoka, facilitated by Sam Manu, Srdjan Andjelkovic, and Stewart Brain. Big thanks to Innisfail Judo Club Inc for hosting, check out their FB reel capturing the day below!
Neil Adams Session - 200+ Judokas
What a turnout! Ohori Judo Club hosted four fantastic Neil Adams sessions, with over 200 judoka in attendance. Made free for all participants thanks to Queensland Government Active Industry grant funding. Huge thanks to Stewart and Cathy for hosting Neil and Nikki during their visit!
RESPECT - HONESTY - SELF-CONTROL - FRIENDSHIP - COURTESTY - HOUNER - COURAGE - MODESTY
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