Cairns Judo Club has a diverse coaching group with a huge range of experience, skills and backgrounds. With so many coaches, you’re bound to find someone you connect with.
Our coaches are all qualified from Judo Australia’s Assistant Coach level, all the way through to IJF Level 2 Coaching accreditation.
Sandan
Mara has been doing judo since she could walk. Her father and mother met on the mat and she has over 40 years of experience. A seasoned competitor and a professional educator, Mara heads up our women's programme.
Sandan
Sebastian has won 10 National Championships in Judo to go with his 2 in SAMBO. A professional MMA fighter, he is always training and always ready to take a fight. Sebastian heads our Performance and SAMBO programmes.
Sandan
Xavier is a No Limits specialist, with years of experience coaching people with impaired vision, as well as cognitive and behavioural needs. A keen kata practitioner, he heads our No Limits, Junior and Kata programmes.
Sandan
Claudine brings more than 50 years of judo experience to the club. A fisherman by trade, she certainly doesn't need you to be gentle with her on the mat. Claudine is a key member of our junior and kata programmes.
Shodan
A multisport athlete, Francis has represented Queensland in Judo, Rugby League and Rugby Union. She's also represented Australia in both judo and SAMBO. Francis is part of the seniors coaching programme and continues to train to compete.
Nidan
Sanyi was already a Hungarian National Champion and international representative when he came to us. Since then, he's added a bag of International Open medals, National medals and provides invaluable coaching support to our Performance and SAMBO teams.
Shodan
Picking judo up as an adult in remote Australia, Dale has won state titles in both Shiai and Kata. He's been super-uke for countless people doing their dan-gradings before earning his own. Before coming to us, he was head coach at his own club in Bamaga. Dale provides essential support to both the Junior and Kata programmes.
Shodan
Dave has more than 4 decades of judo experience, starting out as a kid in Osaka, Japan. Dave is always willing and keen to provide coaching support to our seniors and is a key matside coach with our travelling competitors.
NIKyu
A NiKyu on his journey to the dan ranks, Dave volunteers hundreds of hours a year to the Junior and No Limits programme. A keen student of judo, he reads and watches everything he can find on the sport.
Nidan
With huge amounts of judo experience, John brings a high level of technical mastery to the club and can help improve everybody's judo. John has represented Australia at World Championships and took a silver medal at the prestigious Pacific rim Championships.
IkKyu
With decades of experience in the sport, Amanda is currently working on her shodan and is always preparing for a challenging year of competition. Her return to judo as an adult brought immediate rewards with State and National Championships.
IkKyu
With a relatively short time in the sport, Oskar has made incredible progress technically and tactically. Whilst he works on his shodan, he continues to provide a massive challenge to his opponents in competition. Oskar has also won National Championships as a kyu grade.
IkKyu
A background in kendo and calligraphy, Mitsu's enthusiasm for judo is contagious and he is always up for the challenge at training and has made his competition debut with the club last year, winning his veterans division at the regionals. A professional child educator, he enjoys working with kids!
NiKyu
Will is very excited about helping young people make their way through the ranks in judo and working towards his shodan.
IkKyu
Regina is only 17 but already a handful for the senior women. Her nage no kata is already at a level beyond her years and her competition performances have been great; QIO Champion and Oceania Bronze.
SanKyu
Coming from a judo family, Alyssa has been with the club since day 1 and has already collected a State Title and regional wins. A keen learner, she helps coach our junior classes.
Sign up and never miss out on club news.
Cairns Judo Club was founded in 2020 to promote and safeguard Kodokan Judo in the Cairns region.