19.04.2026 National Training Session with guest coach, Dan Powell — reigning World Champion, European Champion, and Paralympic Silver Medallist

What an incredible day at the first AJA National Training Session of 2026, hosted by Cedars Judo Club. The mat was packed with junior and senior judoka of all grades, all eager to learn, train, and be inspired.

Our guest coach, Dan Powell — reigning World Champion, European Champion, and Paralympic Silver Medallist — delivered exactly what we hoped for and more. His technical insight, energy, and down‑to‑earth coaching style created a brilliant atmosphere from start to finish. As the event flyer said, it truly was “a rare opportunity to learn from – and train alongside – one of the true greats of our sport.”

Across the four‑hour session, with breaks to catch our breath, everyone worked hard, supported each other, and came away buzzing. The turnout was fantastic, the spirit was positive, and the standard on the mat was something to be proud of.

A huge thank you to Dan for giving his time, to all the judoka who attended, and to everyone who helped make the day run smoothly. This was a brilliant start to the 2026 national training calendar — and a reminder of what makes our AJA community so strong