Judo Excellence is a friendly, welcoming Judo club with classes across Calderdale, supporting children, teenagers, and adults at every stage of their journey.
We deliver high-quality Judo and martial arts coaching led by experienced, professional coaches who are passionate about helping people grow. While we proudly develop competitive Judoka, our focus goes far beyond competition. We help our members build confidence, discipline, respect, resilience, and fitness — skills that improve everyday life both on and off the mat.
For children, Judo builds focus, self-belief, coordination, and positive behaviour, all while having fun and making friends. For adults, it’s a fantastic way to improve fitness, reduce stress, learn new skills, and be part of a supportive community — whether you’re a complete beginner or returning to the sport.
There’s always something happening at Judo Excellence. From gradings, games, and challenges to competitions and leadership opportunities, our members are constantly progressing. We’re also proud to have a top team of instructors, giving everyone the chance to learn from world-class experience in a safe, encouraging environment.
At Judo Excellence, we don’t just teach Judo — we help people of all ages become stronger, more confident, and more capable for life.
Our Judo Pandas are fun based classes that develop the children's judo skills, helping them develop a strong judo foundation. At the same time helping them improve confidence, discipline, fitness and co-ordination. We know that children learn the most when they are enjoying themselves, so we make it lots of fun with lots of judo development games and challenges. Our students love getting their new belts which they do every 3 or 4 months. We offer a free trial class so its worth giving it a go!
Our Junior classes help students develop their fitness, co-ordination & confidence, it helps them to make new friends, whilst loving coming to judo. We grade (belt test) every 3 or 4 months with the goal of getting their Black belt. We also offer competitions for those who want to compete but we understand that most students just want to have fun, have a hobby and learn a skill which is great. We offer a free trial class so its worth giving it a go!
Our Teen classes have a great atmosphere, where they train to get better and push towards their black belts. They learn more advanced judo to keep them interested and progressing. Our Judo includes lots fitness to develop strength, flexibility, cardio and gymnastic ability. One of the great things about Judo is that it is for everyone and is far more than just a sport. We offer a free trial class so its worth giving it a go!
Our adult class is a warm welcoming environment where we cater for complete beginners to more advanced judo players. The goal of this class is to learn judo, but what comes from learning judo is vast including improved fitness & strength, self-defence, confidence, meet new people, having a laugh, and a great feeling of accomplishment. Our students progress through the belts with the goal of getting the black belt. We offer a free trial class so its worth giving it a go!
Tony Devine
Coach & Admin
Garath Howell
Coach
Sophie Cox
Judo/BJJ instructor
Denis Hopley
Assistant Coach
Abdulrabi Alawi Abdulla
Instructor
Emma Byrne
Judo Coach
Back Clough Northowram
Halifax West Yorkshire HX3 7HH
Tel: 07932081793
Elland Community Hub
Elland Halifax West Yorkshire HX5 9DL
Tel: 07932081793
7a Valley Road
Hebden Bridge Halifax West Yorkshire HX7 7BZ
Tel: 07932081793
"My 6-year-old daughter has being doing judo with Judo Excellence for almost a year. Although she was keen to start she was also very nervous, but the classes are so fun, as well as focused on the children and their individual needs and potential, that she soon felt completely at ease. The coaches are extremely patient while also gently encouraging, and my daughter now loves going to judo and is so proud of the gradings she has achieved. She has made friends, developed her physical abilities, learnt new language skills, and grown in confidence and self-esteem. It does her the world of good to learn these things in such an active way and it is great to see her thriving in such safe and knowledgeable hands."
Ria
"The coaches always run fun Classes that teach the fundamentals of judo lots of high energy games and activities that helps bring out the best in my little ones. "
Adam Van Stuart (parent)
"I have recently started judo with Judo Excellence as an adult beginner, which was quite daunting at first, but I am really enjoying it. There is a mix of men, women and different abilities so I was instantly made to feel welcome. The classes are challenging and rewarding and the coaches are really approachable and clearly very dedicated. Judo is so interesting and enriching to learn and I am really looking forward to continuing classes with Judo Excellence."
Ria
"I have been doing judo for years now and its great to train with the friends iv made, I now help teach some of the the younger kids classes"
Denis
