Transform your dojo into a dynamic learning environment

The Koka Kids Judo Journey, created by Olympic Silver Medallist Nik Fairbrother, is transforming how judo is taught to children around the world.

Hi, I’m Nik Fairbrother. In 1992, my dream came true, when I won the silver medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games. A year later I won the world title.

I believe I’m lucky to have had such experiences. Way beyond winning the medals, judo has helped me live a confident, happy life, and so much is down to my coach, Don Werner and how he taught me judo.

Now, it’s time to pass on that knowledge. And I’m doing that through visual teaching tools including the Koka Kids Children’s Judo Books and the Koka Kids Judo Journey, which you can sign up to here.

Serious skills, solid coaching

This project is really close to my heart, as it's built on the foundation of my own training experiences and the invaluable lessons I learned from my Sensei, Don Werner.

Don’s methods of teaching, combined with my own experience as a world champion, and experience as author of 30 children’s books underpins the Koka Kids Judo Journey.

You can use Koka Kids Judo Journey to transform your dojo, engage the judoka, and speed up learning through visuals that support your coaching.

So, how does it work?

Every month, a new technique!

The goal of the Koka Kids Judo Journey is to give judoka a comprehensive arsenal of skills across both ne-waza (ground work) and tachi-waza (standing).

Each month, we explore one technique; either a throw or a turnover.

It’s an effective, structured judo programme, with ready-made lesson plans to dip into as you like.

Structured Weekly Delivery

Content is delivered in bite-sized, weekly chunks directly to coaches inboxes, making it easy to integrate into coaching schedules and maintain consistent progress.

Each week, I’ll send tips. Key teaching points and technique-specific drills to use in warm ups to improve each part of the focus technique (ie entry, grip, timing, coordination, balance…) as we build on the focus technique.

For example:

Focus technique: ippon-seoi-nage

• basics + key teaching points for ippon-seoi-nage

• technique-specific drills

• how to link ko-uchi-gari into ippon-seoi-nage

• bringing it all together, marking progress with certificates.

Key objectives over the month: improving foot placement and body alignment, gaining confidence with throwing and forming combinations.

Focus technique: leg lift turnover

• basics + key teaching points and step by step how to do the turnover

• how to use our legs to defend and control

• moving into tate-shiho-gatame

• bringing it all together, marking progress with certificates.

Key objectives over the month: learning to turn defence into attack, showing how smaller judoka can topple bigger opponents, using our legs more in groundwork.

Transforming Your Dojo into a Learning Environment

You’ll also get the full set of supporting resources. Read more about how these visuals actually accelerate learning and how you can use the QR Codes and the animations in I-Dojo to keep your judoka engaged. Resources include:

• Technique Posters

• Worksheets

• Certificates

• All with QR codes linking to I-Dojo

see the full list of benefits when you subscribe

Here’s a few ideas on how you could transform your dojo into a dynamic learning environment:

1. Technical Focal Area - Create a dedicated area for the monthly focus technique. Rotate the technique posters each month, or build a wall of them.

2. Dynamic and Interactive - Use the QR-linked animations and point your judoka to the I-Dojo. Students can study the techniques before and after practice sessions, turning your dojo walls into interactive learning tools.

3. Progress and Recognition - Implement a monthly session where you give out Certificates, so that judoka can see their advancement, building motivation and a sense of achievement.

4. Technique-Specific Warm-ups - Replace generic exercises with technique specific designed drills that reinforce the monthly focus technique.

5. Parent Involvement - Extend learning beyond the dojo with the take-home worksheets, creating a supportive club community.

Can Parents Sign Up Directly?

Absolutely! Although some of the training drills should be done only in a dojo under professional coach supervision there are others that can be done at home.

Parental support can really make all the difference in a child enjoying and persisting with their judo. Whether it's just being there to watch them, or picking up the pieces when they get frustrated, or simply doing the logistics and driving them back and forth to judo - this support is so important.

Really, I can’t thank my mum and dad enough for all they did for me when I was younger.

Through the Koka Kids Judo Journey parents can really take an active interest in their child’s judo journey, helping them work through the study sheets to putting up the supporting technique posters at home.