BLOG: 24th July 2026 – SBE

A brief history, context along with Facts & Information! 

2022

Officially due to “ …clubs are yet to return to full contact training ...”

Though in reality the fall in Judo membership across the country was more likely to have been the reason. 
England lost over 60% of its Judo membership, 2020-2021. 
In comparison, Austria lost 35% and the Netherlands 18%. 

BJA: 29 March 2021

British Judo Statement: Birmingham European Junior Cup  

NOTE:

Despite the huge drop in membership 2020-2021 of 60%. 

The BJA increased its remuneration payments that same year to its Chair, Ronnie Saez, and a secret small group of “key management” persons by 6% to over £455,000! 
“Key Management” being BJA Directors and members of the secret BJA SLT (Senior Leadership Team).

BJA Director, Claire Lish, infamously stated on social media shortly after the cancellation was announcement: 

“There is no remuneration [payment]”

Despite Claire Lish being on the BJA Remuneration Commission that had approved the payments!
Claire Lish resigned as a BJA Director 2 years early in 2023 after I had revealed how untruthful and misleading her statement was along with questioning how her son was on the BJA u23 Squad despite not fulfilling most, if not all, of the criteria required.    

She is currently active within the small affiliate judo organisation the B.J.C. Ltd where members have recently rebelled against its leadership and called an EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting), 16th August 2026.
With an agenda of expelling two BJA Directors, Neil Harrison (North Birmingham Judo Club) and David Sherwood, aka David Alfert (Chalfont Judo Kwai) from the BJC board of directors and appoint new Directors.

BJC 2026 EGM Document

2023

When the BJA organised the first EJU Birmingham Junior Cup in 2023, it was exiting times since it was the first EJU/IJF competition held on British soil since the 2018 IJF Veteran World Championships.

The 4 National Open competitions (Welsh, Scottish, English and NI Open) were not attracting international competitors of any significant numbers and the KENT INTERNATIONAL was a shadow of it former glory.
Most of these competition weren’t promoted internationally and organised so poorly that hadn’t any entry list available beforehand, no live streaming, no live data and the results could take weeks to be published.    

So, there was much excitement surrounding the event since it was an opportunity for both British Cadets and Juniors to test themselves against international competitors on home turf!

In 2023 at the competition there were 264 competitors with 95 British Cadets & Juniors competed and the GB Squad came 5th in the Nations standings with 1 x Gold, 1 x Silver, 2 x Bronze and 10 British Cadets/Juniors placed.  (See results below)
Slightly down on the average EJU Junior Cup attendance of 300 but as an inguinal competition not a bad achievement.