Judo Books by Koka Kids

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The British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus — Now in Paperback

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Mon Grade Books – order for your club members and get reduced rates

Mon Grade Books – Now in Paperback

I’ve been sitting on this news for a little while, and I’m glad I can finally share it.

The British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus books are going into print.

All six of them — Red, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue and Brown Belt — in paperback, for the first time they will be available for clubs to buy at a reduced pre-print rate. 

 

A bit of background

These books have been around in digital form for a while now. I developed them in partnership with British Judo, and they cover the full Mon Grade requirements from 1st through to 18th Mon. The idea was simple: give kids something they follow. Something that showed them exactly what they needed to learn, in a way that made sense to them.

The digital versions have been popular. But coaches kept asking me the same thing — is there a physical copy?

Now there is.

 

Why paperback matters

There’s something about a book that a screen can’t quite replicate. Kids can hold it. Take it home. Flick through it on the sofa. Show their parents what they’re working on.

Coaches have told me they use other Koka Kids books as grading rewards, as welcome packs for new members, and as a way to keep junior judoka engaged between sessions. A physical book does all of that in a way digital doesn’t.

 

One print run, this May

Stock your Club with Mon Grade Syllabus Books: I’m doing one print run this year, on May 10th. That’s it for this year. So if your club wants copies, this is the window.

Orders open on April 20th. Before then, you can register your club’s interest to get early access and make sure you don’t miss out.

👉 Register here: https://subscribepage.io/PrintRunMay2026

If you have any questions, just drop me an email — nicola@kokakids.co.uk. I handle everything personally.

— Nik

 

Covers of the paperback version of Mon Grade Syllabus Books by British Judo and Koka Kids

Interview: Vince Skillcorn on Why Judoka Drop Out and What to do Differently

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«The black belt should not be a vague hope. It should be a visible, structured journey.»



Why Judoka Drop Out
Why Judoka Drop Out

Hi! Recently, I’ve been writing a mini-series on retention, on why judoka drop out. It’s something that troubles our sport – as it does with many sports, and we need to find solutions. In this interview, that is just what Vince Skillcorn does: he provides solutions to this age-old problem.

Vince holds an MSc in Advanced Sports Coaching Practice and (along with his wife, Sam) runs the Fighting Fitness Judo AcademyVince specialises in helping judo coaches transform their clubs into sustainable businesses by increasing membership and revenue. 

I asked Vince about the importance of keeping members engaged off the mat, the role of parents, and how the best dojos balance recruitment, retention, and revenue.

His answers are direct, honest, and grounded in real experience running a club of over 500 members. I hope his answers spark ideas on how you might strengthen your own club’s approach to keeping judoka on the mat for the long term.

If retention is a problem you face at your dojo then please read on:

Interview with Vince Skillcorn

 

In your experience, what are the top three reasons why a judoka drop out and stops doing  judo?

 

1. No Clear Destination — No Defined Black Belt Journey

One of the biggest reasons judoka drop out is the absence of a clearly defined endpoint.

Imagine enrolling at school or university and being told, “Just keep attending and we’ll see what happens.” In education, there is a structured framework: follow the curriculum, meet the standards, and you earn your degree. In judo, that “degree” is your black belt. Read more


A Progression System for Kids’ Judo

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The 4Skills Framework – Making Progress Visible


This is part 3 of a 3 part-mini series, written by Nik Fairbrother, 8th Dan tackling the problem of retention in dojos.

Part 1: Why Retention Beats Recruitment – and the Numbers to Prove it.

Part 2: The Forgetting Curve and Why it Matters in the Dojo.

Part 3: A Progression System for Kids’ Judo – Making Progress Visible 


Make Progress Visible

«My child isn’t progressing.»

If you’ve coached kids’ judo for any length of time, you’ve heard this. Maybe from a parent at the door. Maybe in an email. Maybe when they don’t renew their membership.

Read more


The Forgetting Curve (And Why It Matters in the Dojo)

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Keeping Judoka Engaged Between Classes

«Teaching on the mat is enough to keep judoka interested.»

But is it?

You’ve been there. A kid nails a technique in class. They’re excited, motivated, ready to learn more. Then they go home. And by next week, they’ve forgotten half of what they learned.

The reality: while in-class teaching is vital, judoka need support outside the dojo to reinforce learning.

Visual aids, take-home certificates, and interactive resources help kids remember techniques and stay motivated between sessions.

It’s time to consider «off the mat» as well as «on the mat» when you are looking to engage kids, reduce drop-off rates and improve retention. 


This is part 2 of a 3 part-mini series, written by Nik Fairbrother, 8th Dan tackling the problem of retention in dojos.

Part 1: Why Retention Beats Recruitment – and the Numbers to Prove it.

Part 2: The Forgetting Curve and Why it Matters in the Dojo.

Part 3: A Progression System for Kids’ Judo – Making Progress Visible 


The Forgetting Curve (And Why It Matters)

We forget up to 50% of new information within an hour, around 70% within 24 hours, and retain only about 25% by the end of the week. (Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve)

That means the throw a child learned on Monday? By next Monday, they’ve lost most of it.

Unless.

Read more


Why Retention Beats Recruitment – and the Numbers that Prove it

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The Challenge Every Coach Faces

You’ve felt it – the frustration when promising judoka stop showing up. Drop-off, membership loss, and churn are common in dojos everywhere.

«Most martial arts dojos lose 50% of their students within the first year. The industry benchmark for annual retention is 70-80% – meaning 20-30% annual dropout is considered typical.» DojoTrack.

And here’s what most coaches get wrong: they focus all their energy on recruiting new members while their existing ones walk out the back door. Read more


Five Winning Tips to Retain Judoka

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Real Coaches, real wins. Five ways coaches are engaging and retaining their members. 

Get the Tips!
Five Winning Tips to Retain Judoka