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You look away for one second, and when you look back the referee has an arm in the air and both children are bowing. The match is over. You missed it.

What you missed was an ippon. Ippon is the full score in judo. It wins the match outright. In a kids’ competition it comes from a clean throw, where one player lands the other on their back with speed and force or a hold down. The referee will shout « ippon » and signal, the arm goes up, and the match is over.

There are three ways to score ippon:

• A perfect throw.
• Holding an opponent down for twenty seconds.
• A submission, where one player taps out (but this is only for senior judoka)

Read more

In this post, I’d like to spotlight, Charlotte Potter, 5th Dan, GB International and Head coach of Ippon Judo London.

Specifically we look at how Charlotte is using the online membership platform, Pembee to expand her growing business.

Ippon Judo London runs nearly 40 sessions a week across schools and community hubs.

Charlotte wanted a system that could manage the range of events and classes on offer, and make the booking process easy and simple for customers.

She chose Pembee.

In this conversation Charlotte talks about what actually changed: how easy it is to take bookings, the branding and how she can adapt the pages with club colours and images and why she’s already telling other coaches to make the jump.

We also chat about The Ippon Games, a festival-style schools event in June 2027. If your club runs judo in schools, you’ll want to read on to find out about this.

 

Pembee is an official sponsor of Koka Kids, supporting Koka Kids in a year-long partnership to help grassroots judo grow.

The sponsorship is good news for all judo coaches as it means I can offer all Koka Kids readers a free trial of Pembee. You get a free trial, and if you choose to continue, you’ll also receive 25% off your first three months. The 25% off is exclusive to Koka Kids readers – only available through the link below.

Use this landing page to start your trial: https://www.pembee.app/partners/koka-kids

Free Trial + 25% Off

 

Interview with Charlotte Potter

Getting started with Pembee

Hi Charlotte! What made you decide to give Pembee a try? Was there a particular challenge with the admin side of running Ippon Judo London that you were hoping to solve?

Ippon Judo London has grown significantly over the past 12-18 months. We were at a point where our current online registration platform was limiting the expansion of the business. I saw the Koka Kids Instagram post advertising Pembee so thought I’d make an enquiry.

I’d had meetings with several different platform providers by this point and my questioning had become very specific. I needed something that would be flexible enough to hold the variety of programmes and events we offered. However, the most important factor was the customer journey. It was crucial that the booking process was slick and easy to navigate, particularly for new members. When joining a new club, if the sign-up process is confusing or too complicated, there is a real risk of losing that potential member before they’ve even started.

How did you find the process of getting Pembee up and running?

My initial meeting was with Jack who was fantastic! He walked me through the different ways of creating our own branded Pembee platform and we then had a follow up meeting before starting a 30-day free trial. This allowed us to play around with the system and check we were happy with the end result before committing. The Pembee customer service is first-class. A real person responds very quickly to your enquiry and I don’t find myself arguing with an AI chatbot. Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there!

What’s your favourite thing about Pembee? What do you use it for, and how has it made life easier for you?

I get very excited whenever there is an option to customise something for the business. The aesthetics of the Ippon Judo London brand are very important to me so being able to adapt the pages with our club colours and images is certainly a great feature.

Has Pembee saved you much time on the day-to-day admin?

An absolute time saver! I can’t imagine going back to the days when I used spreadsheets for registers and had to track and chase payments. Just thinking about it makes me feel stressed!

We will be finally rolling out Pembee across the whole business this autumn term. Feedback from parents in our many ‘pilot’ sessions has been very positive.

Advice for other judo coaches

What’s the first thing you’d tell another judo coach about Pembee?

I have promoted Pembee to quite a few coaches now and stressed how it can be adapted to a club’s individual business model. It’s the easiest way to take payments and register members. Once the class booking page is created, you can send it to a school or attach it to an advert and then sit back and wait for your registrations. It is that straightforward!

Unlike many platforms, Pembee has a very clear pricing structure from the outset. This is a huge green flag! There are two very affordable payment packages, one suitable for new small judo businesses and the other for larger outfits wanting customisable features and flexible booking options.

What advice would you give to another judo coach who’s thinking about giving Pembee a go?

I would suggest booking a meeting to hear what they can offer. Even those clubs currently with another platform, would be surprised at how straightforward the whole process is.

About Ippon Judo London

For anyone who doesn’t know Ippon Judo London, can you tell us a little bit about the club and what you’re all about?

Ippon Judo London has been running for nine years. The majority of our sessions are in schools delivering judo as part of a curricular or extra-curricular activity. We also run weekly judo classes at our two community Hubs. In total, the team teach nearly 40 timetabled sessions every week.

I have always believed in creating an environment where members feel they belong, can be themselves and see positive progression. As sports go, judo is relatively unknown in the UK. Our aim is to give as many people as possible the opportunity to try judo. Hopefully with judo, they’ll find a sport they can enjoy now and for several years to come.

You’re helping hundreds of judoka learn and discover judo across London. What are your main goals for the club this year?

At the moment, judo in schools feels quite separate from our more competitive community Hubs. Closing this gap and creating more opportunities for school judoka has been one of our main goals for the past few years.

I am currently working with the fantastic Liz O’Neal on a new project for June 2027, The Ippon Games. We will invite schools to come together for a friendly ‘festival style’ event so the students can learn and experience competitive judo. The Department for Education and Ofsted expects schools to provide meaningful opportunities to develop skills learned in class. If we can provide a clearer pathway showing further progression beyond the school day, we will see growth in the younger generation and in the sport.

If we hope to sustain life-long judo participation, low-level events such as this need to come in many forms for both the recreational and more competitive member. Hopefully The Ippon Games will be a success and grow year upon year.

I’ve seen that you’re particularly focused on getting more girls involved in judo. Can you tell us a bit more about that initiative and why it’s important to you?

Judo is a martial art and much like rugby or football, can be seen as a ‘boy’s’ sport. This is not the case at all. With our focused girls’ initiatives ‘Girls who Throw’ and ‘An Introduction to Judo’ (a collaboration with Active Surrey and British Judo), we are giving girls the opportunity to come and be active, try judo with girls of a similar age and get a feel for a sport they may never have considered.

When I was growing up there were few girls training at my judo club. As a coach, I also see a drop in female participation during the teenage years and can understand why some girls feel a little self-conscious and don’t want to do randori with boys. Two years ago, we started our recreational ‘Girls Only’ class which has proven very popular. It gives female students the opportunity to train with other girls, adds variety to their training and also a social space where they can feel more comfortable.

I’m hoping to work on more projects such as these to increase and maintain female participation in judo for the future. You never know, the Lionesses and Red Roses have had their moment and done wonders for girls’ football and rugby, maybe judo is next!

 

And if someone wants to get involved, find a class or come along to one of your events, what’s the best way for them to get in touch?

If anyone is interested in judo for themselves or for the organisation they represent, please just drop me an email at info@ipponjudolondon.com and I will get the ball rolling. I am always open to ideas.

The GB international and World Masters medallist, Mark Fricker talks honestly about how Pembee streamlined his bookings, payments, and parent communication — and why he wishes he’d found it years ago.

Pembee is a Koka Kids partner – as part of the Pembee + Koka Kids partnership, every reader of Koka Kids Judo Coaches Newsletter can get a free trial of Pembee. And if you choose to continue, you’ll receive 25% off your first three months. The 25% off is exclusive to Koka Kids readers — only available through the link below. Pembee is an online platform that handles dojo admin class bookings, registers, payments, and parent communication. 

Start your free trial here: https://www.pembee.app/partners/koka-kids

Simplifying Club Admin – And Getting Back to What Matters

Read on to out how Mark has been using Pembee  — how it has helped to simplify the day to day running his own school judo business Judo School UK — and how it might help yours.

Hi Mark, Can you tell us a bit about what made you decide to try Pembee?

After handing over as head coach of Pinewood — and getting back to first-name terms with my family — I was able to give more time to my school judo business, and decided to start a small club of my own.

Without the backup I had enjoyed at Pinewood, I was keen to find a way of streamlining my admin. Finding Pembee via a personal recommendation was a fantastic jump forward for me, and left me wondering why it had taken me so long.

I started initially using it to set up subscriptions for my judo club. As the classes grew, it became more and more important. It enables me to track membership, and its link to Stripe makes monthly payments direct into my bank account very simple.

How long did it take to get Pembee set up and running?

I am at an age where I might be expected to stand at bus stops moaning about young people, but despite my lack of digital expertise the Pembee platform was simple to set up and very straightforward to use.

Ed was endlessly helpful and patient with me as I set things up, always available to answer my generally dim questions. Their customer service is fantastic.

How do you use Pembee to handle dojo admin like bookings and payments?

After adopting Pembee to set up subscriptions at my club, I’ve now widened it to include my various schools. I email a link to parents at the start of each term, and they are able to see and block-book the sessions for the upcoming term and pay online.

Has it actually reduced the amount of time you spend chasing outstanding fees? Or anything else it’s made better/easier?

One key benefit is that I can now see at a glance who has paid — and who hasn’t. It automatically generates reminders to parents, saving me the embarrassment of chasing payment myself. This was something I always found uncomfortable when meeting parents at drop-off.

How did parents react to the online booking method?

Most people — myself included — are very used to buying goods and services online. I have only had positive feedback from parents about this system.

What’s your next step?

My next step will be to start using it for my judo camps, as it will make another chunk of scribbled notes, WhatsApps, and Messenger messages redundant.

Your advice for other judo coaches?

Looking back to my time at Pinewood, I wish I had been using Pembee then. Whilst it works perfectly well on a small scale, I think it would be a game changer for a larger club. I would recommend any coach who has considered simplifying their life give Pembee a try.

—

Run your dojo, not your admin

If Mark’s experience resonates, here’s the good news: as part of the Pembee + Koka Kids partnership, every reader of Koka Kids Judo Coaches Newsletter can get a free trial of Pembee. And if you choose to continue, you’ll receive 25% off your first three months. The 25% off is exclusive to Koka Kids readers — only available through the link below.

Start your free trial here: https://www.pembee.app/partners/koka-kids

Free Trial

Pembee supports judo clubs with a free trial and same-day setup for judo clubs trying to cut admin time > start your trial

By Nik Fairbrother, 8th Dan, MBE (World Champion, Olympic Silver Medallist)

I remember my Sensei Don, how he’d grumble about the paperwork. Don would staple forms up on the notice-board, for members to write their details on, go mad when parents would scribble indecipherably over it, then he’d take the forms and tap all the information into his computer. Somehow it worked. But, it took him hours. Hours he’d have preferred to be on the mat, teaching judo.

Admin. The struggle is real. And it’s common to many dojos. I know many clubs, led by one coach doing it all. WhatsApp groups. Facebook announcements. Taking the register. Chasing payments. The list goes on.

Maybe that’s you? If it is – then I have good news.

Good news for judo. Good news for you.

Pembee – the booking and class management platform – is now official sponsor of Koka Kids. Over the next year, Pembee will be supporting Koka Kids in a year-long partnership to help grassroots judo grow.

Pembee is an online platform that handles class bookings, registers, payments, and parent communication. Used by martial arts clubs, dance and performing arts schools, swim schools, holiday camps and after-school programmes around the world. To date it has processed 900,000 bookings and £40M+ in transactions for 230,000 users.

Ed Hollinghurst, founder of Pembee, said: “Koka Kids has done something genuinely special for grassroots judo – they’ve made learning the sport feel exciting for kids and made coaches’ lives a little easier in the process. That’s exactly the kind of work we want to get behind. Martial arts clubs are a big part of the Pembee community, and partnering with Nicola and the team is our way of giving something back to a sport that means a lot to so many of our customers.”

But what does this mean for you?

The sponsorship is good news for all judo coaches as it means I can offer all Koka Kids readers a free trial of Pembee. You get a free trial, and if you choose to continue, you’ll also receive 25% off your first three months. The 25% off is exclusive to Koka Kids readers – only available through the link below.

Use this landing page to start your trial: https://www.pembee.app/partners/koka-kids

When you sign up, Jack from Pembee will get in touch, and help you get set up. Part of the sponsorship is also a free onboarding call.

I trialled a call with Jack the other day to see if Pembee is the kind of tool that actually saves time.

It is.

The bottom line: You can be up and running on the same day.

“Normally, clubs are set up within 10 to 20 minutes,” Jack tells me, “but if anyone needs longer then that’s fine too. We do whatever the coach needs to get them going.”

In 10 minutes, I’m up and running. I can see just how much time this would save a coach – and how it would simplify the workload.

• In minutes I have built a booking page for a beginner class

• Cloned it to create intermediate + advanced classes

• Created a judogi add-on for first-time judoka

• Generated a QR code (you could use on socials/posters/club comms)

In one more step, I could link all this to my Stripe account and begin taking payments.

Mark Fricker was the Pinewood Judo Club Sensei for many years – he now owns his own club and continues to teach in schools. Mark told me finding Pembee was a fantastic jump forward.

“It enables me to see at a glance who has paid (or who hasn’t)… it automatically generates reminders… which saved me chasing payment myself. After adopting Pembee to set up subscriptions at my club I have now widened it to include my various schools.”

Saves time. Simplifies workload.

Here are a few other things you’ll also find useful: Automatic attendance registers for every session. Know exactly who’s on the mat, who’s missing. Collect medical info, emergency contacts, and consent forms. Send an email out to a select group. Let them know Tuesday’s beginners’ session is starting an hour earlier. Promote your Summer Camp.

We will be covering key features in the Koka Kids Newsletter in coming months, along with interviews with coaches who are already using Pembee.

I’m delighted to be working with Pembee for the year ahead. Anything that helps clubs spend less time on admin and more time on the mat is good for judo. I think you’ll find Pembee warm, down to earth and genuinely keen to help clubs grow.

Give the trial a go! If you’re running a small independent club on spreadsheets or WhatsApp this is exactly for you.

Use this landing page to start your trial: https://www.pembee.app/partners/koka-kids

Koka Kids Exclusive Offer

• 30-day free trial — no credit card needed

• Exclusive Koka Kids offer: 25% off your first 3 months

• Jack will run a setup walkthrough and help you get it live.

When you sign up, Jack will reach out to arrange a 1:1 setup call – you’ll be running classes on Pembee the same day.

Nicola Fairbrother MBE, 8th Dan

– 1992 Olympic Silver Medallist
– 1993 World Champion
– Publisher of Koka Kids children’s judo books

P.S. The 25% off is exclusive to Koka Kids readers – only available through the link above.

A grading checklist your kids will actually use

Mon Grade Syllabus in paperback

As a judo coach, one of the biggest wins is giving kids something they can look at between classes, so grading requirements feel clear, not confusing.

This is why I’m sharing a preview of what’s inside Red Belt Mon Grade paperback — it’s built to help kids understand what’s expected and with clear steps to the techniques and checklists they can work through.

• Clear grading requirements
• Kid-friendly structure for beginners
• Easy for parents to support at home

Clear. Simple. Built for kids. Each Mon Grade book breaks down every technique — ready to hold, share, and use.

The British Judo Mon Grade Syllabus — in paperback. Red Belt to Brown Belt. Everything your club needs. Orders open now.

📚 Orders are now open for the full set of Mon Grade Books (That’s six books Red → Brown)
Min order: 30 | £6.50 per book | Order deadline: May 10
Order here:  ORDER FORM WITH CLUB RATES

Judo coaches — the Mon Grade Syllabus is in paperback for the first time. If you’ve been waiting for a physical resource for your club, now’s the time.

Want more books for Kids Who Love Judo?  Or check out these animated judo throws – you can see the full Gokyo Syllabus!