Star awards

   THE SAMURAI STAR AWARD SCHEME                                                                                                                                            2026

We are relaunching the Samurai Star Awards with a new syllabus!

The Star Awards are a set of technical qualifications, inside club only, all of which lead to certificates. There are now SEVEN main Star Awards which test a player’s understanding and skill in all aspects of judo. There is no competition element and all awards are FREE.

After the Seven Stars, there are a further three more advanced awards, Bronze, Silver and Gold. There are very demanding, similar to the Duke of Edinburgh awards. There is then an Ultimate Star Award.

The Star Awards have been going virtually since the club opened in 1979. In all that time, we have only awarded SIX Gold Star Awards. They are:

Ben Newbury       Olivia Turner     Kate Walker (now Leonardo)

Martin Whiteside     Karl Gaughan      Anthony Todhunter

To date we only have one Ultimate Samurai, Ben Newbury, although Olivia Turner is close to becoming the second.

We will be covering the syllabus for the 1–7-star awards in stages during 2025 and conducting assessments from time to time.

THE SAMURAI STAR AWARD SCHEME

ONE STAR

State 3 club rules (safety & hygiene)

Demonstrate a roll-back breakfall

Demonstrate a left or right sleeve & collar grip, and a throw

Demonstrate a ground hold

Know the meanings of Hajime & mate

TWO STARS

What shSould players do when step onto and off the mat? (Answer: bow to mat)

Demonstrate a spin breakfall

Demonstrate a standing & kneeling bow (good standard required)

Demonstrate left & right sleeve & collar grip, and left & right tai-otoshi

Demonstrate 2 ground holds.

THREE STARS

State 3 club rules (safety & hygiene) with reasons for each

Know the meanings of rei, osaekomi, toketa.

Give examples of the three main technical restrictions

Demonstrate 2 throws (excluding tai-otoshi) on both right & left

Demonstrate how to tie the belt

FOUR STARS

Know the meanings of: randori, tori, uke;

Know the meanings of & demonstrate the referee’s signals for  ippon, waza-ari, yuko

Name three things which are against the contest rules (excluding technical restrictions)

Demonstrate a front breakfall

Demonstrate static throwing practice with partner, both throwing, relaxed

FIVE STARS

Demonstrate a rolling breakfall

Demonstrate moving around with your partner, both throwing, relaxed (basic randori)

Demonstrate a six-station circuit of crash mat throwing work with a partner

Give two instances when the referee should call matte (or sonomama)

Referee a contest

SUPER SIX STAR

Know the meanings of: sonomama, yoshi

Demonstrate uchikomi to both sides in tai-otoshi

Demonstrate uchikomi down the mat to both sides in o-soto-gari, ippon-seoinage

Demonstrate randori (good posture & relaxation, some counters and combinations)

Referee a Shiai Night

SAMURAI SEVEN STAR

Name seven things against the contest rules

Record at a Shiai Night

Demonstrate randori (high standard, movement, good technique, counters and combinations)

Demonstrate linked uchikomi of tai-otoshi and o-uchi-gari – light and rag versions

Demonstrate one set of Nage-no-kata (excluding bows)

 THE SAMURAI STAR AWARD SCHEME– ADVANCED LEVEL

🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉

BRONZE AWARD                           Minimum age 12 yea

Pass the Samurai “Bronze level” referee course

Time keep at an event

Demonstrate the first three sets of  nage-no-kata

Demonstrate high-quality uchikomi pattern with 4 throws linked

(o-uchi,  tai-otoshi,  left  & right  seoinage)

Explain fully the edge of mat rules in tachiwaza and newaza.

Pass 18th mon theory.

Demonstrate a sequence of newaza with control of partner.

Adopt a beginner for 3 weeks and work with them or help regularly on beginners’ session

SILVER AWARD                              Minimum age 13 years

🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈🥈

Record at an event (pool sheets only needed).

Demonstrate the full  Nage-no-kata and one set of any other formal kata.

Qualify as a Club Level referee.

Pass 2nd dan theory (unofficial pass but to same standard).

Demonstrate 5 practical groundwork moves at senior level to high standard.

Develop and demonstrate a multi-throw uchikomi sequence.AT

GOLD AWARD                             Minimum age 15 years

🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇

Answer ten questions on contest rules and competition organisation (see list).

Demonstrate the full   Gonosen-no-kata (tori or uke) and the full  Katame-no-kata (tori).

Qualify as an Area Referee.

Qualify as a Contest Recorder and help run an event (under supervision).

Pass the 5th dan competitive theory syllabus.

Coach a 20–30-minute judo session (any level).

Double Plus Gold Platinum Ultimate Samurai Star Award

Candidates must be under 21 years of age and already hold Gold Star Award. Additional requirements:

Candidates must pass FIVE out of the six levels below:

1. Senior recorder award

2. National B referee award

3. 1st dan

4. A pass at 5th dan standard of BJA technical dan grade theory (unofficial)

5. Demonstrate FIVE formal katas.

6. Qualify as a Level 1 coach.

 Maximum Ages: 1-5 star: 16 years  Bronze and above: 20 years

STAR AWARDS CURRENT LEVELS  (22.9.25)

GOLD:

SILVER:                                                                           

BRONZE:                           

7     Nick Deeley

6     Isobel Houghton

5     Katie Vessey                Millie Lane

4     Archie Minkin               Finn Doherty                                             

3

2    Sam Rawson                       Imogen Dutton                             Wealdhere Dyde

        Joe Vessey                          Ethan Rawson                             Hugo Sadler

        Hugo Birkedale                    Rose Birkedale                            Doug Birkedale

        Zane Siviter                          Scarlett Gillon                              Alfie Corkill

        Carrick Simkin                      Odin Reading                              Devon Simkin-Samways                                                                                                       

1      Leonard Blunt                        Maya Smetts                           Esme Hibbert                                             

         Darcy Knight                         Phoebe Knight                         Evelyn Knight

         Joe Smart                              George Taylor                          Haffryn Dyde                                             

         Jamie Willetts                        Oliver Davis-B.                         Meva Chin

         Jacob Girdler                         Oliver Girdler                            Sophie Girdler

         Belle Deeley                                                                        

STAR AWARDS

NONE

Matthew Dipaolo-Sm.            Krzysztof Miotk                                                                                              

Grace Cowan                        Daniel Stoichev                                                                                            

SHO GRADES           

Wilf Jones                             Albie Deeley                       Erin Clarke                                             

Obie Lockley                         Bowen Simkin                    Fabian Lockley                                                                           

Raven Dyde                              Ezra Sadler                        Amelia Hussein                                                                                     

Dmitri Savva