Our Performance Judo Program is an independent performance support programme for ambitious judoka aged 15–25 who want to pursue international, European, World and Olympic level judo.
Athlete Focused. Performance Driven. National Pathway Aligned.
PERFORMANCE JUDO
A Complete Performance Programme
Our Performance Judo Program is more than a funding or coaching initiative. It is a long-term performance development programme supporting athletes across every aspect of their development.
WHY OUR PERFORMANCE PROGRAM EXISTS
Supporting the National Pathway & Preparing Athletes for High Performance
Our aim is to help athletes prepare for, qualify for, contribute to and excel within national teams and international competition. Our Performance Judo Program is not a replacement for club, provincial or national programmes.
We see our role as complementing the Irish Judo Association’s national pathway by helping athletes develop the skills, experience, habits and mindset required to succeed in high-performance environments.
Independent of Club Structures
Our Performance Judo Program built on partnership. We work collaboratively with athletes, clubs, coaches, parents, sponsors and the wider judo community to create opportunities that help ambitious judoka maximise their potential, regardless of where they call home.
We do not seek to replace club training, club coaches or club identity. Athletes joining Our Performance Judo Program can remain members of their home clubs and continue to represent those clubs in competition.
Our role is to add value by providing opportunities, experiences and support that may not always be available within a single club environment, helping athletes meet the demands of high-performance sport while remaining connected to their clubs and communities.
When athletes improve, their clubs benefit. When clubs benefit, Irish Judo benefits.
Our philosophy on this is simple:
The athlete comes first.
The Challenge
Too often, talented Irish athletes face barriers that limit their development, whether through restricted access to suitable training partners, meaningful competition opportunities, high-quality international level coaching, or financial support.
Our Performance Judo Program was created to help remove those barriers by providing ambitious athletes with access to additional opportunities, expertise and support.
Our belief is simple: ambitious athletes deserve opportunities.
Our Ambition
Our Performance Judo Program is a long-term initiative to help Ireland produce more international, European, World and Olympic level judoka.
We recognise that this is ambitious.
We also recognise that meaningful success in sport is rarely achieved without ambition.
Our aim is to help athletes develop the technical ability, physical capacity, competitive experience, mindset and habits required to perform at higher levels of the sport.
Performance Support
- Athlete mentoring
- Progress reviews
- Development planning
- Coach and parent engagement
Athlete Education
- Goal setting
- Performance habits
- Competition preparation
- Lifestyle management
- Personal responsibility and leadership
Funding Support
Through commercial partnerships and programme resources, Our Performance Judo Program aims to help reduce the financial barriers often associated with performance sport by assisting athletes with training, travel, competition, and development opportunities.
Coaching & Technical Development
- Technical and tactical development
- Performance coaching
- Competition preparation
- Individual athlete planning
- Training camp opportunities
Physical Development
- Strength and conditioning support
- Athletic development
- Recovery and injury prevention education
- Long-term athlete development planning
Competition Development
- Domestic competition opportunities
- International competition opportunities
- Training camps
- Performance reviews and analysis
Mark Earle - 7th Dan
Performance Director
Mark Earle serves as Performance Director for Our Performance Judo Program and is widely regarded as one of the most experienced and accomplished coaches in European Judo.
A 7th Dan, former British Champion, founder of the internationally renowned Camberley Judo Club and three-time Olympic coach, Mark brings more than five decades of coaching, athlete development and high-performance experience to the programme. His career has spanned every level of the sport, from grassroots participation through to Olympic and World Championship competition, giving him a unique understanding of the journey athletes must undertake to reach the highest levels of performance.
As founder of Camberley Judo Club, Mark helped establish one of the most successful and respected judo clubs in Europe, producing generations of national champions and international competitors. The club became recognised internationally for its high standards, strong performance culture and consistent success in developing elite athletes.
Mark's coaching career has taken him to the very highest levels of international judo. As a Senior Men's Olympic Coach for Team GB, he worked alongside some of the sport's most respected coaches and played a key role in preparing athletes for European Championships, World Championships and Olympic Games. Throughout his career, he has coached and mentored numerous European, World and Olympic medallists and has worked with many of the most successful athletes and coaches in Great Britain, the Netherlands and across the international judo community.
His athletes have included Olympians, World medallists and European champions, and he has been a personal coach and mentor to athletes such as John Buchanan, Karina Bryant, Ian Freeman, Danny Kingston and Sanne Verhagen, among many others. His coaching philosophy extends beyond technical excellence, placing equal importance on mindset, discipline, professionalism and the development of habits that support long-term success.
Within Our Performance Judo Program, Mark provides the technical and performance leadership that underpins the programme. He is responsible for athlete development, competition preparation, performance planning and mentoring, ensuring athletes receive the highest possible standard of coaching and guidance as they progress through the performance pathway.
Mark's vision for Our Performance Judo Program is simple but ambitious: to create an environment where talented Irish athletes can access the coaching, experiences, training opportunities and support required to compete successfully on the international stage and fulfil their potential within the sport.
Built for Ambitious Athletes
Our Performance Judo Program exists for judoka who want to take their judo seriously.
The programme is not for everyone. It is designed for athletes who are prepared to work hard, embrace challenges and pursue excellence in their sport.
This is an ambitious project with an ambitious goal: to help Ireland develop more athletes capable of competing successfully on the international stage.
The programme provides additional coaching, training opportunities, competition support, mentoring, education, performance services and funding assistance for committed athletes from any club.
Our Performance Judo Program is designed for:
- Judoka aged 15–25
- Athletes aspiring to represent Ireland
- Athletes committed to long-term development
- Athletes willing to train, travel and compete
- Athletes seeking additional opportunities beyond their normal club environment
- Athletes prepared to take ownership of their progress
Bridging the Gap Between Potential and Performance
The journey from club athlete to international competitor is demanding.
Athletes need more than regular training sessions. They need strong training environments, experienced coaching, high-level randori, competition exposure, education, mentoring and consistent support.
Our Performance Judo Program has been created to help bridge the gap between potential and performance by providing athletes with access to additional opportunities, expertise and support.
Our Performance Judo Program supports athletes through:
- Technical coaching and athlete mentoring
- Training camps and high-level randori opportunities
- Domestic and international competition opportunities
- Performance education and personal development
- Competition planning and preparation support
- Access to performance services where available
- A mix of subsidised, part-funded and fully funded opportunities for selected athletes
Our goal is to help ambitious athletes access the experiences, opportunities and support required to maximise their potential and pursue excellence in judo.
Ready To Build Your Legacy?
PLATFORM 32 is designed for athletes who are prepared to invest in their future. Athletes from many clubs. One commitment to excellence