Welsh Judo would like to express our deepest thanks to Masashi Ebinuma as he leaves Wales.

The triple World Champion in judo U66kg, double Olympic Games bronze medalist and Park24 Coach joined us in April 2022 with his family to deepen his coaching knowledge.

During his time with Welsh Judo, Masashi helped prepare athletes for Commonwealth Games, delivered numerous technical sessions for athletes across the Pathway, ranging from Pre-Cadet to Senior, and helped to develop Welsh athletes at the National Randori sessions each Tuesday and Thursday.

The delivery of his masterclass on o-uchi-gari & seoi-nage, which saw a jam-packed dojo full of knowledge, learning and fantastic judo, was a highlight for the judo community and is certainly a day to remember.

It has been a delight to welcome Masashi, his wife, IJF World Masters 2013 Champion, Asian Games 2014 Bronze and 2 x All-Japan Judo Champion Kana Abe and their two children into our Welsh Judo community. We wish them all the best on their next chapter.

Diolch Ebinuma family for sharing the tatami and your lives with us, and to Park24 for a great year.