The number of juniors and adults taking up the sport has soared by around 10% in a year, with almost half of clubs increasing their numbers of junior members, coinciding with an 11% increase in clubs working towards and achieving Clubmark in 2010 compared to 2009. 

The figures, published by the sport's national governing body the British Judo Association (BJA) for the year to September 2010, are being put down to a number of initiatives made possible thanks to the association's Sport England Whole Sport Plan.

The BJA's chief executive officer Scott McCarthy said:

"The indications are very positive that we are improving both the number of those entering the sport as well as our retention rates. We have built a system to support engagement and interactivity through our club as well as schools with the support of Sport England. We very much look forward to that system delivering improved growth figures for the foreseeable future."

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