We’re proud to be growing Lowton Community Hub as a North West centre for martial arts — bringing clubs, athletes and major events together under one roof at our volunteer-led, not-for-profit venue on Newton Road.
What started with a vision to create a better home for local judo has grown into something much bigger. Today, the Hub provides space for different martial arts clubs, training programmes, athletes and events, creating opportunities for people to take part, develop and compete at every level.
We’re home to Leigh Judo Academy and Kokoro Jujitsu, and we regularly welcome clubs and athletes from across the region for training, grading and high-level competition support. That includes GB Sport Ju-jitsu squads, who recently won their first world medal.
This autumn’s calendar shows how far that journey has come.
North West Dan grading & kata course — 19–20 September
On 19–20 September, we’ll host the third North West Dan grading and kata course of the 2026 calendar year at Lowton Community Hub, delivered by Northwest Judo in partnership with Leigh Judo Academy.
The previous two courses have attracted the highest recorded attendance in five years, bringing judoka from clubs across the region together at the Hub for a weekend of grading preparation, kata practice and development.
That level of attendance is a reflection of the strength of judo across the North West, but it also says something about the role the Hub is beginning to play within the regional judo community. Clubs are choosing to bring their players here, coaches are using our facilities for development, and major events are finding a home in our dojos.
For us, that is exactly what the Hub was created to do — provide a high-quality, accessible space where clubs, coaches and athletes can come together, learn from each other and help grow martial arts across the region.
Leigh Judo Club grading — October 2026
In October, Leigh Judo Club will hold its next club grading here at the Hub, giving our local judoka the opportunity to progress through the syllabus and earn their next grade in a familiar, high-quality dojo environment.
Club gradings are an important part of a judoka’s journey. They give players the chance to demonstrate the skills they have developed in regular training, put their learning into practice and mark their progress as they move through the grades.
Holding these gradings at the Hub also means our own members can benefit from the facilities we have worked hard to create — a purpose-built space where they can train, develop and celebrate their progress alongside the wider martial arts community.
kokoro north west ju-jitsu festival
On Saturday 11 October, we’ll host the North West Ju-Jitsu Festival, delivered by Kokoro Jujitsu — bringing clubs, coaches and athletes from across the region together at the Hub for a full day of training, competition and community.
It’s a great example of how the Hub is developing beyond its roots in judo. Different martial arts have their own traditions, coaching methods and communities, but they share many of the same values: discipline, respect, personal development and a willingness to learn.
By providing the space for events like this, we can help different martial arts communities connect while giving athletes the opportunity to train, compete and develop in a quality environment close to home. For Lowton, it also means welcoming more clubs, families and visitors into the Hub and putting the village on the map as a growing centre for martial arts in the North West.
Manchester Aikido weekend seminar — 14–15 November
On 14–15 November, we’re delighted to welcome Manchester Aikido to the Hub for a special weekend seminar, with an 8th Dan instructor travelling from Tokyo to lead the sessions.
Saturday 14 November: 2:00pm–5:00pm
Sunday 15 November: 10:00am–1:00pm
Bringing an instructor of this level from Tokyo to Lowton is a significant opportunity for aikido practitioners across the North West. It gives local players the chance to learn directly from a highly experienced teacher without having to travel overseas to access that level of instruction.
For us, it also shows how the Hub is becoming a venue where martial arts communities can bring high-level coaching and events to the region. From grassroots club sessions to regional competitions and international-standard instruction, the aim is to create a space where people can train, learn and develop — whatever their martial art or level of experience.
More than one martial art under one roof
From judo and ju-jitsu to aikido and beyond, we’re building something lasting at Lowton Community Hub — a place where local clubs can grow, regional events can thrive, and people of all ages can train, learn and belong.
The ambition has never been simply to provide somewhere to train. It is to create a facility that brings people together, gives clubs room to develop and helps more people discover the benefits of martial arts.
We’re volunteer-led and not-for-profit, so everything we do is focused on creating opportunities and making the Hub work for the community. Seeing martial arts flourish here — from young beginners taking their first steps on the mat to experienced athletes and instructors travelling to Lowton from across the region and beyond — is something we’re genuinely proud of.
And this is only the beginning. We want to keep opening the doors to more clubs, more athletes and more opportunities, building on what has already been created and establishing Lowton Community Hub as a place where martial arts can continue to grow for years to come.