Meet the Judo Swansea Coaching Team
Experienced coaches. Competitive knowledge. A safe and supportive environment.
From complete beginners taking their first steps on the mat to athletes competing nationally and internationally, our coaching team has the experience to help every judoka develop.
All Judo Swansea coaches are registered with the British Judo Association and hold the appropriate coaching, safeguarding, first aid and DBS requirements for their roles.
Dr Shaun Davies
Head Coach
Shaun is the Head Coach and co-founder of Judo Swansea, coaching judoka from complete beginners through to advanced competition.
A former Welsh international, Shaun brings extensive technical and competitive experience to the club and volunteers as an assistant coach with the Welsh National Team at national and international events.
3rd Dan | Level 2 Coach | Grading Examiner
Jamie Boyle
Club Coach
Club Coach | 2nd Dan | Level 1 Coach | Grading Examine
Jamie is co-founder of Judo Swansea and coaches across our junior and senior classes, bringing extensive experience in sports coaching, personal training and competitive judo.
Gareth Piper
Club Coach & Club Welfare Officer
Club Coach | 2nd Dan | Level 2 Coach | Natioanl Referee
Gareth is our Club Welfare Officer helping support our player and coaches. Gareth started judo as a beginner senior and has thrown himself into the sport!
Nicole Karanicola
Club Coach | 1st Dan | Level 1 Coach
Nic supports our junior classes and competition squad and is passionate about encouraging more women and girls into judo.
She has supported our female athletes at women and girls' competitions and development events.
Ioan Carter-Jones
Club Coach | 2nd Dan | Level 1 Coach
Ioan supports our junior classes and competition squad and is passionate about developing our younger judoka.
Ioan supports our atheltes at natioanl and international events.
Daniel Davies
Senior Coach | 3rd Dan | Former National Coach
Daniel brings extensive international and high-performance experience to Judo Swansea. He has represented Team Wales at the Commonwealth Games, won multiple international medals and previously worked as a national coach.
Daniel supports the development of our athletes, bringing high-level technical and competitive experience to the club.
Sophie Root
Club Coach | 1st Dan | Level 1 Coach
Sophie has competed at national and international level and represented Wales, including at the UK School Games. She brings experience of the elite performance pathway alongside coaching experience in Wales and England.
Additional experience: Occupational Therapist
Developing the next generation of coaches
We're committed to developing our coaches through formal qualifications, mentoring and practical experience on the mat. Our developing coaches support classes, events and competitions while working towards their next coaching qualifications
Stephen Ahern
Level 1 coach
Rafael Richards Parssa-Nyokoo
Working toward level 1 - Junior and adaptive coach
Cedric Davies
Level 1 coach
Tomas Roberts
Working toward level 1