Portland Takedown Judo & Sambo

Community Support

The people and partners behind the club

Our coaching, our funders and the way we run Portland Takedown, set out in the open.

Head coach

Ryuta Abe

3rd Dan Black Belt · Former Japanese National Judo Team Member

Ryuta Abe is an elite Japanese-Australian judoka and coach with over 20 years of high-level international competitive experience. As a former member of the prestigious Japanese National Judo Team, Ryuta’s competitive pedigree includes a Top 8 finish at the All-Japan Judo Competition and competing in the legendary Kodokan Cup.

Since relocating to Victoria, Ryuta has dominated the Australian circuit, achieving an extraordinary run of success.

  • 2023 & 2024Australian National Judo ChampionGold
  • 2024QLD International Open ChampionGold medallist, −66kg Senior Men
  • 2024Undefeated seasonGold in every state competition across the Australian National Judo Circuit
  • April 2026Australian National Beach Sambo2nd place

Recognising the immense value of bringing world-class athletic mentorship to regional Victoria, Ryuta’s coaching position is proudly supported by the Glenelg Shire Council through the Round 2 2025–2026 Community Grants Program. This vital local partnership ensures that families in the Portland community have direct, affordable access to a calibre of technical expertise and elite coaching typically reserved exclusively for major metropolitan hubs.

Thank you

Our supporters

Portland Takedown runs on local backing. These are the organisations that make it possible.

  • Glenelg Shire Council

    Proudly supporting our head coach through the Round 2 2025–2026 Community Grants Program.

  • Beyond Bank Australia

    A massive thank you to Beyond Bank for their generous funding to help support our club. We highly recommend banking with them because they are customer-owned and invest their profits straight back into local community groups like ours.

  • Alcoa

    A massive thank you to Alcoa for their generous funding and continued support of our club. We are incredibly proud to partner with them as they are a true pillar of our region, constantly investing in the future of local sport and Portland families.

  • Port of Portland

    A massive thank you to Port of Portland for backing our club. We are proud to have a Portland institution behind local sport and the families who train with us.

Governance

Transparency and accountability

At Portland Takedown Inc, we believe transparency and accountability are the foundations of a strong community. We are fully committed to providing a safe, professional, and inclusive environment for our athletes. Below is our official organisational registry, compliance data, and strategic framework.

01

Organisational credentials

  • Legal entityPortland Takedown Inc (Registered Incorporated Association in Victoria since 14 October 2025)
  • Incorporation numberA0127936P
  • Australian Business Number (ABN)41 794 203 050
  • Tax statusNot-for-Profit Incorporated Association (not registered for GST; no DGR status)
  • Headquarters28 Percy Street, Portland VIC 3305
  • National affiliationProud member of the Sambo Federation of Australia Ltd and the Victorian Amateur Judo Union Inc
02

Governance & safety standards

We maintain rigorous operational standards to mitigate risk and ensure the highest quality of care for our members.

  • Volunteer leadershipGoverned by a formal, dedicated committee of local volunteers, and 100% of our administrative operations are completely volunteer-run.
  • Child safety complianceFully compliant with the Victorian Child Safe Standards. Our formal Child Safe Policy and Code of Conduct were adopted on 19 March 2026.
  • VettingEvery single coach, committee member, and active volunteer holds a current Working with Children Check (WWCC).
  • Comprehensive insuranceCovered by $20,000,000 in Public Liability Insurance, alongside full Professional Indemnity Insurance managed through our national sporting affiliation.
03

Our mission & regional impact

  • Our purposeTo provide structured, elite-level, affordable, and inclusive grappling training (Judo and Sambo) to families across the Portland region.
  • Filling the gapAs the only dedicated grappling club in the Portland region, with the nearest alternatives an hour or more away, we provide a vital outlet for regional youth to develop coordination, discipline, and mental resilience.
  • Inclusivity firstWe actively champion low-participation demographics in combat sports, designing specific “come-and-try” pathways to empower youth, women, girls, and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community members.
04

Partners & affiliations

  • Financial institutionBeyond Bank Australia (Portland Branch)
  • Sporting bodiesSambo Federation of Australia Ltd
    Victorian Amateur Judo Union Inc
  • Funding and supportGlenelg Shire Council (Round 2 2025–2026 Community Grants Program)
    Alcoa
    Port of Portland

Want to help or get involved?

Local businesses, families and community groups are always welcome to get in touch.

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