Raymond Stevens (judoka)

{{Infobox judoka

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

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| nationality = British (English)

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|7|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = Camberley, Surrey

| country = Great Britain

| weight_class = ‍–‍95 kg

| rank =

| rank_ref =

| dan =

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| worlds_rank = 7

| worlds_year = 1995

| worlds_weight = Men's 95 kg

| regionals_type = EU

| regionals_rank = 2

| regionals_year = 1994

| regionals_weight = Men's 95 kg

| nationals =

| olympics_rank = 2

| olympics_year = 1992

| olympics_weight = Men's 95 kg

| commonwealth_rank = 1

| commonwealth_year = 1990

| commonwealth_weight =

| show-medals =

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country| {{GBR2}} }}

{{Medal|S| 1992 Barcelona | {{nbnd}}95 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 1994 Gdansk | {{nbnd}}95 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 1990 Auckland | {{nbnd}}95 kg }}

| updated = 5 June 2023

}}

Raymond Stevens (born 26 July 1963 in Camberley, Surrey) is a male retired judoka from the United Kingdom.{{cite web |url=https://www.judoinside.com/judoka/5002/Raymond_Stevens/judo-career |title=Ray Stevens profile |website=Judo Inside |access-date=19 August 2022}}

Judo career

Stevens started learning Judo at the age of ten{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/dietandfitness/4712011/Tired-of-the-gym-Belt-up-for-judo.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323094204/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/dietandfitness/4712011/Tired-of-the-gym-Belt-up-for-judo.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 March 2010 |title=Tired of the gym? Belt up for judo |website=Telegraph media Group Limited |date=16 October 2002 |access-date=22 January 2002}} and gained a black belt in Judo at the age of 16.{{cite web |url=http://www.britishjudo.org.uk/media/webProfiles/Ex%20International/Ray%20Stevens.pdf |title=British Judo |website=British Judo Association |access-date=22 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528052648/http://www.britishjudo.org.uk/media/webProfiles/Ex%20International/Ray%20Stevens.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2012 |df=dmy-all}}

He was twice a champion of Great Britain, winning the middleweight division at the British Judo Championships in 1984 and 1986.{{cite web |url=https://www.judoinside.com/event/search?EventSearch%5Btype%5D=4&EventSearch%5Bname%5D=&EventSearch%5Byear%5D=&EventSearch%5Bcity%5D=&EventSearch%5Bcountry%5D=ENG&yt0=Hajime&q=&q1=&EventSearch%5Btype%5D=&EventSearch%5Bname%5D=british+championship&EventSearch%5Byear%5D=&EventSearch%5Bcity%5D=&EventSearch%5Bcountry%5D=&yt0=Hajime&q=&q1= |title=British Championships - Event results |website=Judo Inside |access-date=19 August 2022}} In 1986, he won the gold medal in the 86 kg weight category at the judo demonstration sport event as part of the 1986 Commonwealth Games.{{cite web |url=https://www.judoinside.com/event/2076/1986_Commonwealth_Games_Edinburgh/judo-results |title=Commonwealth Games Edinburgh - Event |website=Judo Inside |access-date=21 August 2022}}

Stevens competed in two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1992, when he won the silver medal in the men's half heavyweight division ({{nbnd}}95 kg), in the final he was defeated by Hungary's Antal Kovács.{{cite Sports-Reference |title=Raymond Stevens |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/20161204010839/athletes/st/raymond-stevens-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204010839/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/st/raymond-stevens-1.html |archive-date=4 December 2016}} He represented England at the 1990 Commonwealth Games and won a gold medal in the 95 kg half-heavyweight category of the judo event in Auckland, New Zealand.{{cite web |url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/auckland-1990/athletes |title=1990 Athletes |website=Team England}}{{cite web |url=https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/42226 |title=Athletes and results |website=Commonwealth Games Federation}}

He holds the rank of 7th Dan in Judo awarded to him on 10 September 2015{{cite web |url=http://membersearch.britishjudo.org.uk/dan-register-display.php?PageNo=1&txtSurname=Stevens&grade=7th%20Dan&number=1104 |title=Dan Grade register |website=British Judo Association |access-date=4 July 2017}} and is the Vice Chairman of the British Judo Association London Area.{{cite web |url=http://www.budokwai.co.uk/judo/seniors_16_years_adults/beginners_intermediate_judo/your_instructors |title=BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE JUDO INSTRUCTORS: Ray Stevens |website=The Budokwai |access-date=19 January 2012}} and in 2008 he was the first person to receive a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from Roger Gracie, he subsequently received his 2nd Dan in 2015. He opened his own Martial Arts Academy in September 2017 in South London called [https://www.raystevensacademy.co.uk/ Ray Stevens Academy]. Located in Merton, (KT3 4NE) the purpose built dojo provides the perfect environment for kids and adults to learn & train in Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, No-Gi Wrestling, MMA and Kickboxing.