World Ranked #1

THE POCKET DYNAMO WHO TOOK 2024 BY STORM

NAME: Luka MKHEIDZE COUNTRY: FRANCE CATEGORY: -60kg WORLD RANKING POINTS: 6104 In the fast-paced world of judo, 2024 will forever be remembered as the year Luka Mkheidze ascended to the throne of the -60kg category, finishing as the undisputed world number one. With a style as quick as lightning and a…

22 December 2024

ECC Champions League 2024 - Mixed Team - Montpellier, France

PSG! PSG! PSG!

The final everyone anticipated, the star-studded line up of Paris Saint-Germain against the wilful power of Red Star Belgrade, who endured a gruelling semi final to reach the prominent position within the FDI Stadium in Montpellier, France. Up first was multiple Olympic medallist, Romane DICKO in the +70kg category for…

21 December 2024

ECC Champions League 2024 - Mixed Team - Montpellier, France

CLEAN SWEEP FOR GOLDEN GORI

Following an all-French collision for the first bronze medal, the FDI Stadium welcomed teams from Georgia and Ukraine to the tatami; Golden Gori and Judo Ukraine, to decide the second bronze medal. The teams bowed, and left the tatami, leaving only their +70kg women; Sophio SOMKHISHVILI (Gori) and Ruslana BULAVINA…

21 December 2024

ECC Champions League 2024 - Mixed Team - Montpellier, France

JUDO NICE METROPOLE START THE CELEBRATIONS

In an all-French bronze medal contest, there was no surprise that the crowd instantly came alive in the final block of the European Club Championships – Champions League 2024. SGS Judo took on Judo Nice Metropole for the chance to claim bronze, and opening the head to head were the…

21 December 2024

ECC Champions League 2024 - Mixed Team - Montpellier, France

STRAIGHT SET AND A DRAW

The semi final contests in the European Club Championships – Champions League 2024 could not have been more opposite. Paris Saint-German (PSG) were the first to secure their place in the Champions League final, completing their devastating straight set against Ukraine Judo before the first contest on the adjoining mat…

21 December 2024

ECC Champions League 2024 - Mixed Team - Montpellier, France

IT'S A WHO'S WHO LINE UP

At 8am on Saturday the 21st of December, two hours before the doors of the FDI Stadium opened, avid judo fans and clubs alike were lining up at the ticket office, hoping to get a seat to watch their national heroes compete in the grand finale of the year, the…

21 December 2024

MR KRIŠANDA: ELEVATING SLOVAKIAN JUDO TO EUROPEAN PROMINENCE

Mr. Ján KRIŠANDA, a former judoka and the esteemed former president of the Slovakian Judo Federation for an impressive 16 years, continues to play a pivotal role in the advancement of sports in Slovakia. Currently serving as the State Secretary for Tourism and Sports, his dedication to fostering growth and…

21 December 2024

ECC Champions League 2024 - Mixed Team - Montpellier, France

MONTPELLIER IS READY

Concluding the year, the European Judo Union are collaborating with the French Judo Federation for one of the greatest celebrations of judo in the calendar. Once again, Montpellier will play host to a prime event, the European Club Championships – Champions League 2024. The city can also celebrate that they…

20 December 2024

The Retirement of Telma Monteiro

"I AM AT PEACE."

While the judo world turns its focus to Montpellier and the battles yet to unfold, another chapter quietly closes. Telma MONTEIRO, a beacon of excellence and perseverance in judo, has recently announced her retirement. Her journey, which has inspired countless fans and athletes, now transitions into a new phase, one…

19 December 2024

Digital Administrative and Training Assistant (DATA) Project

DATA MEETING CONCLUDED IN RIJEKA

Between 18-19 December, the picturesque city of Rijeka, Croatia, welcomed partners from across Europe for the meeting of the Digital Administrative and Training Assistant (DATA) project. Against the backdrop of this vibrant city, the event laid the groundwork for an ambitious initiative designed to reshape sports management and training through…

19 December 2024

ECC Champions League 2024 - Mixed Team - Montpellier, France

STROOSSEN JUDO CLUB STEPS INTO THE SPOTLIGHT IN MONTPELLIER 

As the ECC Champions League 2024 prepares to captivate judo enthusiasts in Montpellier, much has been said about the competing teams. Yet, one team remains a fresh and exciting story: Team Luxembourg, represented this year by the Stroossen Judo Club. We had the opportunity to speak with club president, Tom…

19 December 2024

TIME FOR YOU TO NOMINATE FOR EJU FAIR PLAY AWARD

The European Judo Union (EJU) has announced the call for nominations for the EJU FAIR PLAY AWARD 2024. The awards will recognize acts of Fair Play and sportsmanship from the year 2024. The EJU kindly invites all participants, officials, media representatives and spectators to nominate candidates for the EJU FAIR…

19 December 2024

THE GOLDEN TOUR - CHAPTER 3

The concluding chapter of the Alice Bellandi Golden Tour unfolded between 14-15 December, wrapping up a remarkable journey that spanned Italy, connecting thousands of judo enthusiasts. Alice, the celebrated judoka, shared her heartfelt reflections on these last two events, offering a glimpse into the profound impact this tour has had…

17 December 2024

SLOVAKIA CELEBRATES 70TH ANNIVERSARY

Under the title, The 3rd Judo Awards was a spectacular evening celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the National Judo Federation of Slovakia. The event honoured the finest judoka of 2024 and highlighted the rich history and promising future of judo in the country. The event was graced by distinguished guests, including the president…

17 December 2024

A Coach Perspective with Roy Schipper

RULE CHANGES

It has been an exciting weekend in Istanbul, Türkiye, as the rule changes for the next cycle were announced and delivered to National Federations during the IJF Technical Seminar. For some coaches and former athletes, the changes were in fact a throwback to past times, and on a personal level…

17 December 2024

JUDOKA HONOURED AT THE GOLD COLLAR CEREMONY

On the morning of the 16 December, in the Sinopoli Room of the Parco della Musica Auditorium in Rome, the prestigious Gold Collars for Merito Sportivo, the highest accolade in Italian sport, were awarded. The event celebrated the achievements of athletes who secured gold medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic…

16 December 2024

Thank you Marcus!

NYMAN BOWS OUT

It has been 14 years since Swedish judoka, Marcus NYMAN landed on the Judo Tour, opening his high level career in Vienna in 2010. It was in the same year, at the age of 20 years that he defeated Varlam LIPARTELIANI (GEO) in the European Championship final, also in Vienna,…

16 December 2024

ECC Champions League 2024 - Mixed Team - Montpellier, France

MIXED TEAMS FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

For the 2025 European Club Championships: Champions League, we are excited for the newly introduced format of the Mixed Teams. Traditionally seeing all-men and all-women teams, this edition will welcome the joint effort of men and women from 12 teams representing seven nations. Montpellier has already played host to the…

16 December 2024