Hundreds of judoka presently gathering in Venray for the EJU Get Together event, featuring the first Adaptive Judo tournament under the EJU. The weekend will provide an opportunity for individuals to participate in judo at a performance level, showcasing their abilities, not their disabilities, conditions or diagnosis. Yet, input of our doctors will be key. Fortunately, three of the finest medical professionals are on site to support this weekend and with no hesitation, they shared their on-the-spot views.
Medical Commissioner of EJU and IJF, Dr. Arnold BRONS;
First of all, it is kind of like a birth of a baby for us too. On a more serious note, there are judo rules and medical rules. Here, the judo rules are adapted accordingly but the medical rules stay the same and applied in fit to conditions. Our work is now to establish different categories, together with the coaches and referees, which we can implement into the tournament.
Head of IJF Medical Commission, Dr. Antonio CASTRO;
It is very important for us to be part of the coaching and referee meetings today, to understand the rules and to see how, from the medical point of view, we can help and create something new together. The most important is that we are here to help to create a new system, a new structure together for the future. It is so significant that we start together from the beginning, and I can speak for all of us, it is certainly an honour to be here and be part of this new creation.
Head Medical Commissioner of EJU, Dr. Peter SMOLDERS;
For us, it is about observation to see what is happening now, including today’s divisioning workshop. We need to establish how can we help from the orthopaedic point of view. How can we help the referees too. We are here to observe and support the team as whole. Also, in this case, injury treatment will obviously be specific to individual.
Author: Szandra Szogedi