Sarajevo European Judo Hopes Tournament & Technical Session Kodokan Experts 2025 - Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Hopes Tournament Combines Education With Competition

With the first European Judo Hopes Tournament and Technical Session with Kodokan Experts of 2025 just around the corner, we’re catching up with one of the European Heroes that has been involved from the very start and is excited to continue her work. Maria CENTRACCHIO of Italy has been a…

31 March 2025

What's On This Week?

After a bit of a lull last weekend, the judo universe is coming back to life with a cartwheel and a grin! This week will be anything but a snoozefest. Let’s start in the sparkling jewel of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik as Croatia rolls out the tatami for their annual Senior…

31 March 2025

Latvia’s Kata Leap

The Latvian Judo Federation has reached a significant milestone in its development by securing the right to host the European Kata Judo Championships in Riga from 30 May to 1 June 2025. This prestigious event marks a defining moment not only for Latvian judo but also for the continued growth…

30 March 2025

European Judo Championships Veterans Riga 2025 - Riga, Latvia

Competing at 60 and Beyond: Why Judo and a Few Sports Keep the Fire Alive?

In a world that often equates athletic performance with youth, there is something incredibly powerful about stepping out onto the mat, field, track or pool at 60 or older. There are only a little more than a handful of sports that truly welcome competitors at this age. Judo is proudly…

29 March 2025

A Judoka’s Legacy. A Generation’s Future.

In the heart of Móstoles, a spark of legacy, tradition and innovation has come alive. The inaugural edition of Stage Judo Next-Gen “Villa de Móstoles” isn’t just another training event, it’s a movement. At its helm stands Javi Delgado, a coach, mentor, and guardian of judo’s spirit, who has poured his soul into…

28 March 2025

European Games 2027

Cultural Delight for Athletes Heading to Istanbul

The European Championships are on the horizon with less than a month to go, but already other nations are in preparation for the future prime event. Over the course of last weekend during the Tbilisi Grand Slam, the Georgian Judo Federation signed the agreement to host the European Championships in…

27 March 2025

European Judo Championships Seniors Podgorica 2025 - Podgorica, Montenegro

The Time Is Ticking...

In less than a month, Europe’s finest judoka will converge in Montenegro for the Podgorica European Judo Championships Seniors 2025. As anticipation builds, the entry list continues to grow day by day, revealing the final selections from each participating nation and confirming which elite athletes will step onto the tatami.…

25 March 2025

Mutual Growth

As the Tbilisi Grand Slam 2025 wrapped up last Sunday, having welcomed athletes from 52 nations, nearly half of those countries chose to stay behind in Georgia to participate in an international training camp. This continuation beyond the tournament highlights not only the competitive spirit of judo but also the…

25 March 2025

EJU Ne-Waza Trophy - Rijeka, Croatia

Ne-Waza Trophy Outlines Are Online

The European Judo Union is proud to announce the EJU Ne-waza Trophy 2025, taking place on 3 May 2025, at the Zamet Sports Centre in Rijeka, Croatia. This event invites all athletes who are keen to test their skills explicitly in Ne-waza bouts under the adapted IJF Sport and Organisation Rules (SOR). The official…

24 March 2025

Tbilisi Grand Slam 2025 - Tbilisi, Georgia

Chkhvimiani Hangs Up His Belt

A great talent right from the start, Lukhumi CHKHVIMIANI of Georgia was medalling on the continental championship level as a cadet in 2009, didn’t see so much competition as a junior which is not so unusual in a nation that is churning out talent like no other. Then were better…

24 March 2025

Tbilisi Grand Slam 2025 - Tbilisi, Georgia

The Waiting Game

With the five remaining categories competing for gold on day three of the Tbilisi Grand Slam 2025, there was slight disappointment for the hosts who didn’t manage to hear their anthem, though they still acquired three medals; Giorgi JABNIASHVILI (bronze, -90kg), Irakli DEMETRASHVILI (bronze, +100kg) and Guram TUSHISHVILI (silver, +100kg).…

23 March 2025

Pordenone Kata Tournament 2025 - Pordenone, Italy

Pordenone Delivered Again

On 22 March 2025, the city of Pordenone became the hub of European judo, hosting their annual EJU Kata Tournament. The event attracted 164 competitors in 82 pairs, representing 14 nations from across the continent. The gender distribution saw 92 men and 72 women, signalling close balance in participation. Throughout, the audience embraced all kata…

22 March 2025

Tbilisi Grand Slam 2025 - Tbilisi, Georgia

The King Remains

The performance of Georgia’s superstar Lasha SHAVDATUSHAVILI was a huge reason to celebrate on day two of the Tbilisi Grand Slam. As the first Georgian to achieve European, World and Olympic Champion titles, he is of course held in high regard, and carries the pressures that naturally comes with those…

22 March 2025

THE JUDO WORLD MOURNS THE LOSS OF GERHARD JUNGWIRTH, A PILLAR OF AUSTRIAN JUDO

The European Judo Union, alongside the Austrian judo family, mourns the passing of Gerhard Jungwirth. The Salzburger died at the age of 72. As Referee Director, Gerhard has played a major role in shaping the Austrian Judo Federation’s refereeing system over the past decades, ensuring clear and fair conditions at…

22 March 2025

Tbilisi Grand Slam 2025 - Tbilisi, Georgia

A DREAM COME TRUE

On her third attempt in the Tbilisi Grand Slam, 20 year-old Nino LOLADZE (GEO) fought her way to a place on the podium, the perfect place to secure her first IJF World Judo Tour medal. Loladze demonstrated the typical Georgian style throughout her preliminaries, huge throws throughout, only losing out…

21 March 2025

GEORGIA TO HOST SENIOR EUROPEANS 2026

Georgia will host the European Judo Championship Seniors in 2026. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze discussed details related to the tournament during a meeting with Dr Toth Laszlo, President of the European Judo Union. The Prime Minister noted that the Georgian Government will contribute to the further development of cooperation…

21 March 2025

In celebration of World Down Syndrome Day

MARYSIA’S JOURNEY

A Double Birth, A Single Moment of Shock When Karolina became a mother at 27, she expected the usual joys and surprises of welcoming twins into the world. Nothing prepared her for the moments she recalls shortly after their birth. “I learned that one of my children was born with…

21 March 2025

144th IOC Session

KIRSTY COVENTRY ELECTED. THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF THE IOC.

Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe has been elected as the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), becoming the first female President in IOC history. The election took place during the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece, with Coventry securing victory after a single round of voting. She triumphed…

20 March 2025