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The Olympic Training Camp (OTC) routine has long been established in the European Judo Union calendar, becoming a tradition to gather several times a year at various locations. How does this contribute to the development of judo in Europe and why is it important? As the Tata OTC comes to an end, some of the coaches have shared their perspectives.
Sally Conway, Head Coach of the Swedish National Team:
“For us, coming from a smaller country like Sweden, we don’t have the luxury of having loads of other athletes to train with. So when you come to an OTC like this and get the chance to train with some of the best in the world, as well as some up-and-coming talent, athletes at all different levels, I think it’s just amazing. We are here to make the most of it and grab every opportunity we can. Also, it really brings everyone together, athletes, coaches and our community. Everyone can learn from one another and it is great.”
Vladimir Preradovic, Women’s National Coach for Croatia:
“Tata OTC is a perfect opportunity to see all the competitors in their final preparations for the European Championships and the Worlds. It is the last chance to observe and develop good tactics before the draw comes out, so we can prepare properly. Overall, these OTCs throughout the year are very useful. There is a great atmosphere, strong sparring partners. No one has this kind of quality in their own countries or clubs. So, I think this is very, very important for the future and for the next generation. Young athletes get to come here and see the big stars too, their idols, their heroes, and I believe this is the best way for Europe to achieve better results than other continents.”
Vladimir Jovicic, Women’s National Coach of Serbia:
“In general, it is a different level of training when all the top opponents are in one place. When they do randori with each other, I think, no, I am 100% sure, they improve a lot. Their physical abilities, especially their judo-specific conditioning, really improve. They push themselves even beyond their limits. Thought I think there is a pretty good number of OTCs throughout the year, there are still some gaps in the calendar we could definitely fill with more.”
Bor Barna, National Coach of Hungary:
“These camps are important because they support proper preparation by allowing athletes to train with opponents they will face at major international competitions. Judo is a sport where you simply can’t prepare without training partners. That is why I believe these OTC camps are the best. Here [in Tata], in every weight category, athletes can find suitable partners to train with and I am very satisfied. To be honest, I was surprised to see so many nations attending but I am really glad they came and we appreciate it. It shows that the judo centre in Tata is improving year after year. Finally, in my opinion, it is perfect preparation for the continental championships.”
Paweł Nastula, Atlanta 1996 Olympic Champion:
“From a coaching point of view, I think this camp [Tata] is very important, especially because it is just two to three weeks before the European Championships.
It is the last opportunity for contact, with many good fights. There are a lot of strong fighters here. Right now, there are many high-level female fighters. Judo is a fighting sport, we need to fight. Of course, we also need gym work, jogging, conditioning… but the most important is judo fighting, therefore these camps are crucial. I would say it’s 80% judo, 20% everything else.”
Driton Kuka, Head Coach of the Kosovar National Team:
“The OTCs are one of the best things the EJU has done in the last two or three Olympic cycles. I believe they have contributed a lot to the strong performances of European athletes at the Olympic Games. Of course, we also have athletes from other continents participating, but the majority and most important group are from European countries. As a coach, I’m really satisfied with this initiative, this “project,” let’s say, which has now been running for over a decade. I think the number of camps is good. Even if the number increases, it wouldn’t be a bad thing. With the structure in place, camps for cadets, juniors, and OTCs for seniors, we’ are filling a gap that exists in many European countries, where there aren’t a lot of high-level athletes locally.”
The next EJU OTC will take place from 19–23 May in Benidorm, Spain. Follow the link for the official outline and full schedule: https://www.eju.net/download-file/?parentId=342533&id=360861
Author: Szandra Szogedi