At the 2024 General Assembly of the German Judo Federation (DJB) held in Hamburg, Thomas Schynol was unanimously re-elected as President. The 56-year-old finance graduate from Hamburg has been serving in this role since 2022. His re-election reflects the confidence and support of the 18 national judo associations represented at the assembly.
In addition to Schynol’s re-election, several key positions within the DJB leadership were also filled under the Vice President role and within their respected areas: Laura Vargas Koch was elected as for Competitive Sports, Jenny Frey for Association Development, Thomas Jüttner for Finance, and Carl Eschenauer for Popular Sports. These appointments reinforce a strong leadership team to steer the organisation forward. The newly appointed Good Governance Officer is Dietrich Schneider, while Joachim Bechtold will continue his duties as Chairman of the Legal Committee.
Celebrating 75 Years of Hamburg Judo
The assembly, hosted by the Hamburg Judo Association (HJV), marked a special milestone in the organisation’s history, its 75th anniversary. The event began with welcoming addresses from DJB President Thomas Schynol, Prof. Dr. Rainer Ganschow, President of the HJV, and Christoph Holstein, State Councillor for Sport in Hamburg.
The assembly also recognised significant contributors to German judo. Stephan Bode from North Rhine-Westphalia and Willi Moritz from Hesse were elected as honorary members and welcomed into the DJB Council of Honour. Additionally, Hans-Werner Friel and Joachim Bechtold were awarded the prestigious 8th Dan, and Thomas Schynol himself received the DJB Silver Badge of Honour.
Several important motions were approved during the assembly:
- A new digital membership management system, the JudoPass licence, will be introduced, allowing for modernised passport regulations.
- Starting in 2025, the German Youth Cup for U15 will be organised as a mixed team competition, featuring four weight classes (male and female).
- New graduation regulations for Kyu grades and the 1st Dan for ID-Judo, focusing on athletes with intellectual disabilities, were approved.
These changes represent the DJB’s commitment to inclusivity, modernisation, and the continued growth of judo in Germany.
Images: National Judo Federation of Germany
Author: Szandra Szogedi