This past weekend, Riga became the focal point for three significant events dedicated to the development and promotion of judo in Latvia. The programme combined educational advancement, the cultivation of Kata and mass participation of schoolchildren, demonstrating the breadth and depth of Latvian judo’s evolution.
The weekend opened with an educational seminar focusing on contemporary topics within modern judo. The session addressed critical issues including Kata development, the internationally unified belt system for children and the nuances of recently implemented competition rules. The seminar served as an invaluable platform for knowledge exchange and discussion of international trends shaping judo’s future development.
The second major event saw the staging of the 2nd Latvian Kata Championship for cadets, juniors and seniors. Compared to the previous year, the championship demonstrated significant growth, with more complete podiums and the addition of Katame-no-kata to the competition programme. This expansion clearly reflects the growing interest in Kata as an essential and integral component of judo practice.
Sunday’s finale proved the weekend’s most ambitious undertaking, the 3rd Latvian School Judo Championship. An impressive 400 schoolchildren representing more than 100 schools from across all regions of Latvia participated in the competition. Boys and girls from various age groups competed throughout the day, providing compelling evidence of the successful development of school judo in Latvia.
This championship forms part of the “Judo at School” programme, which aims to integrate judo competitions into the official sports calendar of the Ministry of Education and embed judo within the national school sports curriculum.
All three events were conducted under the expert guidance of Dr Slaviša Bradić, IJF Expert and EJU Head Kata Commissioner, whose involvement underscored the international significance of Latvia’s judo development initiatives. Comment from Dr Slaviša Bradić:
“I am delighted to share my impressions of the incredible progress judo is making in Latvia. The vision and energy of the current leadership are driving remarkable results in every aspect of the sport.
“I am particularly proud to see that Kata activities have become self-sustaining, a key objective that has been met with high standards of quality. Furthermore, seeing so many young athletes on the mats gives me full confidence in the future of our sport here.
“From the perfectly executed School Championships to the rollout of the ‘Judo in Schools’ initiative, the Latvian Judo Federation is setting a fantastic example. It is a privilege to watch this federation grow and thrive.”
The weekend’s events collectively demonstrate how a national federation can successfully balance elite development, grassroots participation and educational advancement. By addressing modern competition requirements through seminars, cultivating Kata as a sustainable discipline and engaging hundreds of schoolchildren in organised competition, Latvia is creating a comprehensive judo ecosystem that can serve as a model for federations across Europe.
Author: EJU Media