Tucked just out of sight from the crowds and, for the most part from cameras, beyond the roar of the Papp László Arena, lies a place few spectators ever see, yet it is the beating heart of the OTP Bank World Judo Championships 2025: the warm-up area. It’s a place not only to practise and sweat but is a place of courage, whispered rituals, deep thoughts and the unmistakable pulse of anticipation.
It is here that Olympic champions and first-time competitors breathe the same air. Tatami by tatami, they loosen their limbs, tape their fingers and listen to their beats while centring their minds. You will hear laughter between teammates and coaches as they exchange stories. You will hear the dull thud of throws in repetition and the determined snap of judogi gripped with intention. Coaches crouch low, murmuring essential final advice, their expressions motivating and maybe even louder than their words.
Eyes close. Hands rest on hearts. There is something special in this shared silence before the storm, the invisible bond between athletes who have dedicated years, even decades, to arrive at this moment. Some occupy this shielded space for just an hour, others for a whole day, but in the morning, they all arrive with the same fixation and common language: determination.
The warm-up area is not just a place to prepare; it is a space to remember, to reflect to ground oneself in something familiar when the world stage awaits just metres away. You see it in the way a judoka wraps their belt, not rushed, but deliberate, thoughtful. You feel it in the way they stand still for a breath before stepping forward, their entire journey folded into that pause. It is an honourable space, heavy with history and hope. Smiles and tears are on rotation all day.
This unique backstage haven is a temporary home for the warriors of our sport. No flags, no podium, no bright lights here, just judo, pure, focused and deeply human. There is no ostentation, in fact, besides the tatami, there is nothing. Yet, there is everything that the event is about: the athletes. This is the place where legacies begin and sometimes where they end, but always, this is where they are made real.
Images: Gabi Juan/Marcel Haupt
Author: Szandra Szogedi