The official contract signing ceremony took place on 20 January 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Belgrade, as current and new EJU partners gathered to reflect on achievements in 2025 and outline objectives for the year ahead. IpponGear, a long-standing EJU partner, continues its commitment to European judo through a partnership that has delivered mutual benefits since the brand became IJF-approved in 2018.
Stefan Kneitinger, CEO of IpponGear, shared his perspective on the partnership’s evolution and future direction:
“As a European brand with such a long-term history with the EJU, I believe both parties have benefitted significantly from this partnership, which dates back to 2018 when IpponGear became an IJF-approved brand. The partnership with the EJU provided us with visibility at the highest level from the outset and created opportunities to connect with federations and athletes, allowing us to demonstrate our vision and commitment to quality.
“We actually signed a two-year contract in 2025, so we are not renewing this year, however, there was never any question about continuing our partnership with the EJU for another two years. Now, halfway through that agreement, we look back at excellent cooperation in 2025, whilst recognising considerable potential and projects we can pursue together throughout 2026.”
On measuring success, he added;
“It is challenging to measure success purely through metrics but we unquestionably see substantial benefits for our company through cooperation with the two largest judo federations, the IJF and EJU. This partnership provides visibility at the highest level and access to a network that is invaluable for brand growth.
“As a European brand, the European market will always be our home turf. Whilst we support athletes worldwide, our heart beats European, and it is our mission to enhance the development and growth of our beloved sport on our home continent through high-quality equipment and support.”
On future development, he shared the following;
“I believe there is always considerable room for improvement and growth on both sides. To echo Jigoro Kano’s philosophy, it has always been our goal ‘to be better than yesterday,’ and nothing will change in that regard. As long as we utilise the experience and knowledge of both organisations and maintain open communication, I am confident we can develop many initiatives over the coming years.”
The IpponGear partnership exemplifies the EJU’s commitment to working with brands that share judo’s core values of continuous improvement, quality and dedication to the sport’s development. By combining the EJU’s platform and network with IpponGear’s focus on innovation and quality equipment, both organisations continue to elevate European judo at all levels.
Author: EJU Media