With plans in place for an independent EJU Ne Waza tournament to be held in Rijeka in May this year by the European Judo Union, it has inspired other nations to include the same in their own calendar.
The Latvian Judo Federation held a National Ne Waza Championship on 8th of February, and though the federation refer to the event as ‘modest’, with no more than 30 participants, it generated a positive response. This has created a belief that this discipline has a future, as there was interest not only from athletes over the age of thirty, as was seen in the Veteran European Championships, but also from younger competitors.
It was also noted that guests from Lithuania also appreciated our initiative. In March, Estonia will be hosting its first ever Ne Waza Championship. Since this year Latvia will also be hosting a Ne Waza competition as part of the Veteran European Cup and the Veteran European Championships, this event has served as great motivation for many athletes.
Author: Thea Cowen