Kata: A Form of Art
The European Judo Union (EJU) has officially confirmed the kata categories and competition system for the upcoming EJU Kata Tour, in line with the standards of the IJF World Series. The tournament will feature senior, junior and cadet divisions, promoting kata development across all age groups. Recognised Kata Categories For…
16 January 2026Erasmus +
The SAFE COMBAT project team gathered in North Macedonia’s capital on 12–13 January for a pivotal transnational project meeting (TPM3), marking a significant step forward in promoting safe and inclusive environments across combat sports and martial arts in Europe. Skopje, which has been at the forefront of sports hosting in…
13 January 2026In Bacău, a modest city in eastern Romania, heroism does not arrive with noise or recognition. It does not wear medals, nor does it seek applause. It wakes up at five in the morning, cooks for a house full of children, checks school attendance, pours concrete at a construction site,…
13 January 2026Pleuni Cornelisse & Hassan Doukkali
There is no judo uniform without a belt, just as there is no bond without the tightness that holds it together. The obi, the traditional Japanese belt, does far more than secure fabric around the body. It binds the judoka’s spirit to their practice, drawing everything inward with purpose and…
10 January 2026Mittersill EJU OTC 2026 - Mittersill, Austria
As the tatami beckons and the world watches, elite judoka stand at the threshold of a defining year, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games qualification will begin in 161 days. Whether chasing Olympic dreams, world championship gold or the fulfilment of promises made to themselves in the quiet hours before…
9 January 2026Mittersill EJU OTC 2026 - Mittersill, Austria
There are several events that feature on a judoka’s bucket list throughout their career. The obvious ones include the Olympic Games, World Championships and prestigious tournaments such as the Paris Grand Slam. When it comes to Olympic Training Camps (OTC), Mittersill undoubtedly sits at the top of that list. Amongst…
9 January 2026Mittersill EJU OTC 2026 - Mittersill, Austria
Over 80 coaches gathered at the Nationalparkzentrum in Mittersill on 8 January for a comprehensive seminar addressing the latest developments in judo coaching and refereeing. The event, held midway through the training camp day, provided crucial insights into rule changes and strategic priorities for European judo in 2026. EJU President…
8 January 2026Erasmus +
Author/Images: JOY Project / Erasmus+ The JOY Talks latest edition concluded a conversation with Ms Neli Lorenzo Abad, 8th Dan, President of the Madrid Judo Federation and Mr Raúl Camacho Pérez, 8th Dan, Director of Club de Judo Newton, IJF Referee Director and former Olympic referee. In December 2025, Judolandia…
8 January 2026Erasmus +
The European Judo Union is proud to announce the launch of the Jita Kyoei 2 Mediators Online Course, a comprehensive educational programme designed to explore the foundational principles of judo as envisioned by its founder, Jigoro Kano. Developed through the Erasmus+ project Jita Kyoei 2, this innovative course expands upon…
7 January 2026The 2026 World Judo Tour season commences on 7–8 February with the traditional Paris Grand Slam in France. Whilst this iconic event marks the competitive start to the year, delegations across the globe have already been preparing intensively for a season that promises major championships and compelling competition. Ahead of…
6 January 2026Mittersill EJU OTC 2026 - Mittersill, Austria
The word “legendary” is not bestowed lightly, it must be earned. Yet in judo circles, the term is almost universally attached to the Mittersill Olympic Training Camp. On Wednesday, 7 January, the 32nd edition of the world’s largest and on of the most prestigious judo training camp begins in Austria.…
6 January 2026Mittersill EJU OTC 2026 - Mittersill, Austria
There is a rhythm to the European judo calendar and it always begins the same way: in the Austrian Alps, where the sport’s finest gather to shake off the holiday rust and lay the foundations for the year ahead. From 7th to 14th January, more than 900 athletes from 50…
4 January 2026EJU Prime Events 2026
Here we are, 2026 has arrived and we couldn’t be more excited to share what is coming. We are looking at nine continental championships across seven countries, from the passionate judo heartland of Georgia all the way to the streets of Paris. Whether you are here for the explosive senior…
1 January 2026Gretha Östlind, Klara Mattsson, and Naemi Jaworowski are building something revolutionary, a training environment where young women don’t just compete, they thrive. Women’s empowerment in sport has become a rallying cry across the globe but three Swedish judoka decided talk wasn’t enough. They wanted action and they built it themselves.…
31 December 2025Adapted Judo
The development of Adapted Judo programmes are positively racing across Europe and overseas and showing no signs of slowing down. Most recently, Israeli judo reached a landmark moment with the country’s first-ever National Adapted Judo Championships, held in Jerusalem in a display of sporting excellence, inclusion and national pride. Approximately…
30 December 2025There is a particular type of athlete who lets their work speak louder than their words. Timur Arbuzov, the newly crowned -81kg world champion and world number one, is precisely that type. His answers are economical, almost austere in their brevity. Yet, within that economy lies something profound, a clarity…
29 December 2025Azerbaijan, renowned for producing Olympic, world, and European champions, has reached a historic milestone past weekend with its first-ever National Kata Championship and inaugural kata judges’ seminar. The transformation began with the IJF Academy programme, which includes Nage-no-kata alongside the 100 Kodokan techniques. When several students expressed genuine interest in…
29 December 2025Patricia Sampaio closes the year as world number one in the -78kg category, becoming the first Portuguese judoka in history to finish a season at the top of the senior world ranking. It is a position she once held as a junior and now reclaims at the highest level of…
28 December 2025
European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals