Almada Grand Prix 2023 - Almada, Portugal
The draw is up and we are ready for the first stop of the IJF World Tour 2023 in Almada, Portugal. An incredible entry of 544 athletes from 81 nations will be competing for the medals as well as the all-important qualification points as the Olympic Games is fast approaching.…
26 January 2023Almada Grand Prix 2023 - Almada, Portugal
Kosovan head coach Driton “Toni” Kuka has always been of a positive nature, but for many years he did not have the general framework and the necessary funding. In 2023 life is different for the 51-year-old. The workaholic and self-made success coach does not need to be a one-man-show anymore.…
26 January 2023Almada Grand Prix 2023 - Almada, Portugal
With the draw looming tomorrow for the Almada Grand Prix in Portugal, we can see who will and won’t be competing from the Portuguese team. Originally we were looking forward to the Portuguese team captain and six-time European champion, Telma MONTEIRO taking the stage at the first event of the…
25 January 2023Almada Grand Prix 2023 - Almada, Portugal
Following the Tokyo Olympic Cycle, world bronze medallist, Anri EGUTIDZE (POR) decided that he would give the -90kg category a try as his weight was sitting quite high for his usual -81kg competition and for this reason it made sense. So why has he made the decision to make a…
24 January 2023Almada Grand Prix 2023 - Almada, Portugal
In 2022, Portugal were the newest addition to the IJF World Judo Tour, already kickstarting the year with 300 athletes from 41 nations arriving to compete, however, the subscription this year is something entirely different. Discussing this with EJU Head Sport Director Catarina RODRIGUES, she explains that the Portuguese federation…
23 January 2023We have already exposed a short history of Malta judo as we recently introduced current top female judoka of ‘the rock’, Katryna ESPOSITO. Today, we will meet up with top male judoka from this beautiful archipelago. This humbled gentleman seeks no fame but hard work as he writes history for his country, one…
22 January 2023The European Judo Union is made of 51 members, one of which is the National Judo Federation of Malta (MJA). According to the MJA, judo was somewhat unknown in Malta until the 1950s. The little judo that was practiced was more a discipline than a sport and it was not until…
21 January 2023Many will know Andrea EMBER from the IJF World Judo Tour but for those who don’t, Ember is the Anti-Doping Coordinator within the IJF Medical Commission, let’s get to know her a little better. What path brought you in to this sector? By degree I am a physical education teacher,…
21 January 2023Safe Fall-Safe Schools is an educational programme, based on judo (ukemis), methodologically developed through scientific research, to teach children how to fall safely and securely. The World Health Organization (2021) points out that falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury and deaths worldwide. This figure comes from the…
20 January 2023There were many teams present for the Mittersill OTC, but one team was missed which includes two of the number one ranked athletes in the world; Lucy RENSHALL and Chelsie GILES. The latter has had a truly incredible few years, acquiring major tournament medals across the board; Olympic bronze in…
19 January 2023Everyone was relieved to head home as the OTC in Mittersill has officially come to an end. However, no one would have been more delighted then Serbia’s Strahinja BUNČIĆ as he practically went from the delivery room to Austria, whilst admiring his second born via some photos. The newest addition to…
18 January 2023I don’t just want to qualify, I want to be at the top. Sami CHOUCHI (BEL) officially announced yesterday, that rather than finding him in the usual seeded place of the -81kg category during the Portugal Grand Prix, we need to look a bit further to the -90kg, his new…
17 January 2023Mittersill EJU OTC 2023 - Mittersill, Austria
Last week we had the opportunity to witness the successful OTC held in Mittersill. Where better to start the year, than in the place where the best of the best have been gathering since the first training camp in 1993. Many generations have passed through the “Kogler” sports hall including…
17 January 2023Mittersill EJU OTC 2023 - Mittersill, Austria
Lithuania’s most successful judoka to date is Marius Paskevicius, who booked himself a spot at both, Sydney 2000, and London 2012 Olympic Games. Furthermore, he won two European bronze medals (2012, 2014) but the real contributing fact to be able to be above the rest, was winning the world bronze…
15 January 2023Mittersill EJU OTC 2023 - Mittersill, Austria
Matthias CASSE (BEL) could be a happy man. The current number two in the world ranking (-81 kg) had two very succesful seasons. He won the World Championships and Olympic bronze medal in 2021, last year he both finished second at the European Championships in Sofia (BUL) and at the…
15 January 2023Mittersill EJU OTC 2023 - Mittersill, Austria
Since the Olympic Games in TOKYO 2021 and her decision to move from the -48kg category to -57kg, a two-weight difference, Daria BILODID (UKR) has competed in four tournaments so far. The 22-year-old is number 40 in the IJF ranking (-57kg), won the European Cup in Riga and was placed…
14 January 2023Mittersill EJU OTC 2023 - Mittersill, Austria
It’s been a hot second since we saw Olympic bronze medallist, Luka MKHEIDZE (FRA) on the tatami, but he has reappeared in Mittersill for the first OTC of 2023. Since his success in the Tokyo Olympics, standing on the -60kg podium, he has taken another medal in the Paris Grand…
13 January 2023Mittersill EJU OTC 2023 - Mittersill, Austria
Over 1000 judoka are spending their week in Mittersill to build a solid foundation for the hectic year ahead. Amongst World and Olympic champions, there are other familiar faces. For some, it is not only the first camp of the year but also the first camp in many years. Undoubtedly,…
13 January 2023
Almada Grand Prix 2023