The European Judo Union is dedicating September to the core value of Pro-Activity, as part of its ongoing monthly campaign to spotlight the principles at the heart of judo. Representing this theme is Paris 2024 Olympian Lubjana Piovesana of Austria, who has been chosen as the ambassador for the month.
On the mat, proactivity is more than simply attacking first. A pro-active judoka anticipates movement, sets the pace, and seizes opportunities. This quality is just as important beyond the tatami. Pro-active athletes take ownership of their progress, seek feedback, and look for ways to improve every day. Coaches and referees, too, rely on pro-activity, whether by adapting training to individual needs or anticipating situations to ensure fairness and safety.
For Lubjana, this value means the following:
“Pro-activity means to me taking the initiative first. For example, you go to your coach to talk about an issue instead of waiting for your coach to come to you. So, if you are struggling with a gripping situation you can go and talk to him and ask him if you can go through it and not just sitting there waiting for help from someone else.
“Outside of judo, it is to think about what you can do after your career, so for example studying something, or doing like an apprenticeship not just waiting until the end of your career and thinking ‘oh, I don’t know what to do next’. Pro-activity is important to take those steps to try and help yourself and help others.”
Ultimately, pro-activity in judo is a life skill. It teaches athletes not to wait for circumstances to dictate outcomes, but to create opportunities with resilience and respect. It is what transforms judoka into leaders, both on the mat and in the wider world.
Author: Szandra Szogedi