As the final bow was made and medals tucked away, Dr László Tóth, President of the European Judo Union, took a moment to reflect on two weeks of unforgettable judo in Riga, from the powerful performances at the Veteran Europeans to the quiet beauty of the Kata European Championships.
“Being at the Veterans event was something really special,” Dr Tóth said. “You could feel the pride, the joy, and above all, the love for judo. Many of these judoka have dedicated their lives to the sport, and to see them still competing, still smiling, still giving their all on the tatami… it was emotional, truly. We also had great interest in the ne-waza event and the spirit during the team event was elevating.”
While he was fully present during the Veteran Europeans, his responsibilities with the World Championships as the Local Organising Committee meant he had to miss the Kata Europeans, a rare absence for someone so deeply involved in every aspect of the EJU’s work.
“It wasn’t easy for me not to be there,” he admitted. “Kata is special, it is the soul of judo, not just about winning, but about learning, sharing, and preserving something precious. Even though I wasn’t in Riga for the Kata Championships, I followed everything closely and stayed in touch with our team on the ground. The record number of participants is a clear reflection of the effective development work carried out by the team.”
Representing the EJU was Vice President and Head of Education, Kristiina Pekkola, whose commitment to kata development and education has been at the forefront of the Union’s recent growth.
“I want to thank Kristiina for the wonderful job she did,” he said. “She carried our message, our vision. Her and her team’s work in building inclusion and education through kata is something I deeply admire. Additionally, I also want to express my gratitude to the EJU Head Kata Commission, Dr Slavisa Bradic and Monika Piredda, for their ongoing effort in robustly developing kata whilst ensuring traditions are kept.”
This year’s Kata Europeans once again featured adapted kata as a fully integrated part of the official programme, something Dr Tóth sees as far more than a formality.
“It’s not about ticking boxes. It’s about what judo stands for. Inclusion, respect, resilience. Seeing athletes of all abilities on the mat, performing with pride and purpose… that’s judo in its purest form. That’s the future we want to build.”
He also expressed his appreciation for the Kodokan Kata Seminar, which ran prior to the kata championships and featured formidable experts from Japan.
“Having esteemed kata experts from the Kodokan with us in Riga was truly an honour,” he said. “Their presence reminded us of the depth and philosophy behind each movement. It’s a connection to judo’s origins and for our European judoka, especially the younger ones, it was an experience that will stay with them forever.”
Looking back on the two weeks happenings, he spoke with warmth and optimism not about numbers or medals, but about what these days in Riga really meant.
“What we saw in Riga wasn’t just high-level judo. We saw tradition being honoured. We saw new generations stepping forward and we saw people coming together, from different countries, different ages, different abilities, all united by the same spirit. That’s what makes these events so important.”
And as always, he is already looking ahead.
“There is more work to do, of course, always, but seeing how much passion and professionalism Latvia brought to these events, I know we are on the right path. Riga reminded us what judo really is and why it matters.”
Author: Szandra Szogedi