Between 30-31 January 2025, the suburbs of Paris, Maisons-Alfort, became a hub of education as the Erasmus+ JITA KYOEI 2 (JK2) project in collaboration with the French Judo Federation hosted an impactful training course. It brought together experts from the European Judo Union, including Nuno Delgado, as well as esteemed figures from the French Judo Federation, such as Frédéric Demontfaucon and other international project partners.
The training welcomed nearly 50 young judoka and almost 30 coaches across the two days. Participants from France, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania and Portugal engaged in intensive training sessions designed to reinforce the educational values of judo and enhance leadership skills. The event also served as a platform for knowledge exchange and skill-building, strengthening the participants’ connection to the global judo community. Mr Delgado, a key figure in the event, emphasised its significance:
The 4th meeting of the Jita Kyoei 2 transnational project in France marked an important milestone for this Erasmus+ project as the first Judo Values Mediator and Trainer Mediator Diplomas were awarded here to a group of young judoka and coaches. It was a pleasure to join the team that coordinated this activity, with the presence of great EJU champions such as Frédéric Demontfaucon, Catherine Fleury-Vachon and Alina Dumitru.
EJU Erasmus+ representative, Katja Prodan, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of combining training with a world-class judo event to deepen the participants’ practical and theoretical knowledge. Slovenian judo coach and expert coordinator from GIB, Mojmir Kovac, also shared his reflections on the training;
The time on the mat was truly valuable. The dojo was well-equipped and we had around 80-90 participants engaged in learning. Beyond technique, we focused on judo’s core values, incorporating role-playing and interactive games to instill important lessons. Judo is not just about competition; it is about shaping individuals into good people who contribute positively to society.
Kovac also praised the collaboration among the project’s partners acknowledging their support in helping smaller judo clubs gain valuable experience and resources.
Jita Kyoei 2 at the Paris Grand Slam 2025
The time on the mat in Maisons-Alfort was only the beginning of a long weekend of sharing valuable educational elements of judo, as the project partners set up a stand at the Accor Arena during the Paris Grand Slam 2025. This provided an incredible opportunity for judoka, coaches and thousands of spectators to engage with the fundamental values of judo. The presence of esteemed judoka, such as Shohei Ono, Elnur Mammadli, Hidayat Heydarov and Juliane Robra further underscored the significance of the initiative.
The success of this training camp and promotional weekend marks a pivotal step forward for the Jita Kyoei 2 project. By reinforcing judo’s educational philosophy and nurturing young leaders, the initiative continues to pave the way for a more value-driven judo community. As the project progresses, it aims to expand its outreach and inspire even more judoka as well as the general public to embrace the true essence of the sport: “mutual welfare and benefit”. The energy and enthusiasm displayed throughout the event in Maisons-Alfort and at the Paris Grand Slam 2025 confirm that judo is much more than a sport, it is a way of life.
Find out more about this project via the following link.
Images: JK2 Coordinator and Partners
Author: Szandra Szogedi