From the cobbled streets of Rome to the soft tatami of Scuola Judo Tomita, Licia Maristella has flipped expectations, quite literally, about ageing, strength, and the power of sport. At 76 years old, while most people might be settling into quieter routines, Licia stepped onto a judo mat for the first time. Today, at 85, she is not only still going strong, she is inspiring generations.
Her journey didn’t begin with a grand plan or a lifelong ambition. In fact, judo had never even crossed her mind. “I have always done sport but I would never have imagined doing judo.”
It was a family moment that sparked everything. One afternoon, Licia’s son invited her to watch her grandson’s judo demonstration. She went along happily, expecting an afternoon of clapping from the sidelines, and yet, fate had something different in store. At the end of the demonstration, a call was made for adults aged 60–75 to join a special judo course, part of a university research project led by instructor Simone Ciaccioni. Licia was just one year too old.
“I told my son, ‘I am already past the age limit’, but as we were leaving, he spoke directly to the instructor, who kindly agreed to accept me anyway.” And just like that, with the quiet bravery of someone willing to try something entirely new, Licia began a journey that would come to define her later years.
First Steps on the Tatami
Licia’s first training session wasn’t easy. Imagine stepping onto the mat and being asked to grapple with strangers, gripping the judogi, getting close, learning to fall safely. “I remember feeling uncomfortable…, hugging perfect strangers but that discomfort quickly disappeared. Everyone was so kind and respectful.”
That warmth, the sense of community, became as important as the physical exercise. While many associate martial arts with competition, Licia found something else in judo: connection, confidence, and calm. “Judo has given me more security and self-esteem and when my grandson says proudly, ‘I am the only one who has a grandmother who does judo,’ it’s the most beautiful feeling.”
Strength in Every Age
The stereotype of older adults as fragile or inactive simply doesn’t hold up when you meet Licia. She is part of the JOY Project (Judo Connecting Older and Younger Generations), where she trains side-by-side with children and teenagers. It is an exchange that runs both ways.
“I get a great deal of satisfaction from training with children and even more so with teenagers. On many occasions, they have pointed out small details in my movements, which has helped me refine my techniques and improve their effectiveness.”
Does she see herself as a grandmother figure on the mat? “Sometimes, yes but also as a friend. We share something. We grow together.” That sense of shared purpose has kept her motivated, even when the movements, and the many Japanese terms, get tricky. “The most difficult part is remembering all the techniques but kata practice are my favourite. They relax me completely.”
Even when she is tired, it is the spirit of the dojo that lifts her: “My training partners are always smiling, always ready to help.”
A Message to Europe’s Grandparents
Licia’s story has already challenged perceptions, as part of the EDJCO Project, she and others helped reshape how sport and ageing are understood. She is living proof that it is never too late to start something bold. “If I fall now, my body remembers how to do it safely,” she says, referring to the ukemi, or breakfall techniques. “That alone is worth learning judo.”
Still, it is not just about safety. It is about joy, connection, and surprising yourself. “If I could speak to all the elderly people across Europe, I would tell them: Go and try judo! You will feel proud. You will feel strong. And your grandchildren? They will be saying to their friends: ‘My grandparents do judo.’”
In Licia’s world, age doesn’t mean slowing down, it means showing up, learning something new, and sometimes hugging strangers until they become your community. So next time you think it is too late to begin something bold, remember the Italian grandmother, Licia, in her judogi, bowing in, gripping tight, and embracing life, one step at a time.
Source and Image: Judo JOY
Author: Szandra Szogedi