Author: Wolfgang Eichler
For the first time on the IJF World Tour, a dedicated ‘Mind Dojo – Dojo for the Soul’ is being offered to athletes and coaches at the TipsArena in Linz. The pilot project was initiated by Austrian board member and IJF Mental Health Officer Veronika Jakl and the response on the opening day of competition could not have been more positive.
“We had a constant flow of visitors and even carried out several psychological interventions,” explained Jakl. “Some judoka even asked whether they needed to pay for their time in the Mind Dojo. Everyone praised the design of the room and the atmosphere is very pleasant.”
The Mind Dojo – Dojo for the Soul is a quiet comfort zone created to support the mental well-being of athletes, coaches and referees, all of whom operate under significant performance pressure. Research shows that mental health challenges occur among elite athletes and referees at a similar rate to the general population. In such high-performance environments, these challenges can intensify stress, anxiety and emotional overload.
The concept behind the Mind Dojo is simple but powerful: a calm, welcoming space away from the public competition areas, yet located close to the warm-up zone, where athletes and officials can take short breaks, regulate emotions, ground themselves and mentally recover.
Participants have access to simple, self-guided activities including self-massage devices, Lego bricks and colouring sheets. In addition, trained staff, including psychologists and safeguarding officers are available to provide professional psychological support when required.
Image: Austria Judo/Oliver Sellner
Author: EJU Media