CONSORTIUM
The Judo Club Rijeka was founded in 1959 and has been operating regularly and successfully ever since, promoting judo as a sport and its values. Over many years, numerous members have passed through the club, many of whom are today prominent members of the community. It currently boasts around 400 members, making it one of the most populous clubs in Croatia.
Judo Club Rijeka is a reputable sports club with a long tradition and excellent results at regional, national, and international levels. The club offers various programs that include work with preschoolers, judo schools for children, competitive teams, as well as special groups that work with older people and a group that runs a program for children with developmental disabilities. The club is also known for its work and cultivation of judo kata, with which it has achieved significant results at both national and international levels.
In addition to the various projects that the club implements, we must highlight ‘Judo in Schools,’ which the club initiated in the city of Rijeka in 2008. Since 2013, this project has been officially recognized by the Croatian Judo Federation and the Ministry of Education. In 2015, the ‘Judo in Schools’ project received the award for the best innovation from the International Olympic Committee.
The club conducts its activities in two judo halls and 11 primary schools. Its organization includes nine judo trainers who are licensed and specialized through different levels of judo education.
The club has high-ranking judo workers in the national and international federations and also engages in scientific work. Dr. Slavisa Bradic received his doctorate from the University of Hertfordshire and currently holds the position of Education Director at the IJF Academy, as well as Head of the Kata Commission at the EJU.
The club is very active in implementing various projects, which have significantly contributed to the development of judo and certain ideas within its social community, thus establishing it as one of the leaders in Croatia
Judo is a sport that has many attributes that can positively influence youth and society overall. Besides being one of the most popular Olympic sports, the educational component of judo and its effect on children at an early age represent the foundation of judo as a lifestyle in addition to being a sport. The International Judo Federation (IJF), the world governing body of judo, implements several projects besides the elite competitive sports competition system.
The IJF Academy was established in 2013 as the teaching arm of the IJF. The duties of the Academy are to provide professional education in all sectors of judo. These courses are delivered through an online and/or blended program, with all the theoretical lessons provided online and the practical sessions delivered in one- or two-week sessions. The graduates of the IJF Academy are trained to work with children and adults at each individual’s level of technical skill development and also at managerial levels depending on the programs.
During the past six years, we have learned better how to deliver our courses and how to guide our students to discipline themselves in the organisation of their studies. In collaboration with our IT section, we have continued to make our platform more user-friendly and more secure, with the enhancement of facial recognition among other modern technologies. It is estimated that over 40 million judoka practice judo around the world. A very small percentage go for the competition; therefore, the IJF Academy has been entrusted to give professional education and training to all our coaching and refereeing sectors and also provide managerial skills.
Judo is in a better position than many other sports as the founder of judo, Professor Jigoro Kano, was the minister responsible for physical education in Japan and had developed judo from the martial art of jujitsu as a primary form of physical education. Jigoro Kano is known for his many quotations. Still, the one that we find most relevant to the Academy and which we have adopted as our motto is:
“Nothing under the sun is greater than education. By educating one person and sending him into the society of his generation, we make a contribution extending a hundred generations to come.”
History of the EJU
Founded on July 28, 1948, in London, the European Judo Union (EJU) is a non-political, non-profit organization established under Austrian Association Law. It is one of the five continental unions within the International Judo Federation (IJF). Comprising 51 Member National Federations or Associations, each recognized by their respective National Olympic Committees, the EJU is committed to implementing IJF and International Olympic Committee (IOC) policies without discrimination based on race, religion, gender, or politics.
Values of Judo
Judo, created by Professor Jigoro Kano in 1882, evolved from a martial art to an Olympic sport by 1964. It emphasizes mental and physical harmony, focusing on self-discipline, technical mastery, and personal development. The ultimate goal of judo is self-perfection and contributing positively to society, embodying modern, progressive values despite its traditional roots.
EJU By the Numbers
- Olympic Champions: 6
- OG European Medaling Nations: 17
- World Champions: 8
- JudoTV Live Views: 15,400,000
- EJU Events in 2023: 101
- Facebook Followers: 211,000
- Instagram Followers: 177,000
- Active European Judoka: 2,300,000
- Member Federations: 51
Governance and Structure
The EJU is led by an Executive Committee, including a President, three Vice-Presidents (Sport, Marketing, Education), a General Secretary, a General Treasurer, and various directors covering sports, refereeing, education, and marketing. The head office is in Vienna, Austria, and the presidential office is in Budapest, Hungary.
Commissions and Sectors
The EJU’s commissions are crucial in shaping policy across various domains, including sports, general affairs, refereeing, marketing, education, and science. These commissions provide recommendations and proposals to the Executive Committee, which may delegate specific duties to them.
Membership and Community
With 51 member nations and over 2.2 million active judoka, the EJU fosters a vibrant and extensive judo community across Europe.
Awards and Recognition
The EJU annually celebrates its top athletes, coaches, referees, event organizers, and contributors at a Festive Gala Dinner, highlighting the achievements and dedication within the judo community.
Aims and Objectives
- Implement IJF and IOC policies in Europe.
- Unite European judoka and promote friendly relations among Member National Federations.
- Supervise judo activities and protect the sport’s interests across Europe.
- Organize and support European and international judo events.
- Promote judo among all population groups, especially youth.
- Enhance judo training quality and supervise grade awards.
- Collaborate with the IJF to promote Olympic ideals and ensure regulatory compliance.
- Represent European Judo in third-party engagements and arbitrate disputes.
Flagship Events
The EJU hosts premier events such as the European Judo Championships (Individual and Mixed Team) and the European Club Championships “Champions League.” These high-caliber tournaments feature elite judoka and are broadcast on television.
Annual Calendar and Activities
The EJU’s annual calendar includes over 50 events, ranging from Olympic Qualification events and prestigious championships to educational seminars for coaches and referees and the Judo Festival for enthusiasts of all ages and levels.
Olympic Success
The EJU prides itself on its Olympic achievements, with 5 Olympic champions and 26 medallists at the Tokyo Games, showcasing the dedication and excellence of its members.
Motto and Mission
The EJU operates under the motto “Judo—more than sport.” It offers extensive support and activities to its member federations, underscoring judo’s role in fostering discipline, community, and personal growth.
The University of Rome “Foro Italico” – the city’s fourth state university – is the only Italian and one of the few European vocational universities entirely devoted to sport and exercise science. Established in 1928, the university is located in the monumental area of Foro Italico in Rome, home to some of the city’s most famous sports structures. The university ranks among Italy’s top universities in terms of facilities and teaching staff available per student, with about 2,500 students and 69 faculty members. It is highly committed to European cooperation and firmly rooted in the world of sports science, with a significant presence in international organizations devoted to both academic and scientific collaboration among higher education institutions, such as UNICA (Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe), UNIMED (Mediterranean Universities Union), ECSS (European College of Sport Science), ENSE (European Network of Sport Education), EAS (European Athlete as Student), EFSMA (European Federation of Sports Medicine Association), and FIMS (International Federation of Sports Medicine).
At present, the University of Rome “Foro Italico” has Erasmus+ K131 inter-institutional agreements with 88 European universities and K171 inter-institutional agreements with four extra-EU universities in Albania and Montenegro. Additionally, it has signed cooperation agreements with 34 partner country universities in Albania, Argentina, the USA, Russia, Egypt, Brazil, Belarus, China, Japan, Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/99), and Taiwan. It has participated in 15 Erasmus+ projects within the Sport action, either as coordinator or partner higher education institution, focusing on two main areas:
Encouraging participation in sport and physical activity, especially by supporting the implementation of the Council Recommendation on health-enhancing physical activity, in line with the EU Physical Activity Guidelines and the Tartu Call for a Healthy Lifestyle.
Promoting education in and through sport with a particular focus on skills development, as well as supporting the implementation of the EU Guidelines on Dual Careers of Athletes.
The University of Rome “Foro Italico” acted as the coordinating institution of four successful Tempus joint projects aimed at reforming the first and second-level sports science university curricula in the Western Balkans and Egypt and is now contributing to one Erasmus+ Capacity Building project in the Western Balkans.
The university’s learning and research activities are based on the principle that physical movement and sport contribute to the well-being of individuals, the community, and society in general, representing a significant resource. The university is strongly committed to promoting the ethical value of physical activity and sport to respect and enhance all aspects of human beings. It has also developed a modern Language Centre (CLA) offering basic and advanced language courses and implementing innovative online courses.
Currently, the Department of Movement, Human, and Health Sciences at the University of Rome “Foro Italico” offers a 3-year bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Sports and Movement Sciences, 2-year Master of Science degrees in Sports Coaching, Sports Management, and two in Adapted Physical Activity, one of which is taught entirely in English (European Master of Science in Health & Physical Activity, http://www.europeanmasterhpa.
University of Ljubljana is the oldest and largest higher education and scientific research institution in Slovenia. University with its rich tradition was founded in 1919. It has more than 40.000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and employs approximately 5.600 higher education teachers, researchers, assistants and administrative staff in 23 faculties and three arts academies. The central building, all three academies and faculties are located in the centre. Some of the most recent and modern buildings were constructed on the outskirts of Ljubljana, giving the university and its students a ubiquitous presence in the city.
The University of Ljubljana is renowned for its quality social and natural sciences and technical study programmes, structured in accordance with the Bologna Declaration. Our projects keep pace with the latest developments in the areas of arts, sciences and technology at home and abroad.
The University of Ljubljana is listed amongst the top 500 universities in the world according to the ARWU Shanghai, Times THES-QS and WEBOMETRICS rankings.
The University of Ljubljana is the central and largest educational institution in Slovenia. It is also the central and largest research institution in Slovenia with 30 percent of all registered researchers (according to the data from the SICRIS database).
The University takes a central pedagogical position by performing public services in the areas of special social importance which ensure the preservation of the national identity.
The University of Ljubljana has close ties with Slovenian companies and foreign enterprises. Our partners include multinational corporations and the most successful Slovenian companies. As we are fully aware of the importance of knowledge and skills in obtaining our own financial sources, we are increasingly developing our market oriented activities every year.
The Faculty of Sport is a regular member of the University of Ljubljana, whose founder is the Republic of Slovenia. The Faculty, an educational and scientific-research institution, was established in 1960 and has operated as a higher education institution ever since.
The Faculty runs 3 bachelor’s Bologna study programmes, 3 master’s degree Bologna study programmes, and one PhD study (http://www.fsp.uni-lj.si/
UL has been a partner of several European-funded initiatives in the field of sport, which provided information and guidelines pertaining the global dimensions of sport and to create effective alliances for raising awareness on relevant aspects of sport. To provide a better understanding of issues relating to sport implementation from an operational perspective, UL deemed relevant to be involved in collaborations with researchers, practitioners and policy makers. In particular, UL collaborated in several European- funded studies.
Judo Club Golovec (JCG) is a non-profit, community-based judo club located in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The development of the club is based on knowledge and tradition. Knowledge is the fundamental value of the club’s management. Due to the professionalism of its individuals, the club is also renowned in the Slovene and international judo environment. The club follows the slogan “Judo is more than sport” and is open to collaboration and cooperation with other local, including non-sport, organizations and institutes to serve this purpose. Participation in the club is open to all members and non-members irrespective of age, color, race, gender, class, country of origin, place of residence, language, and ability.
In addition to implementing the basic mission of providing judo training for all generations, in recent years, many efforts have been invested in a broader educational mission: to contribute to a better quality of life and sustainable progress in the local community. The club develops its story through vaarious projects.
Over the generations, more than 2,500 judokas, including many top competitors, have practiced judo in the club. The club has Judo Instructors and Judo Managers with recognized IJF Academy judo education (Certified Judo Instructor, Certified Judo Manager), 200 active members, and operates at eight locations in Ljubljana and its surroundings. In recent years, in line with market demand, the training programs have been modernized, and educational and promotional activities have been added, especially for target groups that are not active in judo (adult women, seniors, etc.).
Club de Judo Newton
Club de Judo Newton (CJN) is a non-profit sports organization that is part of a larger entity called Newton Activities, which develops educational, sports, and leisure activities throughout the Madrid region and its surroundings.
CJN is an active member of the Madrid Judo Federation and the Royal Spanish Judo Federation. Although it is a recently formed club, in just seven years we have earned an excellent reputation due to the high experience and qualifications of our instructors and co-workers. We work in collaboration and cooperation with various organizations, both sports and educational. Our focus is not only on the improvement and development of Judo as a combat sport but also on embracing the philosophy and values of our sport as a way of life. In this sense, our goal is to help people of all ages, genders, religions, and races to improve their physical and social capabilities and self-esteem.
We are involved in various sports and social projects for our community, such as urban summer camps to help families with work-life balance, Judo programs for disadvantaged children, adventure camps for children and teenagers focused on environmental care and healthy living, Judo programs for children and parents to practice together, and special Judo programs for elderly people. For years, we have been collaborating on a wonderful Judo project with adults on the autism spectrum. Additionally, we are engaged in different Judo projects within the Erasmus+ framework.
Since the foundation of CJN, more than 650 people have joined our Judo community and embraced our values and philosophy. We currently have six highly qualified Judo instructors working in our training programs in various schools and social centers throughout the Madrid region.
Judo Club Liberty Oradea
Judo Club Liberty Oradea is a non-profit, apolitical, non-governmental, private club located in Northern Romania in the city of Oradea. Our club is a member of the Romanian Judo Federation.
Judo Club Liberty Oradea has a great judo tradition and legacy. It was founded in 1996 by the International Judo Federation President, Mr. Marius Vizer. Through his support and involvement, the club managed to gather hundreds of judokas who learned judo. They had the chance to become top judo players, judo teachers, coaches (Sensei), and self-defense experts for the local police forces, and positive role models in our society.
Judo Club Liberty Oradea won the European Club Cup in 1999 and has also achieved many other trophies and medals in national and international competitions in every age group from children to senior level. Currently, the club’s activities are ongoing throughout the week with judo training, weekend judo competitions, monthly events for kids, families, and the community, judo belt exams twice a year, and more, involving over 150 judoka and their families.
Our judo activities are multilateral and multicultural, extending to many fields of education, such as:
Judo for Beginners, where children start learning the basic motoric skills like how to run, fall, jump, and add space awareness and balance to their physical development, and also become familiar with the Judo Way of Life.
Judo Education for advanced children/persons, where besides technical and physical progress, we also focus on the human character of Judo in terms of discipline, moral values, and social inclusion.
Judo Performance for judokas who use Judo as a way of life and have found great passion and joy in learning and training together. We promote a joy in learning, creativity, and excellence while working in close harmony with our diverse community.
For almost 24 years, The Judo Club Liberty Oradea has maintained the mission of educating and adding value to our community. Our goal is to help develop actual and future generations of children and adults to be happier, healthier, and motivated to learn self-defense, apply safety measures for themselves and those in need. We strive to develop the skills in our club members that will enable them to become independent, respectful, and caring adults who will be successful and contribute to global society. Our staff members are highly educated and experienced in various fields of Sports, Sports Management, and Educational Systems. They help our club deliver the transfer of knowledge through the best teaching methods, enriching society through the fusion of education, practice, and research.
İzmir Alsancak Jimnastik İhtisas Spor Kulübü
İzmir Alsancak Jimnastik İhtisas Spor Kulübü (IZAJ SK) is a non-profit, apolitical, non-governmental, private sports club located in İzmir, in the western part of Türkiye. Our club was established on March 1, 2010, and is a member of the Turkish Judo Federation (TJF) which is affiliated with the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Our staff members are highly educated and experienced in various fields of sports, sports management, and educational systems. The TJF certifies our club instructors. In İzmir, 12 of our instructors have completed IJF Academy Level-1 and 4 have completed Level-2. They share their expertise with us through collaborations with other clubs. We take pride in our diverse membership, which includes juniors, seniors, and families—many of whom participate together across generations.
We work in coordination and cooperation with various organizations, both sports and educational. Our focus extends beyond improving and developing judo as a martial art; we also embrace the philosophy and moral codes of judo as a way of life. Our motto is to help all people, regardless of gender, age, religion, race, or similar distinctions, to enhance their physical and social capabilities.
We are involved in various community projects, including initiatives for disadvantaged children and Syrian refugee children in İzmir, Türkiye, focusing on environmental care and healthy living.
Our club has trained hundreds of judokas who have gone on to become top judo players, referees, and national coaches. Two of our coaches have worked with the İzmir Police Department and local police training schools as self-defense experts. We strive to be positive role models for our society. Our club has won numerous medals and trophies at local, regional, national, and international competitions in all age groups, from children to seniors. Our activities include weekly judo training, weekend competitions, monthly events for kids, families, and the community, and biannual judo belt exams. We engage more than a hundred judokas and their families.