PROMOTIONAL EVENTS
JOY Judo Session with Mothers and Grandmothers
Oradea, Romania, March 2025
The Judo club Liberty Oradea celebrated spring and Women’s History Month with a powerful and inspiring session that brought children, mothers, and grandmothers together on the tatami.
The event not only honoured the Month of Women, highlighting the significant contributions women have made to history and contemporary society, but also showcased the strength of the club, which is managed entirely by women. Guided by female role models, Ms. Maria Loredana Lascau, a 3rd DAN Judo master, and Ms. Alina Borza, a 1st DAN Judo master, participants embraced the core values of judo: Courage, Respect, Modesty, Friendship, Honour, Sincerity, Self-control, and Politeness.
Across generations, families shared laughter, learning, and deepened their connections. This event offered a chance to celebrate the resilience and strength of women while fostering important intergenerational bonds.
This unforgettable session also reflects the JOY project’s mission to empower communities and promote intergenerational connections through the timeless values of judo.
"Judo en Familia" at Club de Judo Newton – A Day of Fun and Connection
Zaragoza, Spain, January 2025
Club de Judo Newton hosted the “Judo en Familia” event at Colegio Liceo Europa Zaragoza, led by 8th DAN Judo master Mr. Raúl Camacho Pérez. The event brought families together, fostering intergenerational bonds through the practice of judo.
For older participants, it helped enrich relationships, improve physical well-being, and promote healthy aging, while for youth, it built confidence, self-esteem, and improved communication across generations.
The event also encouraged community building, and social skill development benefiting both groups and reinforcing the values of mutual respect and understanding.
JOY at Antalya Kemer during the Turkish Judo Federation Referee and Coaching Technical Seminar 2025
Antalya, Türkiye, January 2025
The JOY Project made a significant impact at Antalya Kemer 2025, showcasing its mission to connect generations through judo and foster stronger, more inclusive communities. Presenting the project to the participants was an incredible opportunity to share its goals and highlight the achievements of its first year with a broader audience. Events like this ensure that JOY continues to inspire communities across Europe and beyond.
Our Türkiye project partners from İzmir, Mr. Mesut Kapan and Mr. Kaya Gezeker, expressed their enthusiasm about JOY’s participation in Antalya:
“We proudly represented the project at the Coaches and Referees Technical Seminars. During these sessions, interested participants were informed about the JOY Project. Events like this ensure the JOY Project continues to inspire communities across Europe and beyond!”
2024 Foro Italico Sport Day - Getting closer to the Community
Rome, Italy, October 2024
The University of Rome Foro Italico organized a vibrant day celebrating sports, physical activity, health, wellness, and well-being. Participants aged 3 to 100 enjoyed a variety of activities and took advantage of free physical and medical assessments. Many enthusiastically stepped onto the judo mat to practice ukemi (break-fall techniques), taiso (judo gymnastics), and both tachi-waza and ne-waza (standing and ground-based judo techniques). Guided by JOY judo coach and researcher Simone Ciaccioni, attendees were amazed by the fun and connection fostered through intergenerational judo, as people of all ages played, learned, and laughed together. It was truly an unforgettable experience.
JOY at the Italian Society of Exercise and Sport Science (SISMeS)
Rome, Italy, September 2024
Our researcher, Simone Ciaccioni, PhD, participated in the SISMeS 2024 (19-21 September) Conference in Rome, Italy, where he presented the findings of the Intergenerational Judo literature review. The presentation highlighted how judo can bridge generational gaps by promoting physical activity across all ages.
During the event, Dr. Ciaccioni emphasized: “Intergenerational judo not only enhances physical health but also fosters social cohesion and reciprocal learning between younger and older participants. By tackling stereotypes and encouraging participation, we can create more inclusive opportunities in sport.”
JOY Project at EJU Judo Festival 2024
Poreč, Croatia, June 2024
The EJU hosted the EJU Judo Festival 2024 in Poreč, Croatia, where the JOY project and its new website were presented to coaches and the judo community at the Project Showcase and Networking Event. Toma Jelušić from Judo Club Rijeka shared his thoughts: “In the previous EDJCO project, we structured a science-based coaching module aimed at teaching the older judo practitioners, and now we aim to create similar resources for coaches for an intergenerational judo. Although the timeline and partners are aligned with the European Commission, the program is open to everyone, and we’d like to see more countries get involved.”
Judo for All Ages: Joyful Family Session in İzmir
İzmir, Türkiye, June 2024
İzmir Alsancak Jimnastik ve İhtisas Spor Kulübü, along with its partners, hosted a practical and joyful judo session for kids and families. Children built confidence and social skills, while adults benefited from improved fitness and stress relief. Mr. Mesut Kapan, a 6th DAN judo master, shared his thoughts on the occasion: “I have been doing judo for 49 years. Judo is my way of life. My wife, daughter, son, and even my son-in-law are all black belt judoka. Every time I do judo, I feel different, changed. Especially practicing judo with children, teaching them, and spending time with them makes me very happy.”
Judo Bridges Generations at Peter Pan Judo Trophy in Rome
Rome, Italy, April 2024
World Parkinson's Day: Embracing Judo for Parkinson's Patients: Introducing Gensoku No Genkei
