SHOP
Dear Judokas and Judo fans,
2012 was for all of us a long route, filled with events, where we all experienced satisfactions, deceptions, we celebrated and we draw conclusions.
Thus, it was a difficult year, with a special charge due to the Olympic Games, which were a success for our sport at several levels: universality (136 participant countries in the Judo events), management, competition and technical level as well, but it was also the occasion to draw the line and a series of conclusions at sports level.
All these accomplishments would not have been possible without your hard work and dedication, for which I would like to thank each and every one of you. Our sport is developing, it is in a process of continuous modernization and therefore we should carefully follow and thoroughly analyze all the possibilities through which we can develop and maintain the potential of Judo.
“Judo was created in 1882 by Professor Jigoro Kano. As an educational method, derived from the martial arts, judo became an official Olympic sport in 1964 (after being named as a demonstration sport at the 1940 Tokyo Olympic Games, which were cancelled due to international conflict). Judo is a highly codified sport in which the mind controls the expression of the body and is a sport that contributes to educating individuals. Beyond competitions and combats, judo involves technical research, practice of katas, self-defense work, physical preparation and sharpening of spirit.
As a discipline derived from ancestral traditions, judo was designed by its Master Founder as an eminently modern and progressive activity.” (IJF Statutes)
A new Olympic cycle 2013-2016 begins, it is a new start, in which more than ever, we need to prove unity, discipline, creativity and assiduous work at all levels. At their own level, athletes will have to prove that they are performers, their coaches will have to coordinate and prepare them in order to obtain the best results, referees will have to judge the competitions with the highest possible degree of understanding, skill and fair-play, the National Federation Presidents will have to professionally manage their judo communities and attract the most possible funds for their federations, the Continental Unions will have to coordinate the regional Judo activities and the IJF will have to draw the general path of development, which should be the most modern and professional for our sport.
I assure you that all the efforts and activities of the IJF are based on your visions and on those of the IJF Executive Committee specialists, and that we have the most ample perception on the global sports phenomenon, at the sports, administrative and management levels, while we are dedicated to lead Judo in the best direction.
A four-year cycle comes to an end, in which we built and invested a lot in Judo at all levels. I am convinced that we are on the good path, I am aware that there is a lot to be done, but I do believe in the values of our sport, in the educational and cultural values of Judo and also in the values of the human potential that we have at all levels and in all sectors. Together, through hard work and dedication, we will succeed in taking our sport to the highest level.
Once again, I would like to thank you all for your contribution and commitment to the development of Judo around the world.
I wish all of you, as well as your families, lots of health, good luck and a Happy New Year!
