"The final month of season 3 was special, as I spent half of it at home before starting again in January. Sadly, once again, flying was my only viable option. I explored ways to reach Iceland by sea, but the only option was a cruise, which was far too expensive. Still, the aerial view of Iceland as I arrived was unforgettable, a breathtaking moment that will stay with me.
In Iceland it was challenging to spend more than a day or two without a host. Fortunately, the CEO of the federation, whom I met during the IJF Academy course in Birmingham, introduced me to Annika and Gretar and they kindly hosted me during my stay. Gretar even drove a 600 km round trip to pick me up from the airport and take me to Sauðárkrókur. On the way, I was gifted an incredible northern lights show. It was a humbling and magical experience which I’ll never forget. Although I hoped to see more, that first glimpse remained unmatched.
The following day, I gave my first class in Annika’s dojo. It’s a small club with a dedicated teacher who provides judo sessions daily. I was impressed by how fluent the children were in English, thanks to both their schooling and platforms like YouTube. Spending a full week with the club allowed us to dive deeper into judo techniques than usual, exploring various aspects of the sport.
During my stay, I experienced Iceland’s harsh weather first hand; a snowstorm left me stuck overnight at a friend’s house. It highlighted how challenging life can be in these environments. I also visited some stunning waterfalls. Although I couldn’t explore more of the country, I hopel to make a return trip to discover its many wonders.
Initially, only Annika’s club invited me, but as word spread, another club in Akureyri joined in. Eirini, originally from Greece, invited me to teach at her club after a lovely dinner; she treated me to delicious Greek cuisine! She’s been instrumental in revitalising judo in the region and the club has grown significantly. I was touched by the warm welcome and delighted to hear invitations for future seminars.
I wrapped up my time in Iceland with a visit to Reykjavík, teaching in the capital’s dojo. There, I met Zaza Simonishvili, a coach from Georgia whose students showcased impressive gymnastics skills. I also had the honour of meeting Bjarni Friðriksson, the -90kg bronze medallist from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Reykjavík captured my heart with its unique blue tones. I spent most of my time outdoors, soaking up the city’s beauty. As I’ve already been invited back, I’d love to explore more of this incredible country.
Iceland is the 43rd country of the project but I wasn’t ready to end the journey yet. I decided to revisit Scotland as I hadn’t had the chance to explore Edinburgh before. It turned out to be a fantastic decision. Edinburgh is the most beautiful city I’ve seen in Great Britain, with stunning architecture and a charming atmosphere.
While there I met Takafumi, a coach of the Scottish national team, and even crossed paths with Shohei Ono. Though we only exchanged a few words, it was a memorable encounter.
I ended the year back in France, celebrating the holidays and training at A.J.A Paris XX, one of the best judo clubs in the country. I was initially nervous as I’ve been teaching more than training for the past five years. However, the club’s competitive yet family-like atmosphere gave me an amazing experience. A.J.A Paris XX became the first Parisian club officially affiliated with my project and I thank them for the support!
You can find find my world judo map on the website and you can connect with many clubs in the world. You can also join the group on Facebook where I want to build a community to exchange discussions and information about competitions, camps and events.
To wrap up the year, I returned to Belgium, the first country I visited in this project, to organise a seminar. My original hosts, the Gourmand family, welcomed me once again with incredible hospitality. The seminar included juniors in the morning and veterans in the afternoon. I was blown away by the veterans’ energy, some were even world medallists! We’re now discussing the possibility of an annual event, which I’d love to make happen.
As the year ended, I was filled with gratitude for how far we’ve come. The project is now entering its fourth season with about 50-60% of the yearly funding secured. I’m working hard to raise the rest, aiming to ease the financial burden on those who host me.
A huge thank you to the IJF for supporting Season 3, it wouldn’t have been possible without that. Also, thank you to everyone who reads, supports and follows this journey. I hope to see you soon in your dojo!"