"After marking Mongolia as the 50th country in my project, an adventure that concluded successfully, I felt both grateful and inspired. In Mongolia, we built strong friendships, shared unforgettable judo moments and promised to meet again soon. That reunion is already on the horizon, though this time it will not be in Asia.
Following my stay in Mongolia, financial realities led me to pause the journey and return to France. I spent two weeks rethinking the project, making it more sustainable, finding sponsors and defining a rhythm that would last. My new plan is to travel for one month through the remaining European countries I have to visit, then return home for about ten days. This balance between exploration and recovery allows me to keep the project alive while managing costs. Europe, with its strong judo culture, feels like the right place to rebuild momentum before the next big chapter in the Americas.
The new phase began in Prague, just a few hours from my hometown. There, I was welcomed by friends I had met last year at the IJF Academy in Birmingham. Libor contacted the Prague Judo Federation which shared my message with clubs across the region.
Before stepping onto the tatami, Libor invited me to a special event, the Judo Fishing Cup, organised by him and double Olympic champion Lukas Krpalek. The weekend was calm, friendly and full of laughter; not many fish, but plenty of memories. I even recorded an interview with Lukas for my next video. At the time, he was preparing for another release: his own feature film, which has already premiered in Czech cinemas.
Once back in Prague, I held my first sessions with Tatran Judo Club. I was delighted to discover that many teachers and students already knew about my project. Their enthusiasm gave me renewed energy. We trained together, shared stories over dinner and reinforced that unique sense of community that defines the world of judo.
A few days later, I visited Lukas’ new academy to meet the children. Lukas himself was absent due to the film premiere but the dojo was alive with energy, a huge multisport complex full of young judoka. The session had been arranged at the last minute, so the coaches didn’t know much about my project yet, but the experience was still wonderful. It is clear that Lukas is building something special and has a genuine desire to use his success to strengthen judo in his country.
I also had the pleasure of visiting SK Praha Sever, led by Erik, the regional director. This club is part of one of the largest sports associations in Europe, with over 3,000 members. For my visit, we worked with a smaller group to keep things personal and interactive. Normally, their classes last 45 minutes, but Erik extended mine to 90. The children had even prepared a signed flyer and small gifts, club souvenirs, homemade food and drinks from parents. Their kindness was deeply moving. Afterwards, we went out together and shared conversations that went far beyond judo.
During my time in the city, I also spent a few moments at USK Praha, the country’s strongest club and home to Libor, Lukas and several national team members. Since they were preparing for the Prague Open, I didn’t teach, but I joined in training and filmed a few sequences for my upcoming YouTube video. Watching top-level Czech judo up close was a privilege.
The week ended at the Prague Open where I reunited with many familiar faces, coaches from Türkiye, Slovakia, France and beyond. The atmosphere was full of passion and respect, proof that judo connects people in every corner of the world.
This trip to Czechia was a real success. The judo side of things went perfectly and I was invited to visit even more clubs across the country. Above all, the warmth and generosity of the people gave me a renewed sense of confidence. After several months of uncertainty, I now feel secure about the next stage of the journey.
Thanks to the support I found in Prague, I can continue developing the project with hope and determination. Europe is once again proving that its strength lies not only in its level of judo, but also in the unity of its community. My deepest thanks go to everyone who welcomed me, from the organisers and coaches to the children on the tatami. This journey is not only about judo techniques or medals but about human connections, shared values and mutual inspiration.
Thank you, Czechia and see you again soon!" - FACEBOOK