Every year, the International Judo Federation and the whole judo community celebrate World Judo Day on 28th October. This day represents a lot for all the judo fans around the world as it is the birthday of the founder of judo, Jigoro Kano Shihan. The theme in 2024 is WELLBEING.

Wellbeing is a complex combination of a person’s physical, mental, emotional and social health factors. Wellbeing is strongly linked to happiness and life satisfaction. Therefore, wellbeing could be described as how you feel about yourself and your life.

In the lead-up to World Judo Day, we will describe how you can activate your judo community at a local, regional and international level. In this fifth article, we are focusing on the social dimension of wellbeing.

Social wellbeing is building and maintaining healthy relationships and having meaningful, authentic interactions with others. Community is made up of the people around you; your peers, mentors, faculty, family and colleagues. It is having a sense of belonging while valuing diversity.

Judo in Schools

Develop Judo in Schools activities and focus on fighting against bullying and discrimination. Judo is open to everyone without any kind of discrimination.

Judo for Peace

In conflict and post-conflict areas and places with social disorders, develop activities to involve all dimensions of the global community, without any kind of exclusion. Use the judo values to foster the idea of living together. In a time when it is easier to talk about conflicts, promote messages of peace instead.

Judo for Refugees

Open your dojo to those who have lost everything and create a sense of belonging for a wider judo family. Make your dojo a safe place for everyone.

Judo Against any Kind of Violence

Promote messages of wellbeing throughout your community. Judo is the best tool to fight against gender based violence and discrimination.

These are just a few examples of what can be done to promote social wellbeing on World Judo Day. You can organise judo sessions open to everyone, social gatherings, community lunches and dinners, anything that brings people together. Of course it is possible to combine several activities including activities related to the other dimensions of wellbeing.

You are totally free to invent programmes according to your needs and the needs of your judoka. Don't forget to let us know how you see the promotion of social wellbeing for judo people and what you will do on World Judo Day, by sending us your feedback to [email protected]

Until 28th October, be well and be socially well!

See also