After the highly successful 2024 edition in Las Vegas, USA, which broke records for audience and sporting intensity, Paris 2025 is shaping up to be an exceptional event. Over the course of five days, more than 2,500 veteran judoka from all over the world will step onto the tatami at the INJ. Some will be chasing another taste of world glory, others will be experiencing the thrill of the international stage for the very first time. All of them, without exception, will leave Paris enriched with a deeper sense of spirit and respect, and will carry unforgettable memories with them.
These championships are unlike any other. They are the reflection of a universal judo that is vibrant, generous and profoundly human. Beyond victories, podia and medals lie the desire to belong, the joy of being together, the simple pleasure of sharing the same passion, judo lived as a true philosophy of life; a judo of handshakes, of smiles that transcend language, of pre-contest rituals and post-ippon embraces.
Many competitors here have already experienced the spotlight of major national, continental or world championships. Others, on the contrary, will be stepping onto a world stage for the very first time, but whether seasoned champions or eager newcomers, each will leave their mark on this Parisian edition.
This record level of participation is also a testament to the unique place judo holds in France. While Clarisse Agbegnenou or Teddy Riner have made France shine in the global media, they are just the visible part of a vast iceberg, that of thousands of clubs and tens of thousands of anonymous judoka who, every day, tie their belts and step onto the mat with determination, courage and joy.
In Paris, the first day is honouring judoka in the M1 and M2 categories, followed by M3 and M4 (day 2), M5 and M6 (day 3), M7 to M9 (day 4), and finally the competition on the fifth day will highlight all the women’s categories, for what promises to be an intense and emotional finale.
The journey does not quite end there though. Just after the veterans' tournament, the kata experts will take over the tatami at the INJ for two additional days dedicated to the beauty of form, the precision of movement and the very essence of judo.
Paris 2025 is more than just a sporting event. It is a gathering of generations, an ode to transmission, a celebration of the spirit of judo in its most universal expression. With every “Hajime” called this week, more than just a contest will begin. It will be the beginning of a new shared moment in history; together on the tatami, now and for a long time to come.