Judo personalities such as Haruki Uemura, President of the Kodokan and Sabrina Filzmoser (READ) also made several trips to the region. Johannes Daxbacher was also commissioned by the German government to deliver a training course in Bhutan in 2023 (READ).
In addition, for two years the IJF placed a Japanese coach in Bhutan to help develop judo. In a short time, the progress made is impressive and bodes well for our sport in the region.
The Bhutan Judo Federation produced a film to showcase the development of the sport and also to highlight the benefits of judo for society as a whole. In a country that developed the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) or Gross Domestic Happiness (GDH) the judo values resonate well and in a culture that creates space for determination, discipline and the pursuit of excellence, judo fits perfectly.
On 9th October 2021, the very first purpose-built judo dojo was inaugurated in the country (READ) and since then judo has been growing at a fast but steady pace in Bhutan.
Judo has the power to build a better society. This is what the Land of the Thunder Dragon, Bhutan, understood and what they have been applying since the sport was introduced. Good luck to all judoka in Bhutan!