Name of program: “Judo para niños” – “Judo for kids” Number of schools: 15 Number of children: 500 Founding year: 2019 Founder(s) program: IJF & Bolivian Judo Federation

About the program

The "Judo for kids" project started in Bolivia in March 2019. Judo has been at present in Bolivia since 1964 when the 1st Departmental Association of Judo was founded in the department of La Paz. Judo has been an amateur discipline practiced by a relatively small quantity of people, compared to soccer or other, more popular disciplines. In Bolivia, judo has always been a sport where people work on a volunteer basis, without any wages. This has caused for our coaches having to shuffle their teaching schedules outside of their regular working hours.

The Bolivian Judo Federation has been working hard for years to extent judo, despite the lack of support from national authorities. Achieving this project is historic for judo in Bolivia. Throughout this change, it is expected; to see increase in the number of participants, to make judo more known as a discipline, to promote the benefits of judo for children, to encourage the practice of sports in children, to teach values ​​and to have a greater number of competitors with better possibilities to deliver successful results outside of Bolivia.

The project is currently implemented in all areas of Bolivia. Judo classes are taking place at schools and government facilities through agreements with national and local authorities. One of the positive aspects of this project has been that the Ministry of Sports has joined the project by providing equipped sports facilities to establish new judo schools. As a result, it can now be mentioned that within this short time, the quantity of gyms (dojo) has in some cases tripled. The same applies for the number of coaches and judoka. In the history of Bolivian sports, no other federation has ever managed a project like this, which moving forward, positions us into being one of the more prestigious discipline.

Dream 

Judo being one of the most popular sports in Bolivia

Support next to IJF

  • Ministry of Sports

Highlights

  • Historical achievement
  • First sport to have such a project (in Bolivia)

Challenges

  • Sustainability
  • Qualified Teachers

Best practices

  • Greater knowledge of judo across different communities. Our one year project is about to come to its end. We can mention that as a result of this project, now, there is a greater knowledge of judo across different communities.
  • Grade Promotion Exams

This encourages children to continue the started path of judo. The departmental associations are responsible for organizing examinations under a national regulation: children under 7 years old can obtain a belt with a yellow stripe and from 7 years onwards yellow belt and so on.

"¡Comprometidos con el judo!" - "Committed to judo!"

If you are interested to know more about Judo in Schools in Bolivia, please contact:

Contact person:

Juan José Paz
Email address: [email protected]
See also
News
IJF and Double D Adidas Combat Sports Sign a Partnership Agreement

25. Mar. 2025 / On the 25th March 2025, Mr Marius Vizer, IJF President, ...

Para-Judo
Tbilisi Displayed the Essence of Judo: The Way of Adaptation

25. Mar. 2025 / The second day of the IBSA Judo World Cup Tbilisi 2025 ...

Para-Judo
Saeid Mollaei's New Life With Para-Judo

25. Mar. 2025 / Saeid Mollaei has an incredible track record.

Interview
Julien Goes Around the World (27)

25. Mar. 2025 / Julien Brulard has been travelling the world for more ...

Para-Judo
The Para-Judo Family Unites In Tbilisi

24. Mar. 2025 / Just before the start of the final block of the day, ...

Para-Judo
IBSA and the IJF Strengthen Judo Development Through the Joint Working Commission

24. Mar. 2025 / The IBSA Judo World Cup Tbilisi 2025 served as the ...

Para-Judo
Para-Judo's Vision for the New Paralympic Cycle

24. Mar. 2025 / After three intense days of judo at the Tbilisi Grand ...

Para-Judo
Para-Judoka Set the Example

24. Mar. 2025 / The judo values ​​of politeness, courage, sincerity, ...

Para-Judo
The IJF and IBSA Renew Their Partnership

21. Mar. 2025 / With the next event on the Para-judo calendar taking ...

Para Judo
Judo Gave Me Independence

18. Mar. 2025 / Last summer, the Para-judo world was buzzing with excitement ...

Tbilisi GS 2025
Tbilisi Put On a Great Show

23. Mar. 2025 / From the start of the morning judo session on the third ...

Tbilisi GS 2025
+100 kg: Tasoev Takes it After an Amazing Final

23. Mar. 2025 / To say that the +100 kg weight class was one of the ...

Tbilisi GS 2025
+78 kg: Dicko Wins for the 8th Time

23. Mar. 2025 / The hierarchy was virtually unchanged in the +78 kg ...

INTERVIEW EXPRESS
Shishime Ai (JPN)

08. Jun. 2018 / The next reigning world champion to be invited to answer ...

News
5 Key Takeaways from judo’s first Tokyo 2020 qualifier

06. Jun. 2018 / Highlights from Hohhot Grand Prix 2018

VIDEO
Judo for the World in Iran

07. Jun. 2018 / In April 2018, the International Judo Federation and ...

Meeting
JUDO: A Beneficial Cause

07. Jun. 2018 / 'Society should believe in sport as a beneficial cause ...