"Country #62 was Portugal and it all began in Braga at Focus Santa Tecla, where I was simply happy to be back on the mat to share another unforgettable experience through judo.
Aveiro came next at 4 Judo Project and it closed a circle that very rarely closes in this project. Luis had supported me on Patreon for years before we ever met. We'd exchanged messages across the world, sharing the same passion, until we finally found ourselves standing on the same tatami.
We spent wonderful moments with Luis and his family discovering the beautiful city of Aveiro, together with the traditional conversations and laughter that always follow training sessions.
Lisbon became the heart of the trip. Mariana Esteves, three-time African Champion and Paris 2024 Olympian, hosted a two-day seminar with Sport Algés e Dafundo Judo and Salesianos de Lisboa. Training alongside international-level athletes brought a completely different intensity. Outside the dojo, the city was celebrating the Feast of Saint Anthony.
For ten days the streets around the castle came alive with lights, music and grilled sardines everywhere. Almost by chance, I also found myself among 50,000 spectators watching Portugal play Nigeria, with Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch. It became one of those unexpected moments that stay with you.
Between sessions, Mariana showed me around a city that looked as though it had come straight out of a fairy tale. We spent time at the beach with her friends and in Belém I discovered the magnificent monastery, the Monument to the Discoveries and the famous bakery whose custard tart recipe has remained unchanged since 1837. Before leaving, I saved Mariana's number as 'friend' rather than 'contact'. Personally, I don't want contacts around the world; I want family. Professionally, I want people I can trust to build meaningful and lasting projects together.
Albufeira, in the Algarve, brought the judo part of the journey to a close. Dinis and his club welcomed me for two days, first for a training session and then a regional training camp organised by the Associação Distrital de Judo do Algarve. Packed tatami, orange cliffs, the Atlantic Ocean only a few steps away and extraordinary hospitality made it unforgettable.
Their club has now become an official supporter of the project. Dinis also spoke French and I noticed that many Portuguese people do. It almost felt like being at home but surrounded by people who seemed even friendlier, despite the old joke that French people are not always the most sociable!
Porto was the perfect farewell. Historic trams, the best pastéis de nata of the trip and unforgettable views over the city provided a fitting end to my time in Portugal.
Thank you Junior, Luis, Mariana and Dinis and thank you to every Patreon member and Tipeee donor whose support makes every new country possible.
Before closing this chapter, there is one more stop worth mentioning. After Portugal I briefly returned to Slovenia. It wasn't a new country for the project but I couldn't refuse the invitation. Former international athlete Vito Dragič invited me back to the Vito Dragič Academy to coach alongside Alpha Djalo from France, European champion, and Mashu Baker, Olympic champion from Japan. The camp was a tremendous success and it felt good to return to Slovenia, for reasons that have nothing to do with the country count. Participants came from across Europe and even the United States, ranging from 12 year olds to veteran athletes. The masterclasses delivered by all the coaches were outstanding and the professionalism of the organisation was among the very best I have experienced. I'm now almost halfway through the project and events like this are becoming an increasingly important part of the journey.
I still have a little more to do before crossing the Atlantic: Romania, perhaps Moldova if time allows, the Commonwealth Games and one final training camp in France. Then comes North America. The first stage across the United States and Canada will be one of the biggest challenges of the project. These are my last few months to secure enough funding to make season 6 possible. Unlike season 5, I won't be able to return home every month or two to save money, so I need to be fully prepared.
So, see you soon!”