Tbilisi Displayed the Essence of Judo: The Way of Adaptation / IJF.org

The second day of the IBSA Judo World Cup Tbilisi 2025 concluded today in the Georgian capital. This first event of the Paralympic cycle was an opportunity to discover which athletes were on form and, more importantly, those who had already found solutions to adapt to recent changes such as the new weight categories and the new refereeing regulations.

Neil Adams, whose expertise is well established, reflected on what he observed during the competition, "I have done the commentary during two editions of the Paralympic Games and both times I enjoyed it a lot. It's good to see how Para-athletes adapt all the time. To watch them is amazing. You know, when you teach judo, you have to explain to them the way to adapt to different situations, which is the essence of the sport.

With visually impaired judoka, they have no other possibility than to adapt and for that they use all their other senses fully, because they have to adapt more than any other person.

Here in Tbilisi, we witnessed a very good level. To be honest, I was particularly impressed by judoka such as the French Cyril Jonard, who is both blind and deaf. His commitment, his will and his spirit left me speechless. What comes from that man is tremendous and that's one of the reasons why people love him so much. Sometimes we take for granted what we have in life, but these guys just get on with it and prove that everything is possible. I feel privileged to work here.

Compared to what we are used to on the World Judo Tour, I can see a lot of similarities, especially now considering the work on the edge of the tatami. With Para-judo we have to be careful of course, when the judoka are close to the edge, but we also have to let them work even if they go out a bit. This is what we are doing during all the other events and I truly believe this is very good. There is a lot more freedom regarding the penalties.

Coming back to the IBSA judoka, what they can't see, they can feel. In the future I would give them more time on the floor and I would definitely focus on the transition between tachi-waza and ne-waza. This could make the difference. Competitors begin with the kumi-kata already installed and when they release it, they have to start all over again. This is such a crucial point. That's why we see a lot of yoko-gake techniques, which are safer than tomoe-nage. You either attack immediately or defend in a jigotai position. We also see a lot of preparation with small ashi-waza, like if they feel their opponent with their feet. If you work properly on kuzushi and tsukuri and then add the transition to ne-waza and you give them time to work there, you have some nice ways to improve the level.

I can not conclude without saying something about Georgia, because it applies to this event as well as to the grand slam that took place over the weekend. The great thing about Georgian judo, and I've been coming here for many years, is that all judoka have a huge heart here. They compete with passion and you can say that for everyone: children, adults, top athletes, Para-judoka. I've talked with some young judoka and one of them, who was around 12 years old, told me that one day he is going to win everything; as simple as that.

The introduction of the mixed team event at the Olympics has pushed Georgian judo to develop women's practice and that's a really good point. Watching Eteri Liparteliani winning the grand slam and being supported by a mixture of men and women was impressive. When I first came here many years ago, there were only men in the venue. It's nice to see really. Georgian people are really good people. Still, one think you can guarantee is that they are going to fight until the end."

We witnessed a lot of contests that went until the end during the two days of the IBSA Judo World Cup Tbilisi 2025. The new Paralympic cycle is now fully launched. The next big event will take place in Kazakhstan immediately after the Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam 2025. Stay tuned and keep enjoying the Para-judo.

RESULTS

Medals and flowers were presented by Mr Janos, IBSA Judo Chair, and Mr Giorgi Okribelashvili, Vice President of Georgian National Paralympic Committee

J1W -70 kg

1. SOUZA DE FREITAS, Brenda (BRA)
2. PASCHALIDOU, Theodora (GRE)
3. TASKIN, Esmer (TUR)

Medals and flowers were presented by Ms Yuri Alvear, IJF Sport Commission and three time World Champion, and Ms Loretta Cusack, IJF Commentator, IBSA judo Sport Commissioner, World and European Champion

J1W +70 kg

1. HARNYK, Anastasiia (UKR)
2. DE FREITAS, Millena (BRA)

Medals and flowers were presented by Mr Henk Plugge, IBSA Judo Referee Director, and Ms Sara Alvarez, IBSA Judo Sport Director, European Champion

J2W -70 kg

1. MALDONADO, Alana (BRA)
2. CETE ARTAR, Duygu (TUR)
3. BARROS VICTORIO, Kelly Kethyllin (BRA)

Medals and flowers were presented by Mr Nicolas Messner, IJF Media and Judo for Peace Director, and Mr Zurab Kakhabrishvili, President of Sport Medical Association

J2W +70 kg

1. GAZIZKYZY, Aidana (KAZ)
2. SILVA, Rebeca (BRA)
3. TAYLOR, Kirsten (GBR)

Medals and flowers were presented by Mr Shalva Maisuradze, First Vice President of Georgian National Paralympic Committee, and Mr Saeid Mollaei, World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist

J1W -60 kg

1. OVCHINNIKOVA, Natalia (NPA)
2. HAVRYSIUK, Anzhela (UKR)
3. NASYROVA, Alsu (NPA)
3. SILVA, Larissa (BRA)

Medals and flowers were presented by Mr Imre Csosz, IJF Sport Commission Member and Olympic Bronze Medallist, and Mr Kenichi Shoshida, IBSA Judo Referee Director

J1M +95 kg

1. DE ARAUJO, Wilians (BRA)
2. ONALBEK, Baglanbek (KAZ)
3. UTEPOV, Yerlan (KAZ)

Medals and flowers were presented by Mr Leri Khabelov, President of Georgian National Olympic Committee, Olympic Champion, and Mr Akos Braun, Member of IT of IBSA Judo, World and European Champion

J1M -95 kg

1. CAVALCANTE DA SILVA, Arthur (BRA)

2. CIMCILER, Yasin (TUR)

3. SELIVANOV, Pavel (NPA)

3. POWELL, Daniel (GBR)

Medals and flowers were presented by Mr Levan Nozadze, President of the Georgian Judo Federation, and Mr Revaz Revazishvili, Secretary General of the Georgian National Paralympic Committee

J2M -95 kg

1. GOGOTCHURI, Zviad (GEO)
2. LATCHOUMANAYA, Helios (FRA)
3. GORAL, Daniel Rafael (GER)
3. KIZILASHVILI, Lasha (GEO)

Medals and flowers were presented by Mr Rati Ionatamishvili, President of the Georgian National Paralympic Committee, and Ms Salome Avalishvili, Representative of the Georgian National Paralympic Committee

J2M +95 kg

1. ALBAGACHIEV, Ruslan (NPA)
2. CHIKOIDZE, Revaz (GEO)
3. MAGOMEDOV, Ilias (NPA)
3. HODGSON, Jack (GBR)