Arriving directly from Shanghai, the IJF Academy experts put down their suitcases and unpacked their knowledge for a week in the prestigious setting of the Kodokan, founded by Jigoro Kano Shihan in 1882. This was the Academy's third visit to the institution.
The experts, accompanied by Jean-Luc Rougé, International Development and Promotion Director, 10th dan, also took advantage of this stay to visit the university of Tenri to celebrate the successes of two former Academy students, Nakano Kanta (2024 All Japan Judo Open Tournament gold medallist, mixed team gold medallist at the Abu Dhabi World Championships) and Niizoe Saki (Paris Olympic Games mixed team silver medallist).
During the practical session, 49 students took part, from 15 countries: Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Romania, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Great Britain and the United States of America.
The IJF Academy experts were Mark Huizinga, Slavisa Bradic, Shinji Hosokawa, Tina Trstenjak and Giulia Quintavalle. They were joined by Kodokan experts including Chikara Kariya and Yuki Arikawa.
Envic Galea said, "We were pleased to have a visit from Kosei Inoue who showed great interest in the IJF Academy. Kodokan President Haruki Uemura was present regularly too. The 2022 edition was the first time that the Kodokan invited non-Japanese instructors to teach judo. This shows the respect that the Kodokan has for the IJF Academy and its work. This 2024 session was the third one here and we intend to include it every year. I also want to thank to the staff and officials of the All Japan Judo Federation, who were present to help with the organisation. This visit has now become a regular on the IJF Academy calendar, which is really fantastic."
During the closing ceremony, Mr Ken Takayama, AJJF Secretary General, presented Olympic Solidarity certificates to the participants. The year is not over though and in the coming weeks the IJF Academy will travel again, first to Rome in Italy and later, in October, to Dunavarsany, Hungary.
