Szandra Szogedi

As World Judo Day approaches, marking the celebration of judo’s founder, Dr. Jigoro Kano, it offers a chance to explore the remarkable work surrounding judo’s role not just as an Olympic sport but as a powerful educational tool. Judo has been widely recognised for its contributions to personal development, discipline, and social responsibility. The focus on values such as seiryoku…

The city of Piła, Poland, is preparing to welcome some of the most talented judoka for the European Judo Championships U23, which will take place from 15th to 17th November 2024. This prestigious event, which highlights both emerging and established judo proficiency while serving as a key bridge between the junior and senior stages, will be held at the Sports…

This past weekend marked a significant moment for the Portuguese Judo Federation as Mr. Joaquim Sergio Pina was officially re-elected as President during the federation’s formal ceremony for the inauguration of its newly elected board. Mr. Pina will continue to guide the federation through the next Olympic cycle, aiming to strengthen the sport at both the national and international levels.…

The final veteran event of the year will be the 2024 World Judo Championships Veterans, held in Las Vegas. This event will bring together over 1,500 judoka from 68 countries between 4-7 November, converging in the city of lights to compete on the mat and reunite with friends from around the world. Europe will be well represented, with athletes from…

Cypriot judoka, Sofia ASVESTA, has experienced a transformative period since her historic appearance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she competed in the women’s -52kg category and showcased her talent on the world stage. Following a successful European Judo Championships of the Small States in Cyprus, Asvesta opened up about her experience since the Olympics. Despite her physical readiness, she…

Following the Veteran World Championships, Las Vegas is ready to welcome kata practitioners from across the globe for the eagerly awaited World Kata Judo Championships 2024, set to take place from 9-10 November. With over 280 judoka from 32 countries, including 20 European nations, this championship promises a vibrant showcase of form, skills and tradition in judo. Among the most…

The first day of the Gyor Cadet European Cup 2024 saw the host nation, Hungary, surpass all others, claiming the top spot in the overall standings with 3 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze medals. Ukraine (2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze) and Poland (1 gold, 0 silver, 2 bronze) followed. After the medal ceremonies, some local young athletes shared…

The Las Vegas World Judo Championships Kata 2024 have concluded, celebrating new world champions across eight categories. Raul CAMACHO, the IJF Kata Sport Director, reflects on the event and highlights a key aspect of kata competitions: the judges’ role. A seasoned competitor himself, Camacho is a triple world medalist in kata, two silver and one bronze, and brings extensive experience…

Renowned for her illustrious career in competitive judo, Olympic, World and European champion, Tina TRSTENJAK has been embracing a new challenge in recent years: mastering Kodokan kata through her role in the IJF Academy. Despite her outstanding elite career, there were no bypass or corners cut, she embraced the journey with complete professionalism. In this insightful interview, Trstenjak opens up…

Dr. Pinelopi STAVRINOU, a former Cypriot judoka and current sport scientist with a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology, recently took on a new role as the anti-doping representative of the European Judo Union and with that became one of the Clean Judo Educators who support their respective continent. With her dual background in competitive judo and academic expertise in sport science,…