Ciudad Juárez.- Every year, on October 28, the sports world celebrates World Judo Day, a special date established by the International Judo Federation (IJF) to recognize and promote the fundamental values of this martial art. This day coincides with the birth anniversary of <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/01/a-judo-champion-for-the-veterans-camp/” title=”A judo champion for the veterans' camp”>Jigoro Kano, founder of judo, who created this sport in 1882 with a vision that went far beyond physical competition: judo as a path of personal development and teaching fundamental principles such as respect, friendship, and effort.
Judo: More than a Sport
Judo, which means “way of gentleness” in Japanese, is a sport that has become one of the most practiced combat disciplines in the world. Through techniques that combine the use of force and technique, judo teaches its practitioners to use the opponent’s movement against them, promoting not only physical skills, but also mental and moral qualities. Kano believed that judo was a way to develop patience, self-control and discipline, values that apply to everyday life.
Judo Values: Respect, Honesty and Courage
Each year, World Judo Day is dedicated to a particular value, promoting one of the fundamental pillars of this discipline. The key values of judo include respect, honesty, courage, courtesy, self-control and friendship. These values are present in every training and competition, where judokas learn to respect their teammates, accept their defeats with humility and celebrate their victories without arrogance.
The Judo Community: A Global Family
On this date, judokas and clubs around the world organize events, training and exhibitions to commemorate World Judo Day. The judo community unites in a spirit of brotherhood and camaraderie, reinforcing the sense of belonging and creating connections between people of different cultures and nations.
In addition, World Judo Day promotes inclusion activities, with special programs that promote adapted judo and access to sport for people with disabilities, thus reinforcing judo’s commitment to equality and social integration.
The Legacy of Jigoro Kano
Jigoro Kano’s influence extends far beyond judo. His vision has inspired entire generations of judokas to live and practice the values of their discipline in all aspects of life. For him, the true purpose of judo was to contribute to the improvement of society through physical and moral education. On World Judo Day, we remember his legacy and the transformative power of his vision, which lives on on every tatami around the world.
Mexico and its first medal in Judo
Mexico obtained a historic silver medal in judo at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with Prisca Awiti, 28, consolidating one of its best results in this sport in international competitions. The Mexican judoka showed a great performance in her category, facing strong opponents and standing out for her technique and strategy. After a series of intense fights, he reached the final, where he fell to an experienced rival, thus securing silver for Mexico. This achievement represents a great advance for Mexican judo and an inspiration for the development of the sport in the country.
