25/04/2026
The new Executive Committee for the International World Games Association has been elected!
President: Anna Arzhanova (CMAS)
Vice President: Jan Fransoo (IKF)
Treasurer: John Liljelund (IFF)
Members: Espen Lund (WAKO), Nob Rauch (WFDF), Antonio Pérez Priego (IWWF), Joachim Thumfart (JJIF), Sandra Sánchez* (Athletes Committee Chair)
*The Athletes Committee elected Sandra Sánchez as Chair for the 2025-2029 term in October 2025. As Chair, Ms Sánchez also serves as a member of the IWGA Executive Committee.
05/04/2026
Warm holiday wishes from the Ju-Jitsu European Union.
May this season bring calm, strength, and unity. We hope for peace, respect, and togetherness for everyone—on and off the mat.
Thank you to our community for your continued commitment and spirit.
17/02/2026
The belt grading system in martial arts was created by Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, in the late 1800s at his school, the Kodokan in Japan.
Before Kano, martial arts had no colored belts. Students were simply “inside” or “outside” the tradition. Kano, being a visionary strategist, introduced Kyu (student ranks) and Dan (black belt ranks) around 1883 to:
Track progress logically
Motivate students like climbing a warrior’s mountain
Bring structure to training
At first there were only white belt and black belt. Colors like yellow, green, blue, brown came later, mostly added by other schools and arts such as Karate to create more stepping stones on the journey.
So, the belt is not just cloth. It is a timeline of sweat, discipline, falls, and silent victories ⚔️
