Judo For The World

This is Judo

07/17/2026

Imagine Lionel Messi never touched a football. Instead, he walked into a judo dojo as a child.

His speed, balance, incredible footwork, and perfect timing made him one of the greatest judoka ever.

🥇 4× Olympic Champion
🏆 8× World Champion
🌍 Undefeated for years in the -66 kg division.

Do you think Messi would still become a global sports legend if he had chosen judo instead of football?

👇 Yes or No?

07/16/2026

YUKO is back!

For years, judo had only two scores: ippon and waza-ari. In 2017, the IJF removed yuko to simplify the rules.

But in 2025, yuko returned.

Some people believe it makes scoring more accurate and rewards good techniques that don’t quite deserve a waza-ari.

Others think the old system was simpler and easier for athletes, referees, and fans.

What do you think?

Was bringing back YUKO the right decision, or should judo have stayed with only ippon and waza-ari?

Share your opinion in the comments! 🥋

07/15/2026

Olympic Judo Champion Yeldos Smetov is testing himself against a wrestler from another grappling style.

No judogi. No tatami. Just pure grappling skills.

Can you guess what style his opponent represents?

🤼 Freestyle Wrestling?
🤼 Greco-Roman Wrestling?
🥋 Sambo?
🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Or something else?

I’m curious to read your opinion in the comments!

07/15/2026

One of the things I admire most about Japanese culture is this simple habit: always clean up after yourself.

I still remember watching Japanese fans after a football match. While thousands of people were leaving the stadium, they stayed behind to collect trash and leave the stands clean. No one told them to do it. It was simply the right thing to do.

The same spirit exists in Japanese judo.

After training, many Japanese judoka don’t just leave the dojo. They help clean the tatami, sweep the floor, and take care of the place where they train. Even Olympic champions and World Champions do it with everyone else.

To me, this is one of the greatest lessons of judo.

True strength is not only about winning medals or throwing an opponent for ippon. It is also about respect, humility, discipline, and taking responsibility for your environment.

That is one of the reasons I have always admired Japanese judo.

What do you think?
Should cleaning the dojo after training be a tradition in every judo club around the world?

👇 Share your opinion in the comments.

07/15/2026

Uchi Mata
or
O Soto Gari?

07/14/2026

I have great respect for the traditions of the great people of Tajikistan.

When I received this video, my first reaction as someone who has practiced judo for more than 30 years was:

“Where is the tatami?”

My friends from Tajikistan explained that this is not judo. It is a traditional style of wrestling that has been practiced for generations. In their tradition, athletes compete on grass or even on sand, and this is part of their national heritage.

I have no doubt about the toughness and skill of Tajik athletes. Their performances in international judo competitions speak for themselves.

But if children are involved, I would still choose tatami. For me, a child’s safety will always come first, no matter how beautiful or respected the tradition is.

What do you think? Should children’s traditional wrestling remain exactly as it is, or should safety standards become part of these traditions?

👇 I’m looking forward to reading your opinion.