A Swiss club’s Lommel takeaway: progress happens at the right pace

A training camp doesn’t have to be “elite-only” to feel serious. In Lommel, Belgium, from 13–15 March, that idea came to life as the city hosted the annual youth training camp run by the Ilse Heylen Academy, this year in collaboration with the European Judo Union.

One of the first-time visitors was Switzerland’s Judo Club Cortaillod-Neuchâtel, led by head coach Désirée Gabriel. The trip started with simple timing: an email arrived, the dates fit perfectly, and Gabriel had already been searching for a camp in that exact period.

But convenience wasn’t the real hook. Gabriel said what mattered most was the level: the camp wasn’t designed only for top athletes, but also for younger judoka and those still building experience. For a club coach trying to grow multiple athletes at once, that balance can be hard to find.

She travelled with a small, selected group of U18 athletes, choosing to test the camp with one group first and see how it matched their needs. The result, in her words, was straightforward: the experience went beyond expectations.

The right environment can turn “routine training” into fresh motivation.

Gabriel highlighted the practical side too—clear organisation, easy communication before arrival, quick responses, and a location setup that worked smoothly. Even details like renting bikes and riding from Center Parcs to the training venue helped the days flow without stress.

After Lommel, her plan is already forming. She indicated the camp will likely be added to the club calendar next year, potentially with a larger group and maybe even U15 athletes.

The conversation also opened a bigger European angle. Gabriel noted that national federations usually drive support for club-based camps, but she sees potential for the EJU to be more present at this grassroots level. Her idea: something like a tour of camps, creating repeated chances for clubs to meet, train, and exchange.

At the heart of her message is a realistic view of what keeps judo strong. Everyone dreams of producing the next Olympic champion, but the sport also needs lifelong judoka—future coaches, volunteers, and board members.

For her own athletes, the value is immediate. One girl has recently been selected for regional and national team activities, including possible participation in U18 European Cups. The others aren’t selected right now, yet they’re motivated and hungry to improve. Lommel offers new partners and new challenges—without pushing everyone into a European Cup camp where the level could be too high, and the risk of discouragement or injury would rise.

Source: EJU_News