EJU Conference Puts Mental Health, Safety and Inclusion at the Center of Judo

The European Judo Union is opening a wider conversation about what quality in judo really looks like. Through a virtual conference on 03 July 2026, the EJU is bringing topics like mental health, safeguarding, inclusion and gender equality directly into the sport’s daily reality.

This initiative comes after two years of work by the EJU Human Rights Commission, which has been developing online courses and running smaller exchanges on safeguarding, diversity and gender equality. Now, those discussions are moving into a broader European setting, with the goal of giving clubs, coaches and volunteers practical tools they can actually use.

At the heart of the message is a simple idea: judo is not only about performance. It is also about people, responsibility and values. That theme runs through the whole event, which is designed for everyone from high-performance coaches to club presidents and volunteers working close to the tatami.

Veronika Jakl, EJU Human Right Commissioner, frames the conference as part of judo’s original mission rather than a new direction. She describes the focus on mental health, safety and inclusion as a continuation of Jigoro Kano’s educational vision, with the same seriousness that judo applies to technical training.

That point matters even more in today’s sports environment. Families have many options when choosing activities, and trust has become a key part of a club’s reputation. Jakl stresses that parents want to know their children are in good hands, and that organisations stand out when they live judo values instead of focusing only on medals.

The message is clear: strong judo culture starts with safe people and safe spaces.

The organisers also appear to understand a common challenge across European judo: many clubs are powered by volunteers and limited resources. Because of that, the conference is built around tools and strategies that can fit into existing training structures rather than adding unrealistic extra demands.

The programme reflects that practical approach. Dr Martin Poiger, EJU Secretary General, is scheduled to give the welcome address. Other sessions include diversity and accessibility with Andrew Scoular from the EJU Human Rights Commission and British Judo, and a presentation on how clubs can become “Safe Combat”-certified from Juliane Robra of Sport Evolution Alliance and Judo Switzerland together with Prof. Nemanja Stankovich of the EJU Scientific Commission and the University of Niš in Serbia.

There will also be a session titled Men as Allies: Using our Power for Gender Equality in Judo, led by Roger Svedberg from the EJU Human Right Commission and the Swedish Judo Federation. Jakl is also set to speak on Mental Health as a Basis for Performance in her roles with the IJF, EJU and Judo Austria.

Alongside the presentations, participants will be able to take part in discussions and interactive sessions aimed at open dialogue and active involvement. That may be one of the event’s most important strengths: it is not only about listening, but about turning values into everyday habits inside clubs and federations.

The conference will run from 17:00 to 20:30 CET and registration is free. For a sport that often celebrates what happens in competition, this event is a reminder that the future of judo is also shaped far beyond the scoreboard.

For EJU, this is about turning values into daily practice across European judo.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union