Why Judo Research Matters More Than Ever in the New IJF Journal Release

The International Judo Federation has released Volume 6, Number 1 of The Arts and Sciences of Judo, a new step forward for research in judo. Guided by Professor Sanda Čorak, the interdisciplinary journal continues to connect science, education and the core values that shape the sport beyond the tatami.

This publication is part of the IJF Academy’s wider mission to support education, lifelong learning and knowledge-sharing across the global judo community. That matters because the journal is not built only for academics. It is also designed to give coaches, teachers, medical professionals, historians and practitioners access to ideas that can influence how judo is taught, studied and understood.

At the heart of the journal is the long-standing vision of Jigoro Kano Shihan. From the beginning, judo was never meant to be seen only as a collection of techniques or a competitive system. Kano’s idea was broader: judo as a method of physical, intellectual and moral development, with a role in society as a whole.

That philosophy runs through this latest edition. The opening paper looks at a powerful question linked to judo’s educational purpose: can Jigoro Kano’s principles help prevent violent conflict? The study brings together philosophy, psychology, neuroscience and peace studies, and explores how judo may support emotional regulation, resilience and mutual understanding. At the same time, it does not simplify the issue, noting that such outcomes depend on teaching quality and on protecting judo’s ethical foundations.

This edition looks at judo as knowledge, not only as competition.

The volume also gives plenty of attention to athlete development and performance. Its articles examine the organisation of kata competitions in the Netherlands and South Africa, awareness of shime-waza among junior judoka, oxidative stress biomarkers, engineering-based approaches to technical and tactical decision-making, post-Olympic performance trends and the history of Kosen Judo.

There is also a strong educational thread throughout the issue. Two papers focus on judo’s role in early childhood development, using innovative pedagogical and neuroscience-based approaches. Another study looks at judo as an educational tool for children with ADHD, showing again how far the conversation around judo now reaches.

European judo is present in the research topics as well. The journal includes work on kata competitions in the Netherlands and a study on women in the history of French judo, adding important social and historical perspectives to a volume that already spans science, medicine, psychology, education, technology, economics and management.

One reason the journal stands out is its structure. Submissions go through peer review by an international panel of experts, while the open-access model makes the content freely available to the judo community. In a sport that often lives through practice and tradition, that kind of accessible research gives judo another kind of strength.

The issue closes with a commentary on adapting safe falling programmes for Arab populations, another sign of how widely the journal now reaches. Across very different subjects, the same message keeps coming back: judo continues to grow when practice and reflection move together.

Under Professor Sanda Čorak and the editorial team, The Arts and Sciences of Judo has become an essential reference point for anyone who wants to understand the sport in full. Volume 6, Number 1 does not just add more pages to a journal. It adds more depth to the future of judo itself.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation