Dr. Nuša Lampe on Why Judo Must Stay Open to Every Generation

Dr. Nuša Lampe is at the center of the latest JOY Talk from the European Judo Union, and her message reaches far beyond competition. In the Erasmus+ project JOY – Judo Connecting Older and Younger Generations, the Slovenian expert makes a clear case for judo as a lifelong educational system, not just a sport.

Lampe brings serious experience to that discussion. She is a 6th DAN, Slovenia’s first female international judo referee, a former first female Vice-President of the Slovenian Judo Federation, and Director of Judo Club Golovec. In the interview, she connects refereeing, coaching, education, and inclusion in a way that feels both practical and deeply rooted in judo values.

One of the strongest points comes from her doctoral research, completed in 2025, on the work performance and personality traits of international judo referees on the World Judo Tour. Lampe explains that referees are often judged only through rules, technical knowledge, and decisions on the tatami. Her findings point to something bigger: personality traits and the working environment also shape how effectively referees perform.

She highlights conscientiousness, agreeableness, and extraversion as traits that influence how referees perceive their work environment. Support from supervisors and colleagues, access to information, organisational resources, and opportunities to learn all matter. In her view, better support helps referees work with more confidence and effectiveness, which also suggests that referee and coach education should give more space to communication, personal competencies, and healthy learning environments.

Judo education is not only about what happens in competition.

That same wider view runs through her thoughts on intergenerational practice. For Lampe, one of judo’s greatest strengths is that children, young people, adults, and seniors can train and learn together. She describes a mutual exchange: younger judoka gain respect, patience, and discipline, while older practitioners reconnect with joy, movement, and the energy that younger generations bring.

Her examples are simple but powerful. Experienced judoka helping beginners, children training with parents, and even grandparents sharing the tatami all show how judo can build real bonds across age groups. It is a vision of the sport that feels especially relevant as clubs look for ways to be more welcoming and sustainable.

Lampe is also direct about a problem she sees in modern coaching. Too much attention, she says, is often placed on competitive results, especially with younger age groups. Competition remains important, but it should not become the only goal. She argues for coaching that prioritises learning, motor development, social skills, and enjoyment of movement, especially for children, beginners, and mixed-age groups.

That is where the JOY project’s upcoming online tool could make a difference. Lampe says many coaches want to build inclusive programmes but do not always have the practical support to do it. A shared platform with methods, training ideas, and examples from different countries could help clubs create more open and intergenerational judo environments.

At Judo Club Golovec, this philosophy already appears in practice. Lampe says children begin meeting basic elements of kata at around six or seven years old, always with an approach adapted to their age. For younger participants, the focus stays on movement principles, balance, cooperation, and respect for a partner.

She also underlines the four pillars of learning in judo: Randori, Kata, Kogi, and Mondo. In her experience, kata has a special educational value because it develops precision, body awareness, and understanding of judo principles. Just as importantly, it can connect generations, with older judoka patiently guiding younger ones through rhythm and movement.

For Dr. Nuša Lampe, the best judo clubs grow people as much as athletes.

Her closing advice to young coaches is clear: stay curious, keep learning, and listen to your students. It is a simple message, but in this conversation it lands with weight. Lampe’s vision of judo is demanding, inclusive, and human, and that may be exactly why it feels so important.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union