Yasuhiro Yamashita’s Call for Judo for All

Yasuhiro Yamashita brought a powerful message to the opening ceremony of the Ecole Mont-Olivet Lausanne Grand Slam. The Olympic champion and four-time world champion spoke by video from his wheelchair, urging the judo community to build a more inclusive world.

Yamashita’s sporting legacy is already immense, built on discipline, courage and a remarkable drive to succeed. But the former champion’s message in Lausanne focused not on medals or past victories, but on the values that judo can carry beyond the tatami.

Three years after an accident caused a spinal cord injury, Yamashita now lives using a wheelchair. He explained that the experience has strengthened his belief in the meaning of life and given his work a new direction.

His words landed in a fitting setting. At the first Ecole Mont-Olivet Lausanne Grand Slam, adapted judo and deaf judo athletes competed in the same arena, on the same stage and in front of the same audience as the World Judo Tour competitors. For Yamashita, that shared stage reflected the true purpose of the sport: judo for all.

Yamashita’s message placed inclusion at the centre of judo’s future.

He described building a society where people with disabilities are accepted and supported as his life mission going forward. It was a direct and personal appeal from one of the sport’s most respected figures.

Yamashita also reminded athletes and officials that judo is not simply about deciding who wins and loses. Respect for an opponent and mutual growth, he said, are central to the spirit of the sport.

At the core of his address was Jita Kyoei, the principle of mutual welfare and benefit introduced by Jigoro Kano Shihan. Yamashita stressed that this idea should not remain limited to the tatami. In his view, it can connect people across borders and help contribute to peace.

He praised the fighting spirit, courtesy and determination of the athletes in Lausanne, saying their efforts give courage and hope to people around the world. The message was emotional because it came from a judo legend whose determination has not faded, but found a new purpose.

For Yamashita, the challenge now is clear: use the values of judo to help create a world where more people belong.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation