On the road to Tokyo 2019 World Championships and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the International Judo Federation is producing a series of films to show and understand why judo is such an important sport in Japan and how it has become a universal activity and an educational tool worldwide. The third episode was just released and focuses on mental strength and the traditional celebration of new year in Japan.

After a first episode (https://youtu.be/q5epM-h7Cx8) filmed in autumn and featuring the founder of Judo, Master Kano Jirogo, and a second episode (https://youtu.be/Z8d3Ymz3k3Y), filmed in summer and highlighting the passion of the youth for judo, this third opus was filmed in January 2019, during winter time.

Discover the little judo community of Tōma, in Hokkaido, northern Japan, where the Ueno Family, despite the harsh weather conditions, has produced amazing champions, who became Olympic and World Champions. Beyond the results, learn more about the educational dimension of judo and how it can develop in big cities as well as small communities.

Discover the Kangeiko tradition, where judoka from all over the world gather together at the Kodokan and for more than ten days train hard, early in the morning, with the best experts. Talking about experts, you will also hear the wise words of two of the Kodokan tenth dans, Abe Ichiro and Daigo Toshiro.

This episode will make you dive into ancient and modern Japan. From the North and beautiful snowy countryside to Tokyo, the city that never sleeps, you will understand why judo is much more than a sport.

The Art of Judo will be divided in four episodes. After the release of this third part, the IJF will produce the last film in 2020, just before the Olympic Games

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