Founded and led by the Parlati family, a well known family on the World Judo Tour scene, Nippon Club Napoli is much more than a sports centre, it is a social project that transforms lives. Among its narrow streets, over 500 young people train each week, learning the values of courage, respect, self-control, honour and friendship. The club’s record is impressive: 8 world medals, 30 European medals (7 gold) and 421 Italian titles, yet its greatest victories are measured in lives changed, not medals won.
A Meeting of Law and Sport
Gratteri’s visit brought together the voice of justice and the voices of youth determined to build their future. He met Italy’s top judoka, including Christian Parlati, Gennaro Pirelli and the Esposito brothers, who all train at the club.
He was welcomed by Raffaele Parlati, Technical Director of the Italian national judo team and IJF Coach of the Year 2023 nominee; Enrico Parlati, national coach for Italy and mentor of European champion Christian Parlati; Massimo Parlati, long-time coach supporting daily sessions; and Delia Mirenghi, who co-ordinates community programmes and administration. Together, they have built a model that goes far beyond sport, guiding the youth through the principles of mutual welfare and respect that are central to judo and to the International Judo Federation’s philosophy.
The Courage to Stay
Speaking to the young judoka, Gratteri highlighted that sport and education are fundamental for personal growth. “The rules of judo, taught by skilled teachers, help athletes become strong and principled individuals,” he said. He urged them not to abandon their neighbourhood but to become its defenders. “If you all leave this neighbourhood, Ponticelli will fall into the hands of the Camorra. Staying where you were born, resisting, that’s the first act of revolution.”
For the prosecutor, judo represents integrity and sacrifice, not just victory. “Here at Nippon Napoli,” he said, “I see champions and young people who have become strong men and women thanks to sport.”
Lessons in Fear and Integrity
Gratteri also spoke openly about fear and courage, recalling his own youth in Calabria, hitchhiking to school, losing classmates to mafia violence, yet finding strength in his family’s moral guidance. “I told myself, that life of violence wasn’t mine. I was lucky to have a family that taught me generosity and to help those in need. That was my greatest fortune.”
When asked if he was afraid, he answered, “Of course I’m afraid but fear is useful, it helps you understand your limits. You must learn to tame fear and reason with it.” He concluded with a stark message, “Those who think they can get rich by trafficking drugs are fools. They earn a hundred euros and risk their lives. The Camorra is parasitic, it drains your blood, it takes your life. It is not generous.”
A Dojo That Builds Citizens
At Nippon Club Napoli, judo is a way of life, a daily commitment to legality and self-improvement. The club’s social programmes offer a concrete alternative to the streets, teaching that true strength lies in discipline, respect and integrity. The Parlati family and their team embody these values, guiding young people not only to athletic success but to moral awareness. Their work, supported by the International Judo Federation, shows how judo can be a tool for social change, shaping citizens who respect themselves and others.
Who is Nicola Gratteri?
Nicola Gratteri, born in 1958 in Gerace, Calabria, is one of Italy’s most respected magistrates and a leading figure in the fight against organised crime. For over 30 years, he has lived under police protection. Appointed Chief Prosecutor of Naples in 2023, he is admired for his courage and his conviction that education, culture and sport are key to preventing criminal behaviour. His visit to Nippon Club Napoli symbolised his belief that legality begins with clear examples and that every young person can choose justice over fear.
In Ponticelli, on a tatami where dreams and discipline meet, a prosecutor and a dojo sent a shared message to Italy’s youth: real strength is moral strength, the courage to stay, to study, to respect and to believe that change begins with one’s own actions.