"Slovenia became my final destination of the year, the 54th country of the project, and it certainly began in an unexpected way. The journey started badly when I missed my flight, forcing me to book another one for the following night, a serious issue for my already tight budget. When I finally arrived in Slovenia, the problems were not over; my luggage did not arrive! It only reached me the next evening, turning a stressful start into a real logistical challenge.
Despite this difficult beginning, the welcome I received was incredibly warm. Federation member Žiga Košec met me on arrival and made me feel at home immediately. Without losing time, we headed to Ljubljana’s city centre for a guided tour organised with one of his friends. Even though it was cold and I was exhausted from travelling, the visit was fascinating. Learning about the city’s history under those conditions made the moment even more memorable and I truly appreciated the effort Žiga put into organising it.
That same evening, with my luggage still missing, I had to borrow a judogi from Žiga to teach a school session with Mala Šola Juda. The class was full of children, all with excellent English, making it easy and enjoyable to manage. It turned out to be a perfect first contact with Slovenian judo and a very positive introduction to the local community.
The following day, I visited a special needs group at Judo Bežigrad. As I did not have parental permission, no photos were taken, but I decided to step back and focus on observing and learning from the session. It was a deeply meaningful experience and highlighted the care and attention given to adapted judo in the country.
Next, I went to Žiga’s own club, Judo Klub Sokol, where I joined a mixed group of competitors and recreational judoka. There, I also met Gaston, a fellow Frenchman teaching at the club. What makes this dojo truly unique is the way special needs athletes are fully integrated into mainstream training groups. This inclusive approach impressed me greatly. The following day, I returned to take part in their dedicated special needs session, assisting the coaches, including Gaston.
The energy of this group was extraordinary. Happiness, smiles and genuine enthusiasm filled the dojo, making it an absolute pleasure to be there. Slovenia is clearly investing serious effort into the development of adapted judo programmes, with many more initiatives planned. In these dojos, the training space becomes a safe environment where everyone can express themselves freely and confidently.
I then returned to Judo Bežigrad for a joint training session involving both clubs, as well as several members of the national team. It was a pre-competition session, as some athletes were preparing for the European Junior Cup in Maribor and the Tokyo Grand Slam. The group ranged from cadets to seniors, including judoka who had competed at the Paris Olympic Games, providing the perfect context for me to demonstrate a wide variety of exercises adapted to different levels.
Before this session, I was contacted by another judo nomad, Franz Kofler, whom many may recognise from recent IJF news. Franz is travelling to 1,000 dojos by bicycle, sharing judo along the way. Our projects and philosophies are very similar, so I was delighted when he decided to drive all the way from Austria to Slovenia to meet us. Although our time together was short, our exchange was inspiring; I hope we will spend more time together in the future.
After an intense schedule, I had one day off. We used it to visit one of Slovenia’s most iconic landmarks: Predjama Castle. Built inside a cave and the largest structure of its kind in the world, it is famous to many through some of Jackie Chan’s films, among others. Snow was falling during our visit, creating an unforgettable atmosphere. We continued exploring natural sites, tasting local food and sharing long conversations, making this day a perfect pause in the journey.
My final stop in Slovenia was Maribor, where most of the country’s judo community had gathered for the European Junior Cup. I helped with the event set-up before leaving the next day for Serbia. On my last evening, I taught two sessions, one for children and one for adults, at Apolon Judo Klub, one of the largest clubs in the country. I was particularly impressed by the level of the young judoka who were intelligent, fast learners, already showing beautiful judo.
Unfortunately, during the adult session, I felt a worrying sign of accumulated fatigue. Then, while demonstrating a technique, my knee cracked. The pain was manageable but discomfort followed and the next day walking became difficult. A possible meniscus injury is suspected, so I will have it checked soon. Thankfully, I can continue teaching and even surgery would not stop the project for long.
From Slovenia, I travelled to Serbia for a joyful break, attending the wedding of my friend Filip Djinovic and Olympic champion Barbara Matić. It was a wonderful moment with friends I had not seen in years and a perfect way to close this intense chapter of the journey.
See you next time somewhere in the world."