The venue and accommodation were provided at the Tianjin University Campus with great facilities and conditions. 42 students, including 28 judo coaches from China, graduated from 6 countries.
The IJF Academy experts had an important meeting with the national federation president, Mr Liu, during which important issues were discussed and agreed upon. The Academy also met and discussed a co-operation opportunity with Mr Huan Xu, Zhejiang Police Academy, Hangzhou Province, where IJF Academy programmes Judo for Security and Judo for Self-Defence were introduced.
Discussions with Ms Lei Xu, Secretary of the Tianjin University of Sport Party Group, in the School of Competitive Sports, also took place and opened new opportunities. During that meeting, one of the Academy students and Tianjin judo founder, Ms Weifeng Wu, Deputy Director of the Tianjin Sports Bureau, supported the co-operation initiative. Ms Weifeng Wu and her husband, Mr Zhishan Zhao, have been working together for 30 years, dedicating their life to judo development in Tianjin. The judo campus will enjoy a major refurbishment soon and that will further enhance the conditions for continuous judo development.
Coaches graduated from 13 out of China’s 31 regions, in co-operation with the IJF Academy. The geographical distribution looks promising to be able to cover all regions in China, especially as the IJF Academy plans to organise practical sessions in 2026 as well, choosing another major city to provide close access for potential students in China.
The season was very busy for the Academy as after China, Envic Galea, Tibor Koszla, Daniel Lascau, Slavisa Bradic, Mark Huizinga, Shingi Hosokawa, Daniela Krukower and Tina Tristinjak moved to Japan and more specifically to the Kodokan for session number 130.
This was the 4th time that the Academy has visited the Kodokan, a prestigious location for international students. Kodokan President Mr Haruki Uemura confirmed, "The IJF Academy collaboration with the Kodokan is very strong and I am very pleased with the way the Academy is promoting the true spirit of Judo."
33 students from 9 countries graduated on this occasion. It was a special session as it was held for the new national team coaches nominated by the All Japan Judo Federation, after the Paris Olympic Games. It was also extended to other international participants. Ms Maki Tsukada, Olympic champion (Athens 2004), the new senior women’s head coach of Japan, attended and graduated.
Also among the participants was Mr Mark Hirota from the Obukan Judo Club in Portland, USA. Jigoro Kano Shihan visited the Obukan Judo Club twice, in 1932 and 1938. Another notable participant was Mr Kento Iwanaga, who was the main uke when the IJF Academy and Kodokan new video of techniques was recorded.
After DPR Korea, China and Japan, the IJF Academy concluded a busy month of travelling, spreading the values of judo and certifying many coaches. This will have a very positive impact in the years to come.
