As the Covid-19 crisis continues to wreak havoc, examples of resumption of judo activities are multiplying. For a few weeks now, there has not been a day without receiving judoka testimonials from all over the world, explaining how, while respecting all health protection measures, it is possible to practise our favourite sport.

The latest comes from a section of the Polizeisportverein Königsbrunn, Bavaria, southern Germany. The testimony is that of Johannes Daxbacher, member of the Military and Police Commission of the IJF, also strongly involved in the judo for peace 'Judo for Ethiopians' programme, of which we regularly speak in our columns.

Johannes Daxbacher explains, “Despite the lock-down in spring and the safety rules imposed offering limited possibility to play and train judo, our judo students have now restarted, with great pleasure indoors, having only practised outdoor Judo-style activities until now. My wife, Regina and I have received great support from the administration of the City of Königsbrunn and we can now use a new dojo, which is a former thermal baths and it’s huge!

After our first judo session, we wanted to take a symbolic picture in front of a cultural and historical monument, located close to the Mercateum, the museum presenting the history of the trade relations between India and Germany.”

In an outside area of the museum is a giant globe, the world’s biggest one to include historical cartography. It seemed a fitting place for a judo photograph, especially at this time.

Johannes continued, “its name, 'Mercateum,’ is derived from the world famous geographer and cartographer Gerhard Mercator (1512 – 1594). For us it was a great symbol to pause in front of this monument and show that despite the situation we are connected with the whole world through judo.

Our members from the Kokoro Judo Club, including children, young adults and adults, were very happy that our sport could restart. We shall never give up.”

See also
Interview
Julien Goes Around the World (30)

26. Jun. 2025 / Julien Brulard has been travelling the world with his ...

Interview
A First Experience

26. Jun. 2025 / Sebastian Richly is a journalist.

Judo for Refugees
The Judo Family Shows Its Solidarity on World Refugee Day

23. Jun. 2025 / The World Refugee Day is an international day designated ...

News
DIJF and IJF Meet in Budapest

23. Jun. 2025 / At the end of 2024, the IJF and the DIJF (Deaf International ...

OTP WJC 2025
Georgia! It's Georgia! World Mixed Team Champions!

20. Jun. 2025 / The final block began at 6pm sharp and flew by so fast, ...

OTP WJC 2025
The Mixed Team Preliminaries - Wow!

20. Jun. 2025 / In 2017 the mixed team format was included in the senior ...

Athletes' Commission
The New IJF Athletes' Commission Is Known

20. Jun. 2025 / During the OTP Bank World Judo Championships Hungary ...

Athlete Stories
Eteri Liparteliani: the Pioneer

20. Jun. 2025 / Since 1992, when Georgia first appeared at global sporting ...

Athlete Stories
A New Generation of Role Models

20. Jun. 2025 / Twenty-one year old Timur Arbuzov and twenty-three ...

OTP WJC 2025
From World Champions to Honoured Guests, the Whole Judo Family Wins

19. Jun. 2025 / Fourteen incredible judoka have been crowned in Budapest, ...

OTP WJC 2025
+100 kg: Tasoev Doubles His World Title

19. Jun. 2025 / In the last final of the OTP Bank World Judo Championships ...

OTP WJC 2025
+78 kg: Hayun Kim Takes Her First Senior World Title

19. Jun. 2025 / On the final day of the individual categories at the ...

OTP WJC 2025
The 2026 World Championships Head to Azerbaijan

19. Jun. 2025 / On the eve of the closing ceremony of the OTP Bank ...

INTERVIEW EXPRESS
Shishime Ai (JPN)

08. Jun. 2018 / The next reigning world champion to be invited to answer ...

News
5 Key Takeaways from judo’s first Tokyo 2020 qualifier

06. Jun. 2018 / Highlights from Hohhot Grand Prix 2018

VIDEO
Judo for the World in Iran

07. Jun. 2018 / In April 2018, the International Judo Federation and ...

Meeting
JUDO: A Beneficial Cause

07. Jun. 2018 / 'Society should believe in sport as a beneficial cause ...