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Apr 14, 2025

Judo in schools: Erasmus+ sports project

The Erasmus+ sports project "Judo in Schools" was a two-year initiative, running between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2024. It brought together four partner organizations: Judo Club Rijeka (Croatia), Budo Center Athens (Greece), Judo Club Liberty Oradea (Romania) and Judo Newton Madrid (Spain).

Project Presentation

Judo în școli: Proiect sportiv Erasmus+

The "Judo in Schools" project aimed to combat the increasing lack of physical activity among children in grades I-IV, by introducing judo as a structured and inclusive sports program, held after school hours. The initiative laid the foundation for the physical, mental and moral development of children, combining the educational benefits of sport with the unique philosophy of judo, as conceived by its founder Jigoro Kano.

Judo is more than a sport – it promotes values such as respect, discipline, perseverance and mutual support. By emphasizing these principles, the project supported personal development, social adaptability, teamwork and leadership, while also contributing to combating phenomena such as bullying, aggression and discrimination.

This initiative brought together judo clubs from four European countries, forming a collaborative network focused on education and social development, rather than on training high-performance athletes. The project facilitated access to sport by offering a free program in schools, ensuring inclusion regardless of economic, ethnic or linguistic status.

In line with the sports strategy of the city of Rijeka and wider European goals, the program supported active citizenship, transnational cooperation and the fusion of education and sport. Through this initiative, children not only improved their physical and motor skills, but also acquired the moral code of judo, contributing to their complete personal development and promoting a healthy and inclusive society.

Key Project Achievements

  • "Judo in Schools" Manual – a 30-page guide, available in English and in the languages of all partners.
  • Training and Implementation – over 37 trained coaches, with pilot projects involving over 400 children.
  • Consolidated Collaboration – increased cooperation between sports clubs and schools, facilitating knowledge exchange and innovation at transnational level.
  • Inclusion and Accessibility – free participation, eliminating financial and social barriers.
  • Long-Term Sustainability – increasing the capacity of partner organizations for international collaboration and integrating sport into educational systems.

Digital Dissemination and Promotion

To ensure broad accessibility, the main project results were published online, on partners' websites and social media. Dedicated pages were also created for promotion and ongoing engagement:

These platforms provide access to project materials, updates and future developments, ensuring the continuity of the impact of the “Judo in Schools” project even after its official conclusion. Through this joint effort, judo has been successfully promoted as a tool for education, physical activity and complete personal development across Europe.

JIS Manual

Coordinating,

Judo club Rijeka
judoklubrijeka@gmail.com
+385911305305

Funded by the European Union. The opinions and views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.

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