Jun 8 2025
At the halfway point of the three-year Erasmus+ Sport initiative Judo Connecting Older and Younger Generations – JOY, a consortium of nine partners from eight countries, including the IJF Academy Foundation, is creating powerful bonds between generations across Europe. Since its launch, JOY has welcomed over 1.800 participants through 16 intergenerational workshops and events. From complete beginners stepping onto the tatami for the first time to lifelong judo practitioners sharing their wisdom, the project truly embodies the spirit of judo: mutual respect, continuous learning, and inclusive growth.
These promotional events play an important role in the project’s overall strategy, serving as valuable opportunities to gather experiences and feedback that will feed into its main deliverable: an online educational tool for judo coaches, featuring scientifically grounded resources tailored to safely engage participants of all ages. The digital tool, set to launch by the end of 2026, will be hosted on the IJF Academy platform and promises to strengthen intergenerational judo far beyond the project’s lifespan.
Dr. Slaviša Bradić, project lead coordinator, highlights:
"We are proud to be part of the JOY project alongside our partners. Together, we strengthen communities across Europe by bridging generational gaps through judo. Judo is more than just a sport; it’s a bridge between generations that builds respect, health, lifelong knowledge transfer, social skills, and a shared love for sport and community."
You can explore highlights from JOY events at https://judojoy.eu/promotional-events/ and follow the project on social media:
Facebook: JOY - Judo Connecting Older and Younger Generations
Instagram: @joy.eu.project
Stay informed and join the conversation with #JudoJoy #IntergenerationalJudo #ErasmusPlus
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