International Judo Federation

International governing body for Judo

International Judo Federation

Sport| Judo
Category| Sports federation
Jurisdiction| International
Abbreviation| IJF
Founded| 11 July 1951; 74 years ago (1951-07-11) in London
Headquarters| Budapest, Hungary
President| Marius Vizer
Official website
ijf.org

The International Judo Federation (IJF) is the international governing body for judo, founded in July 1951.[1] Today the IJF has 200 National Federations on all continents. There are over 20 million people around the globe who practice judo, according to the IJF.[2]

## History

[edit]

On July 11, 1951 in London, the representatives of the European Judo Union (Great Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland) received the candidacy of Argentina and the International Judo Federation was created.[3] The Italian Aldo Torti became the first President of the IJF. Countries from four continents were affiliated over the next ten years.

Since 2009, IJF has organized yearly World Championships and the World Judo Tour consisting of five Grand Prix, four Grand Slams, a master tournament, and a Continental open tournament.[4]

In March 2009 it replaced the Pan American Judo Union with the Pan American Judo Confederation.[5]

In September 2021, Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine and his coach Amar Benikhlef were suspended for 10 years by the IJF after Nourine refused to fight an Israeli athlete during the 2020 Summer Olympics.[6] Nourine said his political support for the Palestinians in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict made it impossible for him to compete against Israeli athletes.[7]

The IJF initially named Russian President Vladimir Putin its honorary president and IJF Ambassador in 2008.[8] However, that status was suspended[8][9] and then stripped[10] in 2022, in reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The IJF also cancelled all competitions in Russia, but allowed their athletes to compete as neutrals in individual and team competitions.[11][12]

IJF President Marius Vizer, a long-time close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, wanted to let Russians and Belarusians continue to compete as neutral athletes despite the invasion of Ukraine and subsequent Ukrainian pressure to suspend them entirely.[12] Ultimately, both national federations withdrew on their own accord, until June 2022 when they returned.[12] Ukraine boycotted IJF events beginning in June 2022 because the Russian team was allowed to compete in and entered competitions. Judo is one of the few Olympic sports which goes against the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee.[13]

The IJF announced on 29 April 2023, the last day of event registration for the 2023 World Championships, that Russian and Belarusian athletes would be allowed to participate as individual neutral athletes following background checks.[14][15][16] Following the announcement, twenty Russian and Belarusian athletes were registered and entered into the championships.[15][17][18] Of the twenty, at least five were reported to have ties with the Russian Armed Forces,[15][19] despite the IOC's suggestion to deny participation of athletes who are contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies.[15][20] In protest, the Ukrainian team withdrew from the championships.[15][17][19]

## Events

[edit]

* World Judo Championships
* World Judo Juniors Championships (1974 to 2011 U20 / 2012 to now U21)
* World Judo Cadets Championships (U18)
* World Veterans Judo Championships (30+ to 80+ in 11 Age Group)
* World Kata Judo Championships [ja]
* IJF World Tour (Masters, Grand Slam, Grand Prix, Continental Open)

## Presidents of the IJF

[edit]

* Aldo Torti, Italy, 1951
* Risei Kano, son of Kanō Jigorō, Japan, 1952–1965
* Charles Palmer Great Britain, 1965–1979
* Shigeyoshi Matsumae, Japan, 1979–1987
* Sarkis Kaloghlian, Argentina, 1987–1989
* Lawrie Hargrave, New Zealand, 1989–1991
* Luis Baguena, Spain, 1991–1995
* Park Yong-sung, South Korea, 1995–2007
* Marius Vizer, Romania/Austria, 2007–present[21]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Ohlenkamp, Neil (2006). Black Belt Judo – Neil Ohlenkamp – Google Books. New Holland. ISBN 9781845371098.
2. ^ Thomas, Luke (March 8, 2015). "What is judo's problem with mixed martial arts?". MMA Fighting.
3. ^ "History". www.ijf.org. Archived from the original on 2025-02-18. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
4. ^ "Timeline". International Judo Federation. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
5. ^ "Pan American Judo Confederation Recognized by the International Judo Federation | News | USA Judo". 2009-05-03. Archived from the original on 2009-05-03. Retrieved 2024-07-07.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
6. ^ "Tokyo Olympics: Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine and coach suspended for 10 years". BBC Sport. 14 September 2021.
7. ^ "Algerian judoka sent home from Olympics after refusing to compete against Israeli". The Guardian. 24 July 2021.
8. ^ a b "International Judo Federation Suspends Putin as Honorary President". RFI. February 27, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
9. ^ "Official Announcement of the International Judo Federation". International Judo Federation. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
10. ^ "International Judo Federation strips titles from Vladimir Putin and Russian oligarch - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2022-03-07. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
11. ^ "Citing safety concerns, Russia withdraws all judo athletes from international competition". infobae. 16 March 2022.
12. ^ a b c "Most Olympic federations suspend Russian athletes, but officials go free". playthegame.org.
13. ^ "Ukraine boycotts Olympic judo qualifier as Russians compete". 25 June 2022.
14. ^ "Resolution Regarding the Participation of Russian and Belarusian Athletes in IJF Events". International Judo Federation. 29 April 2023. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
15. ^ a b c d e "Ukraine set to boycott judo worlds after Russians allowed". Associated Press. 30 April 2023. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
16. ^ Aharoni, Oren (29 April 2023). "Drama in judo: The international federation decided to bring Russian and Belarussian athletes back to competition". Israel Hayom (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2 May 2023.
17. ^ a b Aharoni, Oren (30 April 2023). "Ukraine will boycott the World Judo Championships: "The Rubles have won"". Israel Hayom (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2 May 2023.
18. ^ "World Judo Championships — Doha 2023 — Individuals — Nations — Individual Neutral Athletes". International Judo Federation. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
19. ^ a b Berkeley, Geoff (30 April 2023). "Ukraine boycott World Judo Championships after decision to readmit Russians". Inside the Games. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
20. ^ "Following a request by the 11th Olympic Summit, IOC issues recommendations for International Federations and international sports event organisers on the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in international competitions". International Olympic Committee. 28 March 2023. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
21. ^ "International Judo Federation Executive Committee". International Judo Federation. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2011.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

National members of the International Judo Federation

Africa (AJU)|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Burundi
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Rep.
* Chad
* Congo
* DR Congo
* Comoros
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea Bissau
* Equatorial Guinea
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zanzibar
* Zimbabwe

Americas (PJC)|

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Argentina
* Aruba
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Bermuda
* Belize
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Canada
* Cayman Islands
* Chili
* Colombia
* Costa Rica
* Cuba
* Dominique
* Dominican Rep.
* Ecuador
* El Salvador
* Grenada
* Guatemala
* Guyana
* Haiti
* Honduras
* US Virgin Islands
* British Virgin Islands
* Jamaica
* Saint Lucia
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Panama
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Puerto Rico
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Suriname
* Trinidad and Tobago
* Uruguay
* United States
* Venezuela
* Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Asia (JUA)|

* Afghanistan
* Bangladesh
* Cambodia
* China
* Chinese Taipei
* Hong Kong
* Indonesia
* India
* Iran
* Iraq
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* Kyrgyzstan
* Korea Rep.
* DPR Korea
* Kuwait
* Laos
* Lebannon
* Macau
* Malaysia
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Pakistan
* Philippine
* Palestine
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Turkmenistan
* UAE
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

Europe (EJU)|

* Albania
* Andorra
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Belarus
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Rep.
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Faroe Islands
* Great Britain
* Georgia
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungaria
* Ireland
* Iceland
* Israel
* Italy
* Kosovo
* Latvia
* Liechtenstein
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Moldova
* Macedonia
* Malta
* Montenegro
* Monaco
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Slovenia
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Spain
* Switzerland
* Slovakia
* Sweden
* Turkey
* Ukraine

Oceania (OJU)|

* American Samoa
* Australia
* Cook Islands
* Fiji
* Guam
* Kiribati
* Marshall Islands
* Northern Marianas
* New Caledonia
* Norfolk Island
* Niue Island
* Nauru
* New Zealand
* Palau
* Papua New Guinea
* Polynesia
* Samoa
* Solomon Islands
* Tonga
* Vanuatu

* Pinnacle Events
* Judo at the Summer Olympics
* World Judo Championships
* Judo at the Commonwealth Games

* v
* t
* e

International judo

* IJF
* World Tour
* World Masters
* World Championships (U18, U21)
* Olympic Games
* Paralympics
* World Combat Games
* Universiade
* Youth Olympic Games
* Deaflympics
* Achievements by nation

Africa|

African Judo Union
African Championships (U21, U18)
African Games

Asia|

Judo Union of Asia
Asian Championships
Asian Games
East Asian Championships
East Asian Games
Asian Martial Arts Games
Southeast Asian Games

Americas|

Pan American Judo Confederation
Pan American Championships (U21)
Pan American Games (Junior)
South American Games
South American Championships

Europe|

European Judo Union
European Championships (U23, U21, U18, EYOF)
European Games
Open Championships
Paralympic European Championships

Oceania|

Oceania Judo Union
Oceania Championships
Pacific Games

Others|

Arab Games
Commonwealth Games
Francophone Games
Goodwill Games
Lusophone Games
Mediterranean Games

* v
* t
* e

IJF World Tour

* Olympics
* World Championships
* World Masters

Grand Slam|

| current Locations|

* Paris
* Baku
* Abu Dhabi
* Budapest
* Taschkent
* Tbilisi
* Antalya
* Astana
* Japan
* Tel Aviv

|

past Locations|

* Russia
* Brazil
* Düsseldorf
* Ulaanbaatar

Grand Prix|

| current Locations|

* Odivelas
* Linz
* Dushanbe
* Zagreb

|

past Locations|

* Hamburg, Düsseldorf
* Cancun
* Hohhot
* Montreal
* Morocco
* Tashkent
* Tbilisi
* Netherlands
* Tunis
* Antalya
* Abu Dhabi
* Qingdao
* Tunis

* v
* t
* e

International sports federations

ASOIF (30+2)
Summer Olympics Federations|

* AQUA (aquatic sports)
* WA (archery)
* WAth (athletics)
* BWF (badminton)
* WBSC (baseball, softball and Baseball5) (associate)
* FIBA (basketball)
* WB2 (boxing)
* ICF (canoeing)
* UCI (cycling)
* WDSF (dance sport) (associate)
* FEI (equestrian)
* FIE (fencing)
* FIFA (football)
* IGF (golf)
* FIG (gymnastics)
* IHF (handball)
* FIH (field hockey)
* IJF (judo)
* UIPM (modern pentathlon)
* WSK (roller sports)
* FISA (rowing)
* WR (rugby union)
* WS (sailing)
* ISSF (shooting)
* IFSC (sport climbing)
* ISA (surfing)
* ITTF (table tennis)
* WT (taekwondo)
* ITF (tennis)
* TRI (triathlon)
* FIVB (volleyball)
* IWF (weightlifting)
* UWW (wrestling)

AIOWF (7)
Winter Olympics Federations|

* IBU (biathlon)
* IBSF (bobsleigh and skeleton)
* WC (curling)
* IIHF (ice hockey)
* FIL (luge)
* ISU (skating sports)
* FIS (skiing and snowboarding sports)

ARISF (39)
Others recognised by IOC|

* FAI (air sports)
* IFAF (American football)
* FIA (auto racing)
* FIB (bandy)
* WBSC (baseball, softball and Baseball5)
* FIPV (basque pelota)
* WCBS (billiards sports)
* CMSB (boules)
* IBF (bowling)
* WBF (bridge)
* ICU (cheer)
* FIDE (chess)
* ICC (cricket)
* WDSF (dance sport)
* IFF (floorball)
* WFDF (flying disc)
* IFI (ice stock sport)
* WKF (karate)
* WAKO (kickboxing)
* IKF (korfball)
* WL (lacrosse)
* ILSF (life saving)
* FIM (motorcycle sport)
* UIAA (mountaineering)
* IFMA (muaythai)
* WN (netball)
* IOF (orienteering)
* FIP (polo)
* UIM (powerboating)
* IRF (racquetball)
* FIAS (sambo)
* ISMF (ski mountaineering)
* WSF (squash)
* IFS (sumo)
* TWIF (tug-of-war)
* CMAS (underwater sports)
* FISU (university sports)
* IWWF (waterski and wakeboard)
* IWUF (wushu)

AIMS (20)
Others in SportAccord|

* IAF (aikido)
* WAF (arm wrestling)
* IFBB (bodybuilding)
* ICSF (casting)
* WDF (darts)
* IDBF (dragon boat)
* FMJD (draughts)
* IFA (fistball)
* IGF (go)
* JJIF (ju-jitsu)
* FIK (kendo)
* WMF (minigolf)
* IPF (powerlifting)
* IPSC (practical shooting)
* FISav (savate)
* ISTAF (sepak takraw)
* ISFF (sleddog)
* ISTF (soft tennis)
* CIPS (sport fishing)
* FITEQ (teqball)

former GAISF
observer members (11)|

* WDA (dodgeball)
* FIFG (footgolf)
* IJRU (jump rope)
* IUKL (kettlebell lifting)
* FISO (obstacle)
* IPF (padel)
* IFMP (poker)
* IPSF (pole dance)
* IRF (rafting)
* IRL (rugby league)
* ITSF (table football/soccer)

Others|

* WEKAF (arnis)
* AFLC (Australian rules football)
* WBGF (backgammon)
* ISBHF (ball hockey)
* IBA (bodyboarding)
* WB (bowls)
* IBA1,2 (boxing)
* SJJIF (Brazilian jiu-jitsu)
* IFBA (broomball)
* WCF (croquet)
* WDBF (dodgeball)
* ICFRA (fullbore rifle)
* IGAA (Gaelic football and hurling)
* ATSX (downhill ice cross)
* IKF2 (kabaddi)
* WK2 (kabaddi)
* IKF (kempo)
* FISLY (landsailing)
* IMMAF (mixed martial arts)
* WMRA (mountain running)
* ORSI (ocean rowing)
* IPF (pickleball)
* IQA (quad ball)
* IFMAR (radio-controlled racing)
* IRF (rogaining)
* WSSF (snowshoe running)
* ISF (skyrunning)
* WSSA (sport stacking)
* ITHF (table hockey)
* ITPF (tent pegging)
* FIT (touch football)
* ITRA (trail running)
* IAU (ultra running)

* International Olympic Committee
* International World Games Association
* SportAccord

* 1 IOC recognition withdrawn
* 2 Contested governance

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* 2

National|

* Germany
* Spain
* Portugal

Other|

* IdRef

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