Judo News / World Tour
Happy World Judo Day 2026
World Judo Day falls on 28 October, the birthday of Jigoro Kano. A look at what judo gives the world outside the tatami, how the day began in 2011, and how the sport spread from one Tokyo dojo.
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Grand Slam, Grand Prix, World Championships, Masters and the Olympic qualifying race.
Judo News / World Tour
397 Judoka From 61 Countries Entered for the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam
The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam runs from 29 to 31 October with 397 competitors from 61 countries entered, 236 men and 161 women. No Hong Kong, China judoka appears on the current entry list.
Judo News / World Tour
Beyond the Tatami in Baku: Fan Zones, a Symbolic 'Judo Passport' and Long Queues for Meet-and-Greet Sessions
Azerbaijan's fan zones brought the Baku 2026 World Championships into the city: judo quizzes, puzzles, photo areas, prizes and a symbolic 'judo passport', plus a meet-and-greet programme that drew long queues inside the arena.
Judo News / World Tour
From 27th in the Individuals to the Mixed-Team Semi-Finals: Is China's Judo Rebuild Beginning to Show?
China won no individual medals in Baku, with WANG Nan's seventh place at -57 kg their only top-seven finish and a shared 27th in the nations standings. One day later the same squad beat Brazil 4-3 and Türkiye 4-1 to reach the mixed-team semi-finals before finishing fifth.
Judo News / World Tour
Baku World Championships Mixed Team Final: Japan Beat the Russian Federation 4-1 to Take Back the World Title
Japan won the Baku 2026 mixed team world title on 11 October, beating the Russian Federation 4-1 in the final. Georgia and Uzbekistan took bronze and China finished fifth after losing the bronze contest to Georgia.
Judo News / World Tour
The IJF Flag Passes to Kazakhstan: The 2027 World Judo Championships Head for Astana
A handover ceremony on the final day of individual competition in Baku passed the IJF flag from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan, which will host the 2027 World Judo Championships in Astana.
Judo News / World Tour
Baku World Championships Days Five to Seven: Murao Defends the -90 kg Title, Tsunoda Roustant Takes Her First Senior Crown and Japan Finish Top With Seven Golds
Days five to seven of the 2026 Baku World Championships: Sanshiro Murao defended the -90 kg title and Ai Tsunoda Roustant took her first senior world crown, Georgia's Ilia Sulamanidze and the UAE's Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko won on day six, Inal Tasoev and Lee Hyeonji took the heavyweight titles on day seven, and Japan finished top of the medal table with seven golds.
Judo News / World Tour
Jonathan Yang Finishes Seventh in Baku: First American Man in a World Championships Quarter-Final Since 1999
The 19-year-old Jonathan Yang finished seventh in the men's -60 kg at the Baku World Championships, beating Turkey's Yildiz and world number one Aghayev by ippon to become the first American man in a world championships quarter-final since 1999.
Judo News / World Tour
Baku World Championships Day Four: Kaju Wins a Second Title on a 40-Bout Run as Grigalashvili Takes a Fourth
On day four of the 2026 Baku World Championships, Japan's Kaju Haruka defended her -63 kg title with a 40th successive international win and Georgia's Grigalashvili Tato claimed a fourth world title at -81 kg.
Judo News / World Tour
Watching the 2026 Baku World Judo Championships Online: Judo Rewatch Offers Match Video and Replays
Match video and replays from the 2026 Baku World Judo Championships can be found on the third-party YouTube channel Judo Rewatch; official live coverage and video come from the International Judo Federation's JudoTV.
Judo News / World Tour
Baku World Championships: Abe Uta Takes a Sixth World Title and Abe Hifumi a Fifth as the Siblings Win on the Same Day
On day two of the 2026 Baku World Judo Championships, Abe Uta claimed a sixth world title at -52 kg and her brother Abe Hifumi a fifth at -66 kg, both on the same day.
Judo News / World Tour
World Judo Day 2026: IJF Announces the Theme “Belonging” — Every Judoka Should Have a Place on the Tatami
World Judo Day 2026 falls on 28 October under the theme “Belonging”. The IJF says the theme asks whether people feel recognised, respected and supported enough to stay in the judo community, and it names adapted and deaf judo, women and girls, children and displaced people among those it addresses.
Judo News / World Tour
Sarajevo World Veterans Championships Close with Japan’s Yamamoto Natsuko Winning the Women’s -48 kg Title
The Sarajevo World Veterans Championships closed on 24 September after five days. Japan’s Yamamoto Natsuko won the women’s F4 -48 kg title and Kashiwada Satoshi took silver in the men’s M7 -90 kg. The International Judo Federation’s closing report records 1,347 competitors from 65 nations and all five continents, while the federation’s event database lists 1,352 judoka for the same 65 nations.
Judo News / World Tour
Hungary Grand Slam 2026: Japan Take Three Golds in Budapest
The 2026 Hungary Grand Slam took place in Budapest from 11 to 13 September with 504 competitors from 67 countries. Japan won three golds, in women's -57 kg and -63 kg and men's -81 kg.
Judo News / World Tour
Lima Grand Prix Closes with Brazil on Top, Cyprus Secures First World Judo Tour Gold
The 2026 Lima Grand Prix takes place in Peru from 14 to 16 August, with the latest International Judo Federation entry list showing 296 competitors from 50 countries, including 169 men and 127 women.
Judo News / World Tour
IJF World Judo Tour 2026: Key Events from Lima and Lausanne to Baku and Dushanbe
Key international judo dates for the second half of 2026, from Lima and Lausanne to the Baku World Championships, Tokyo Grand Slam and Dushanbe World Judo Masters, plus the Kowloon Asian Open in Hong Kong, China.
Judo News / World Tour
Fukuda and Kentoku Take Japan's Two Golds at the Inaugural Lausanne Grand Slam
Yamato Fukuda won the under-60 kg and Kairi Kentoku the under-66 kg at Japan's first Lausanne Grand Slam, with Kenta Nakamura taking bronze in over-100 kg.
Judo News / World Tour
Ticket Sales Open for the 2026 Baku World Judo Championships
The 2026 World Judo Championships will take place in Baku from 4 to 11 October, with individual events from 4 to 10 October and the mixed team event on 11 October.
Judo News / World Tour
Qingdao Grand Prix Concludes: Japan Tops Medal Table with Five Golds
Japan topped the Qingdao Grand Prix 2026 medal table with five golds, while host China won one gold and three bronzes among 500 athletes from 57 nations.
Judo News / World Tour
Australian Judoka Aoife COUGHLAN Reaches No.1 in IJF Senior Women -70kg World Ranking
Australian judoka Aoife COUGHLAN reaches No.1 in the IJF Senior Women -70kg World Ranking with 5034 points, marking an important moment for Australian judo.
Judo News / World Tour
From Ulaanbaatar to Qingdao: IJF World Judo Tour Spectator Guide from Hong Kong
Qingdao Grand Prix 2026 spectator guide from Hong Kong, including Cathay Pacific flights, venue, airport transfer and ticketing link.
Judo News / World Tour
Japan: Uta Abe Reaches Rare Record with 12 Grand Slam Titles from 14 Starts
Uta Abe claimed her 12th Grand Slam title in 14 appearances in Ulaanbaatar, a rare record in women’s judo highlighted by the IJF.
Judo News / World Tour
Korea: Kim Minjong Claims First Grand Slam Gold in +100kg
Korea’s Kim Minjong defeated leading heavyweight opponents in Ulaanbaatar to claim his first Grand Slam gold in the men’s +100kg category.
Judo News / World Tour
Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam Opens an Early LA 2028 Window with 240 Athletes
As an early marker in the Los Angeles 2028 qualification cycle, the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam brought together around 240 athletes from 28 countries and regio...
Judo News / World Tour
Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam Final Day: Murao Wins -90kg Gold for Japan
The 2026 IJF Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam reached its final day on 21 June, with men's -90kg, -100kg and +100kg, plus women's -78kg and +78kg in action. IJF repo...
Judo News / World Tour
2026 Japan Veterans International Judo Tournament: Masters Judo and the Three-Referee Tradition
The 2026 Japan Masters Judo Tournament brought together judoka of different age groups for continued training, exchange and lifelong judo practice.
Judo News / World Tour
Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam Day 2 — Men's -73kg / -81kg and Women's -63kg / -70kg
The 2026 Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam is now into its second day in Mongolia, with the race for LA 2028 Olympic qualification already underway. After a dramatic...
Judo News / World Tour
Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam 2026 opens June 19 with 23-member Japan team
The All Japan Judo Federation released the official page for the 2026 IJF Grand Slam Ulaanbaatar on 18 June; the tournament runs 19–21 June in Ulaanbaatar,...
Judo News / World Tour
Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam 2026 launches LA 2028 Olympic qualification window
The IJF has confirmed that the 2026 Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam (19–21 June) opens the qualification window for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Judo News / World Tour
Qingdao Grand Prix 2026 set for 26–28 June with 18-member Japan team
The All Japan Judo Federation released the official details for the 2026 IJF Grand Prix Qingdao on 18 June; the tournament runs 26–28 June in Qingdao, Chin...
Judo News / World Tour
All Japan Judo Federation launches official Baku World Championships 2026 page
The All Japan Judo Federation has launched the official event page for the 2026 World Judo Championships in Baku, scheduled for 4 October (Sunday) to 11 Oc...
Judo News / World Tour
2026 World Judo Masters to be held in Dushanbe in December
The International Judo Federation has officially announced that the 2026 World Judo Masters will take place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from 18 to 20 December...