After Venezuela’s Quakes, the Judo Community Moves as One

Venezuela’s judo community is facing one of its hardest moments after two powerful earthquakes struck on 24th June. The damage hit La Guaira and Caracas especially hard, and families, clubs and coaches inside the sport have been mourning losses while trying to rebuild.

According to the IJF report, the two earthquakes came just 39 seconds apart, a rare seismic doublet. In the days that followed, the impact reached deep into the local judo world, where grief and destruction were felt alongside the urgent need for practical support.

What stands out now is the response. Even in the middle of pain, the Venezuelan judo family has rallied around its own, helping those in need, comforting children and doing what it can to restore a sense of care and normal life.

On 5th July, a delegation from the Venezuelan Judo Federation travelled to several locations in La Guaira to show that support in person. The group was led by federation president Katiuska Santaella and included secretary general Javier Cardozo, Olympic athletes Karen León and Anriquelis Barrios, and Beagni Betancourt, president of the La Guaira State Judo Association.

They brought clothing for children and adults, as well as food, drinking water and small treat bags for younger members of the community. It was an emotional visit, made even heavier by the fact that the two judo dojos in La Guaira were destroyed by the earthquakes.

Support mattered most where the mats were lost.

The article also points to something bigger than one country or one crisis. Judo communities have shown this kind of unity before, including after the tsunami in Japan and the earthquakes in Türkiye in 2023. In each case, the same idea returned: judo is not only about competition, but also about protecting people when life suddenly changes.

That is why this story carries such weight. The effort in La Guaira was not only about supplies. It was also about presence, reassurance and the simple but important act of helping children smile again after shock and loss.

The psychological effects of a natural disaster can last far beyond the first days of headlines and rescue work. Support from a trusted community can make a real difference, especially for young people who have seen their homes, routines or training spaces disappear.

Judo has a principle for that kind of shared strength: Jita Kyoei, mutual welfare and benefit. In this moment, that idea is not abstract. It is visible in the people who showed up, in the help delivered and in the message sent to those affected that they will not have to face recovery alone.

Santaella’s presence on the ground was especially meaningful, with the IJF noting that she was herself affected by the earthquakes. Alongside federation officials and some of Venezuela’s best-known athletes, she helped underline a clear point: the road ahead may be long, but this community intends to walk it together.

In crisis, judo’s values can become its strongest action.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation