Benidorm seminar puts dialogue at the center of judo’s latest rule updates

The Benidorm OTC is still moving at full pace, and alongside the training, the European Judo Union used the moment to host another EJU Coaching and Referee Seminar. The session was open to coaches, athletes and other interested participants, creating a space where different parts of the sport could sit down and work through the same questions together.

Leading the seminar were EJU Referee Commissioner Nuno Carvalho and Head Sport Commissioner Erez Nevo. Their focus was clear: helping the judo community stay current as rules, interpretations and the application of regulations continue to develop during the year.

That matters because even small adjustments can change how athletes fight, how coaches prepare and how referees judge key situations. In Benidorm, the discussion covered yuko, grip breaks, wasting time, neck and spine safety, staying updated with non-combativity, and illness and injury management.

One room, multiple perspectives, and the same goal: clearer judo.

Rather than treating these seminars as a formal briefing only, the EJU approach in Benidorm centered on exchange. According to Nevo, bringing coaches, referees and athletes together is important because it allows for real discussion, shared understanding and stronger knowledge across the sport.

He also underlined that these meetings give participants a chance to receive information, ask questions and take part in open dialogue. Including athletes in that process adds another layer, helping them understand how coaches and referees see situations and, in turn, strengthening understanding across judo as a whole.

That may sound technical on paper, but in practice it is about making the sport more consistent and safer. Topics such as neck and spine safety, non-combativity, and the handling of illness and injury are not minor details. They directly affect how contests unfold and how everyone involved responds in critical moments.

There is also something important in the setting itself. Holding this seminar during the Benidorm OTC meant the conversation happened close to the action, while athletes and coaches were already fully engaged in high-level preparation. That timing helps keep the link between theory and daily reality tight.

These seminars are where rule changes stop being abstract.

For the European judo community, that continued effort to communicate clearly is a significant part of the sport’s development. It is not only about knowing the rules, but about building trust in how they are interpreted and applied.

The next EJU Referee and Coaching Seminar is scheduled to take place during the Poreč OTC from 8–13 June 2026. After Benidorm, the message is simple: staying aligned is an ongoing process, and open discussion remains one of the most valuable tools judo has.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union