One Tatami, a Wider Judo Family in Lausanne

János Tardos placed inclusive judo at the centre of the first Ecole Mont-Olivet Lausanne Grand Slam, where elite competition, adapted judo and the Deaf Judo Masters shared one arena. At the Vaudoise Arena, the three strands of the sport received the same tatami and public attention in a landmark setting.

After years working closely with Paralympic judo, Tardos now chairs the International Judo Federation Inclusion Commission. The commission was created at the invitation of IJF President Marius Vizer and is focused on making judo more accessible while keeping every discipline connected to the wider IJF structure.

For Tardos, the message in Lausanne was rooted in the idea that judo is one family. He pointed to Yasuhiro Yamashita’s opening-ceremony message and to the principles of Jigoro Kano: the techniques and tatami remain the same, while limited rule adjustments help guarantee safety for everyone.

That does not mean simply staging separate events in the same building. Tardos sees true inclusion as visibility, respect and understanding for every judoka. Different needs and different pathways should not remove athletes from the sport’s shared community.

Lausanne showed how adapted judo and deaf judo can stand alongside elite competition.

Tardos also underlined two equally important directions for the sport: participation and competition. At the highest levels of adapted judo, the goal is sporting excellence and identifying the best competitors, just as it is in any elite event. He hopes the first two levels of adapted judo can continue to build a stronger position within the Paralympic movement.

Beyond medals and rankings, however, judo can offer a different kind of progress. Recreational and therapeutic practice can help participants develop movement, mental strength and self-confidence. Tardos described success at these levels as personal development rather than an absolute comparison with others.

Judo’s value, in this view, also reaches beyond performance. The structured challenge of training can help people build relationships, gain confidence and experience achievement. It is a physical and mental activity that can create happiness as well as respect.

The new IJF Inclusion Commission has begun analysing the varied realities included under adapted judo. Created in November 2025, with work starting in January, it is now working with the IJF Academy and the IJF Refereeing Commission on educational structures for worldwide development.

The preparation phase is expected to be completed within a year before implementation begins. Refereeing education will be a key part of that work, helping officials understand the particularities of different categories within one coherent international framework.

Lausanne offered a practical picture of that ambition: not identical experiences for everyone, but one sport with room for more people to belong.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation