In the bright days of 2025, Joan-Benjamin Gaba (U73kg) and Inal Tasoev (O100kg) achieved more than just becoming World champions in their respective categories. The two judokas took a risk by stepping outside the box in a way that was not obvious given the codes of the discipline that made them kings: the Frenchman released […]
Joan-Benjamin Gaba and Inal Tasoev – Mindset Matters Read More »
Born on February 17, 1974 in Chisinau (USSR until 1991, Moldova since), Vitalie Gligor is one of those precious encounters that judo word-of-mouth makes possible. It goes back to autumn 2023, on the occasion of an extraordinary exchange with the all-too-rare Andrzej Sadej from Judo Canada. The initial topic concerned the sustanable development of judokas.
Vitalie Gligor – “The Road Takes the One Who Walks” Read More »
[FRA – Cet article est une reprise de la version anglaise d’un papier publié en octobre 2014 dans le bimestriel français L’Esprit du judo. Cette version anglaise a été mise en ligne cet automne-là sur l’ancienne version du site Internet de l’EDJ, mais n’était plus visible depuis la mise à jour dudit site à l’automne
A Summer with Marti Malloy (2014) Read More »
“And it is an old country, France, from an old continent like mine, Europe, that tells you this today, which has known wars, occupation, barbarity…” These words went down in history on February 14, 2003, during the speech to the UN Security Council by the French Foreign Minister of the time. The debate concerned the
From an Old Continent – Episode 1/13 – Summer 2025 Read More »
Born on June 26, 1994 in Montreal (Canada), Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard has become over the seasons, with her Olympic bronze in 2021, her two World finals in 2022 and 2025 and her nine podiums since 2015 at the Pan American Championships and Games, one of the leaders of the tremendous generation of Canadian judokas who emerged
Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard – The Rank of Big Sister Read More »
Toma Nikiforov was born on 25 January 1993 in Schaerbeek, Belgium. Initially a robust sixteen-year-old cadet, we spent three days practicing uchi komi and randori together in May 2009 at the Maison du Judo in Lyon during the international training camp that followed the Tournoi de France. At the time, this was an essential stage
Toma Nikiforov – The Kalashnikiforov Years Read More »
Ahcène Goudjil, born on 22 February 1968 in Argenteuil (France), is one of the founding teachers we meet when we delve a little deeper into the Clarisse Agbégnénou phenomenon. The one who was in the coaching chair during the (brief) seasons at the national level of the future six-time world champion. This was the case, for
Ahcène Goudjil – In the Beginning was Teaching Read More »
Born on 20 December 1969 in Leigh (United Kingdom), Nigel Donohue was Performance Director of British Judo from 2013 to 2025. Our first meeting took place in Tel-Aviv in 2018, in the stands of the European Championships, after a week of reporting at the Wingate Institute near Netanya to understand the inner workings of the
Nigel Donohue – “Your Time is your Greatest Asset” Read More »
[FRA – Cet article est une reprise de la version anglaise d’un entretien mis en ligne en avril 2017 sur l’ancienne version du site Internet du bimestriel français L’Esprit du judo. Cette version anglaise n’était plus visible depuis la mise à jour dudit site à l’automne 2020. La voici à nouveau.] [ENG – This article
Sit and Talk with Tina Trstenjak and Clarisse Agbégnénou (2017) Read More »
