International Judo Federation
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The International Judo Federation was founded in July 1951. The IJF was originally composed of judo federations from European nations plus Argentina. Countries from the four other continents were affiliated over the next ten years.
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History
Prior to World War II, judo had reached an international development. However, the International Judo Federation was founded in July 1951 consecutively to the fact that some countries from other Continents have asked to join European Countries already federated in an Union. Aldo Torti, from Italy, was voted its first President. In 1952, at the IJF Congress in Switzerland, Mr. Risei Kano, son of Professor Kano, became elected. Originally, the IJF was composed of judo federations from Europe plus Argentina. Rapidly, countries from four continents were affiliated. From 1965 until 1979, Mr. Charles Palmer of Great Britain held the Presidency of the IJF. In 1979 Dr. Shigeyoshi Matsumae, Japan, was elected President. From 1987 until 1989 Mr. Sarkis Kaloghlian of Argentina, was President, and from July 1989 until the IJF Congress in 1991, Mr. Lawrie Hargrave of New Zealand held the office. From 1991 until 1995 Mr. Luis Baguena of Spain, was President. The 1995 Congress in Makuhari, Japan elected Mr. Yong Sung Park, Korea, as the President of the IJF. He has been re elected at 2001 Congress.
History International Judo Competitions
- Olympic Games : 1964 in Tokyo, Japan
- World Championships for Men : 1956 in Tokyo, Japan
- World Championships for Women : 1980 in New York, USA
- World Championships for Men and Women : 1987 in Essen, Germany
- Junior World Championships : 1976 in Madrid, Spain
- World Cup by Team of Nations for Men : 1995 in Paris, France
- World Cup by Team of Nations for Women : 1997 in Osaka, Japan
- World Cup by Team of Nations for Men and Women : 1998 in Minsk, Belarus (to be held)
Head Quarters
The headquarters of the IJF is situated in the place wherein the President resides. At present, the headquarters of the IJF is located at 33rd Floor, Doosan Tower, 18-12, Ulchi-ro 6-Ka, Chung-Ku, Seoul, Korea 100-730. On the 10th of June 1998, the IJF was officially incorporated in the Republic of Ireland.
The Official Languages of the IJF are English, French and Spanish. The IJF also accepts Arabic as auxiliary languages. The Congress must be simultaneously translated into English, French, Spanish and Arabic.
IJF Events
The IJF events are composed of the following:
- The judo events of the Summer Olympic Games
- The World Championships
- The Junior World Championships
- The World Championships by Teams of Nations
Within the five respective regions, the Continental Unions, under the delegation of the IJF, organizes, controls and supervises the different continental championships and events.
Judo Events of the Summer Olympic Games
Judo was admitted as an official sport in the Summer Olympic Games during the 57th IOC Session held in August 1960 in Rome. The first judo competition in the history of the Olympic Games was held in Tokyo during the 18th Olympic Games in 1964. Medals were awarded in the Open and three weight categories (-68 kg, -80 kg, +80 kg, and Open). Later on, five weight categories were introduced and today, competitions are held in 7 categories each for men and women.
World Championships
The 1st World Championships were held in May 1956 in Tokyo, with 31 participants from 21 countries. Thereafter, the Championships were held once every two or three years and later on once every two years. The World Championships were held only in the Open Category for the first three World Championships from 1956 to 1961. From 1965 in Rio de Janeiro, a fixed weight category system including the Open Category was adopted. There is no age limit for participating at the World Championships.
Junior World Championships (For men and women under 20)
The International Judo Federation has organized Junior World Championships since 1974 in order to develop and promote judo for the junior judo-practicing population. The Junior World Championships are held once every two years, on years in which the World Championships are not held. Since the 1996 Porto Junior World Championships, the IJF has provided scholarships for all medallists. Originally the age limit was under 21 years and later changed to men under 21 and women under 19, but since 1998 the age limit was unified to men and women under 20 years.
World Cup by Teams of Nations, World Championships by Teams of Nations
In 1994, the International Judo Federation hosted the first World Team Championships for Men in Paris, France and in 1997, hosted the first World Team Championships for Women in Osaka, Japan. Seeking to unify the men's and women's team championships into one event; the IJF organized the first World Cup by Teams of Nations for men and women in 1998 in Minsk, Belarus.
Governing Body
a. Congress The Congress is held once every two years at the location designated by the Congress 4 years in advance and is convened at the same time and place as the World Championships.
b. Executive Committee The Executive Committee of the IJF, chaired by the President, is composed of the President, five Vice Presidents, General Secretary, General Treasurer, Sports Director, Referee Director, and Education Director. There are a total of 11 members.
Governing Bodies
The Executive Committee members are elected during the Congress except for the 5 vice presidents who are elected by the Congresses of their Continental Union. (As of August, 2003)
* President - PARK, Yong Sung (KOR) * Vice President(s) - PALENFO, Lassana (CIV) President of the Africa Judo Union * TAKEUCHI, Yoshinori (JPN) - President of the Asia Judo Union * VIZER, Marius (ROM) - President of the European Judo Union * HARGRAVE, Clare (NZL) - President of the Oceania Judo union * CASANOVA, Jaime (DOM) - President of the Pan American judo Union * General Secretary - DHOUIB, Hedi (TUN) * General Treasurer - AL-ANZI, Obaid Z. (KUW) * Sports Director - BESSON, Francois (FRA) * Referee Director - BARCOS, Carlos (ESP) * Education Director - NAKAMURA, Ryozo (JPN)
IJF Memebers
As of October, 2001, the membership of the IJF is as follows:
- Africa: 44national federations
- Asia: 38 national federations
- Europe: 49 national federations
- Oceania: 16 national federations
- Panamerica: 40 national federations
Total: 187 Affiliated National Federations
