Malta Hosts Major IJF Academy Step for Judo-Based Self-Defence Education

Malta Judo Academy became the setting for a key moment in judo education as international participants gathered for the IJF Academy Judo for Self Defence Instructor course. The practical session ran from 2 to 4 July and marked the 147th IJF Academy practical session delivered worldwide since 2013.

The event brought together 26 high-level participants from across the world, including representatives from Hong Kong, Canada, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and Europe. It opened with attendance from leading figures in sport and education, including Malta’s Minister for Education and Sport, Dr Byron Camilleri, Malta Judo Federation President Envic Galea, and IJF Secretary General Dr Lisa Allan.

At the heart of the course was a clear goal: preparing qualified judoka to teach judo-based self-defence in a safe, structured, and progressive way. The programme focused on how instructors explain, demonstrate, supervise, and assess techniques built on core judo principles such as balance, leverage, body movement, control, distance management, and situational awareness.

Across three progressive levels, participants worked through a curriculum of 129 techniques. The basic stage focused on tai-sabaki, ukemi, grip releases, and kick-defence. From there, the course moved into more technical areas including throwing preparation, armlocks, choking techniques, and controlled striking movements, before reaching advanced scenarios involving punches, headlocks, and weapon threats under strict safety rules.

The Malta session showed how judo principles can be applied far beyond competition.

The instruction team added real weight to the course. Training was led by IJF instructors and world-class champions Florin Daniel Lascau of Romania, Daniela Krukower of Argentina, and Tina Trstenjak of Slovenia.

There was also a strong European dimension in Malta. Four EJU officials completed the certification: EJU Vice-President for Education Kristiina Pekkola, EJU Sport Director Alessandro Comi, EJU Education Vice President Assistance Denisa Deliu, and European Judo Hero Larissa Ceric. Their successful participation underlined the EJU’s continued push to build serious educational pathways within the sport.

Pekkola’s reflection captured the deeper message of the programme. She said self-defence in judo is not about overpowering someone, but about discovering a calm and disciplined version of yourself. She also stressed that the attitude of avoiding violence and taking control of a violent situation sits at the centre of this teaching.

Referencing Jigoro Kano’s principle of Seiryoku-Zenyo, Pekkola connected the course to judo’s broader educational purpose. For her, self-defence begins before conflict, in discipline, character, and responsible behaviour. That message gave the Malta session a meaning that went beyond technical certification.

By combining traditional values with modern teaching structure, the IJF Academy course in Malta highlighted how judo continues to evolve off the tatami as well as on it. Respect, self-control, responsibility, and Jita-Kyoei remained central, while the practical application of judo moved into a space with clear relevance for today’s instructors and younger generations.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union