On the tatami, everyone counts: IPPONGEAR backs EJU Adapted Judo

Not every big sports moment comes with a medal ceremony. Sometimes it’s a decision—quiet, practical, and value-driven—that changes what the sport looks like for the people who need it most. That’s the tone of IPPONGEAR’s latest move: the brand has officially extended its partnership with the European Judo Union and joined as an Adapted Judo Programme Partner.

The message is clear: judo should be accessible beyond elite pathways and podium stories. By aligning with the EJU’s Adapted Judo movement, IPPONGEAR is putting support behind a programme that is expanding across Europe and beyond, focused on inclusion and real participation.

This isn’t framed as a symbolic add-on. The cooperation includes a dedicated Adapted Judo collection, backing EJU Adapted Judo events throughout the year, and providing vouchers to help reduce the barrier of essential equipment. IPPONGEAR also plans to donate a portion of its revenue to organisations that care for individuals with disabilities.

Inclusion isn’t a slogan if you can feel it on the mat.

Stefan Kneitinger, CEO of IPPONGEAR, connected the decision to years of involvement with Croatian Judo and to seeing the growth and potential of Adapted Judo programmes early on. He highlighted how powerful it is to witness the joy and emotions of children in Adapted Judo sessions—and how, on the tatami, differences that divide the outside world matter less.

For the EJU, it’s another step in building a European judo culture where belonging is not conditional. For athletes and families, it’s the kind of support that shows up in real places: at events, in training, and in the simple confidence that grows when someone gets to step onto the tatami and be treated as an equal.

Source: EJU_News