How Judo Helped Turn a Friuli Mosaic School into a Space for Inclusion

Spilimbergo became the setting for a different kind of Judo story on 7 June, when ‘The Mosaic of Movement’ brought young people together inside the Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli. The initiative linked sport, art and inclusion through a morning of shared activity during Italy’s National Sports Day.

Children and teenagers aged 6 to 17 took part in the event, which was also included in the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional project ‘Fly High with Sport.’ Across the school’s indoor and outdoor spaces, participants moved through activity stations guided by experienced instructors and explored movement in different forms.

Judo stood at the centre of the programme, not only as a sport but as an educational tool. Through games, movement and interaction, the young participants were introduced to values that sit at the heart of Judo: respect, self-control, resilience and the ability to face difficulties. The experience went beyond technique and focused on a lesson many Judoka know well, that falling is not the end of the action but the chance to rise again.

Alongside Judo, the event also featured artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, which encouraged balance, co-ordination and precision, while parkour invited participants to test both physical and mental barriers. That mix gave the day a broader rhythm, but the message remained consistent throughout: movement can teach, connect and build confidence.

What gave the project its strongest identity was the venue itself. The Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli was not simply a host site. Organisers used mosaic art as a metaphor for inclusion, showing how every single piece contributes to a complete image, just as every young person brings something valuable to a community.

In Spilimbergo, Judo was used to connect movement, creativity and belonging.

That idea was reflected in the design of the activities, which were made fully accessible so that children and teenagers with disabilities could join in alongside their peers. In that setting, the values often associated with Judo, including friendship, solidarity and mutual respect, moved naturally beyond the tatami and into everyday community life.

The link between Judo and mosaic art in Spilimbergo is not new. Claudio Tonus, President of Judo Club Fenati, underlined that the bond has existed for decades. Since 1964, the club has organised a Judo tournament dedicated to this local artistic tradition, with trophies created by master mosaic artist Rino Pastorutti.

For Tonus, bringing young people to practise sport in the place where this art is made carried special meaning. He described it as the fulfilment of a dream and as a message of unity and growth for the wider community. He also thanked Stefano Lovison, President of the Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli, for helping make the initiative possible.

The school itself adds even more weight to the story. It played a historic role in creating mosaic decorations for Rome’s Foro Italico and Olympic swimming complex in the 1930s, works that still stand today as lasting symbols of the connection between art and sport.

By the end of the event, the message was clear. Through Judo and mosaic art, the participants were invited to see that every difference has value and every contribution matters. In a single morning in Spilimbergo, sport became a way to build bridges and help young people feel part of something bigger.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation