Year in Review 2024

Year in Review: Judo Intellectual Disability Project (JIDP)

As we complete the first year of our ground-breaking Erasmus+ project, the Judo Intellectual Disability Project (JIDP), we are thrilled to reflect on our incredible progress. This year has been an amazing one, not only for the project but also for advancing adaptive judo worldwide. Here’s a month-by-month recap of our achievements in 2024:

January: We officially launched the JIDP with a Kick-off Meeting in Cascais, Lisbon, Portugal. Our mission was clear: to extend the reach of judo programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), making them accessible to as many people as possible. JIDP takes a holistic approach by combining physical activity with a healthy nutrition strategy to enhance the quality of life for adolescents with ID.

February: The JIDP website, JIDP.eu, went live! This user-friendly platform serves as a central hub for project dissemination, online training courses, and updates on the progress of our key objectives.

March: Our project made its mark on a global stage at the 2024 BRICSCESS Conference in India. Represented by Prof. Dr. Myriam Guerra-Balic from the University Ramon Llull, Spain, JIDP began to inspire international audiences.

April: JIDP was featured at the EJU Beyond Limits: Exploring Adaptive Judo – the 1st Scientific-Professional Conference and Practical Demonstrative Activities of Adapted Judo in Rome. Presentations were delivered by our Italian partner Emanuela Pierantozzi and Spanish partner Prof. José Morales Aznar, marking a significant milestone for adaptive judo.

May: We reached full capacity for our Train the Trainer Adaptive Judo Coaching Course, enrolling 62 participants from 17 countries and 15 organisations. Our goal of recruiting at least 50% new adaptive judo coaches was exceeded, with 68% of participants being new to adaptive judo coaching and 32% having prior experience. This success strengthens the foundation for expanding adaptive judo globally.

June: JIDP was proudly represented at the EJU Scientific and Professional Conference in Poreč, Croatia, by José Morales, Emanuela Pierantozzi, Cristina Curto, Nicole Maussier, and Silvia Crema. José’s presentation highlighted judo as a tool for improving lives across Europe and beyond.

We also launched Phase 1 of our Online Train the Trainer Adaptive Judo Coaching Course, reaching our 62 candidates from 17 countries.

July/August: During the quieter summer months, candidates completed Phase 1 of the online course and were awarded their Level 1 Certificates.

September: Building on the momentum of Phase 1, we launched Phase 2 of the Online Train the Trainer Adaptive Judo Coaching Course. This month also saw the introduction of the first phase of our Judo Programme for over 500 ID athlete participants.

October: Our Spanish partner, Prof. Miriam Guerra-Balic, presented JIDP at the Master on Neurorehabilitation and Physical Activity at the Guttmann Institute. The event drew an esteemed audience and generated significant interest in our project.

November: On November 28th, JIDP was showcased during the 1st Erasmus+ Sport Meeting Day, organised by Sant Cugat Creix for Catalan projects receiving EU financial support. Prof. Miriam Guerra-Balic represented JIDP, further spreading awareness of our mission, aims, and activities.

December: We concluded the year with the launch of Phase 3 of our Online Train the Trainer Adaptive Judo Coaching Course, setting the stage for continued success in 2025.

Looking Ahead to 2025

In the upcoming year, we will:

• Launch the final phase of our Online Train the Trainer Adaptive Judo Coaching Course.
• Host our first face-to-face Train the Trainer session in Madrid, Spain.
• Launch our innovative healthy eating app to complement the physical training program.

Thank you to everyone who has supported, participated in, and shown interest in JIDP throughout 2024. Together, we’re making a difference in the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities through the power of judo. Let’s make 2025 even more impactful!