Year in Review: Judo Intellectual Disability Project (JIDP)
As we conclude the second year of our ground-breaking Erasmus+ project, we are delighted to reflect on the remarkable progress made. This year has continued the momentum of the first, bringing significant achievements and meaningful milestones.
In March, participants successfully completed Phase 3 of the JIDP Train the Trainer program and began Phase 4. This phase introduced important modules, including New Student Ability Assessment, Coaching for Contest, Coach and Referee Cooperation, The Evolution of Adapted Judo, Sports Psychology, and Nutrition and Hydration.
April saw our Greek partners celebrate World Autism Day with an inspiring inclusive event. The Mayor of Thessaloniki, Angeloudis Stelios, and emeritus professor of judo, Victor Siopis, were in attendance, demonstrating their support for inclusive sports and the value of adaptive judo.
During May, the project was presented to a representative of the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in Greece.
In June, Dr. Miriam Guerra Balic, representing our Spanish partners, participated in the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) in Atlanta. There, she presented the project through an outstanding poster presentation.
July featured our landmark showcase event in Madrid, Spain. Hosted by the Spanish Judo Federation, the JIDP Madrid Conference welcomed over 80 coaches from 14 countries for the project’s first in-person conference and marked Phase 5 of our Train the Trainer programme. The event included seminars and practical workshops designed to develop the next generation of professional adapted judo coaches.
August brought the announcement that the JIDP Healthy Eating App was nearing completion, with all partners preparing for the testing phase.
By September, the app was released for testing to all partner organisations. Over the next three months, more than 100 testers used, reviewed, and provided feedback on the app, leading to valuable revisions and updates in preparation for its official launch in January 2026.
In December, our Irish partners hosted an inclusive judo event in Wexford, Ireland. This gathering united judoka from the project’s judo programme with other athletes, both with and without disabilities, in a celebration of inclusive judo.
Also in December, an additional online phase of the Train the Trainer program was introduced. Phase 6 covered six modules: Creating an Inclusive Activity Environment, Utilising Support Materials in Adapted Judo Training, A Guide to Information Management for Judo Coaches, Positive Behavioural Management for Children with Disabilities in Sports and Judo, The Transformative Power of Parental Involvement, and The Therapeutic Benefits of Judo Kata.
We eagerly anticipate 2026, which will include the official launch of the Healthy Eating App and our final in-person seminar, workshops, and Train the Trainer Certification event in Poznań, Poland.