On 5 March 2026 in Zagreb, the European School Sport Federation (ESSF) and the European Judo Union (EJU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) marking an important step toward strengthening cooperation between the two organisations and further developing judo within the European school sport system.
The agreement was signed by Dr Ivan Dujić, President of the ESSF, and Dr László Tóth, President of the EJU, during a meeting that brought together representatives from both organisations to discuss future collaboration aimed at promoting judo among school-aged youth across Europe.
The meeting was attended by Dr Sanda Čorak, President of the Croatian Judo Federation, Dr Slaviša Bradić, EJU Presidential Adviser, Gorica Bilak Moconja from the ESSF, and Tomislav Čuljak, Honorary President of the Croatian Judo Federation.

The discussions focused on a shared vision: expanding opportunities for young people to experience judo within the educational environment, while strengthening the role of school sport in promoting values such as respect, discipline, courage and mutual welfare.
During the meeting, Croatia was highlighted as a successful example of how judo can be integrated into the school sport system. Since 2013, judo has been included in the national school sport competition programme, demonstrating how cooperation between national judo federations and school sport organisations can create meaningful opportunities for students.
The newly signed Memorandum of Understanding establishes a framework for cooperation between ESSF and EJU, focusing on the development, organisation and promotion of judo competitions and educational initiatives within the ESSF network.

ESSF President Dr Ivan Dujić emphasised the importance of the partnership:

“This agreement represents an important step for strengthening the role of judo within the European school sport community. Through our cooperation with the European Judo Union, we aim to create more opportunities for young people to engage in sport, develop healthy lifestyles, and learn important values through school competitions and educational activities.”

EJU President Dr László Tóth also highlighted the broader educational impact of judo:

“Judo has always been much more than a sport. It is a powerful educational tool that teaches young people respect, discipline and responsibility. By strengthening our cooperation with the European School Sport Federation, we are creating new opportunities for children across Europe to experience these values through judo in their daily school life.”

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to youth development, education and sport, and opens the door for future initiatives that will encourage more students across Europe to discover judo through school sport.
Through this cooperation, both organisations aim to build stronger connections between sport and education, ensuring that the benefits of judo reach young people both on the tatami and within the school environment.