Every judo club holds a wealth of experience. Coaches, athletes, volunteers and families bring different perspectives, skills and stories to the dojo. JUDO4LLC is exploring how this collective knowledge can help people learn from one another and strengthen the communities to which they belong.
On 29 and 30 October 2026, JUDO4LLC project partners gathered in Brussels for their second transnational meeting, hosted by the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA). Over two days of workshops, demonstrations and discussions, they advanced the educational activities and digital tools that will help clubs put lifelong learning into practice.
Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Sport Programme of the European Union, JUDO4LLC connects judo’s values with personal development, shared learning and community participation. Through a practical educational framework and an interactive online platform, the project aims to support clubs as places where people of different ages and backgrounds can exchange experiences and develop skills together.
The project is coordinated by Športno društvo GIB Ljubljana Šiška, working alongside the International Judo Federation, EAEA, Qantara Sports, Associazione Italiana Sport Educazione and Judo Club Rijeka. The partnership combines expertise in judo, adult education, lifelong learning, grassroots sport and digital learning.
Turning shared experience into learning
In Brussels, this combination of perspectives shaped a collaborative workshop dedicated to activities within the JUDO4LLC framework. Partners explored how familiar experiences on the tatami could become starting points for reflection and learning. Practising safely with a partner, for example, offers opportunities to develop patience, empathy and responsibility. Reflecting on a personal judo journey can help participants recognise how those qualities influence their relationships and decisions in everyday life.
The workshop produced further activity ideas for the framework, with partners sharing proposals and identifying those to develop. The emphasis was on making learning meaningful and relevant to the people who will take part.
Bringing the digital platform into focus
A live demonstration led by Qantara Sports brought the developing online platform into focus. Partners explored a test environment through individual, club and community profiles, examining how users could interact, share experiences, complete activities and receive badges recognising their achievements.
Trying different profiles helped the group consider the experience from several perspectives and discuss how the platform could support connections between clubs and their members. Accessibility, engagement and a sense of belonging were central to these discussions. Feedback during the pilot phase will help refine the platform and its accompanying activities.
Preparing clubs for piloting
Preparations for piloting also included discussion of the “4LLC Circle”, a proposed gathering of people connected to a club. Athletes, coaches, club managers, parents and local education or community representatives would be invited to share their experiences, needs and expectations. Through these conversations, clubs could identify opportunities for learning and collaboration, drawing on the knowledge already present within their communities.
Partners also explored plans for international webinars combining educational content with personal stories from the judo community. Experiences of belonging, encouragement and growth would give a human perspective to the project, helping audiences recognise the role that judo can play throughout life.
A shared commitment to community
The International Judo Federation’s involvement will help share the project’s experiences and outcomes with the wider international judo community. As activities are developed and preparations for piloting continue, the Brussels meeting marked a further step towards giving clubs practical ways to strengthen their educational and social role.
The ambition is rooted in a familiar principle of judo: progress is something people achieve together. JUDO4LLC is creating opportunities for clubs and their communities to carry that principle into a continuing journey of learning, sharing and growth.
