Japan Hosts International Virtus Judo Camp

For the past two weeks, Japan has been the epicentre of a groundbreaking training camp, bringing together judoka from Japan, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and Australia. Hosted at Nihon Bunka University by the Virtus Judo Committee members, Rudi Verhagen (NED) and Tomoo Hamana (JPN), this camp aimed to foster camaraderie, share knowledge, and enhance skills among judoka of all backgrounds, including all three Virtus eligibility classes, II1-II2-II3 and mainstream categories.

The camp kicked off with a bang as Norway’s Stale Wikadahl and Australia’s Lewis Willing led the first of four sessions, focusing on technical groundwork and standing techniques. Participants had the opportunity to learn from world-class instructors, exchange insights, and forge new friendships.

As the camp progressed, sessions were led by renowned coaches Rudi Verhagen from the Netherlands and Tomoo Hamana from Japan. Each session delivered valuable lessons and techniques that enhanced the participants’ judo skills and understanding.

The end-of-camp sessions were led by Tomoo Hamana in the morning, followed by Great Britain’s Kerry Tansey and Laurie Rush delivering the final session. With a diverse range of coaches and perspectives, participants are poised to gain a comprehensive understanding of judo principles and strategies.