Jean-Michel Guyard, president of the Comité 95 Judo, talks about the challenges of judo in the department, the actions that will be carried out as well as the project to create one or more 1,000 Dojos.
What is your assessment of the past two years?
Our team arrived in November 2021, replacing the team of the former president who resigned. We got off to a flying start with numerous competitions. We have maintained them despite the Covid-19. We have taken a lot of precautions to ensure that these gatherings are held.
For young and old alike, the department has two European Junior mixed team medalists and a Veteran world champion. What is your feeling?
As president, we are obviously proud to see athletes shine and represent the department. Mélissa (Saint-Pierre) finished veteran world champion in -73kg. She is a resident of JC Villiers-le-Bel. This section has a large participation as well as an excellent dynamism in the Val-d’Oise. We have, in general, a good forty participants who like to compete, but above all to be together on the mat. All this in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Maxime Moudanga (-66kg) and K. David Ali (-90kg) were selected for Europe Juniors in Prague last September. They were crowned as teams. These two elements are members of the AM Saint-Gratien, which does a tremendous job thanks to the investment of their volunteers. Besides this European Championship, Maxime had a good season by reaching the final and obtaining a place of two at the European Cup organized in Nanterre last May. He also participated in the Worlds in August.
In addition, we had the right to present two minimal teams to the Coupe de France minimals of the departments of France by teams. A team of girls and boys was selected. They were two beautiful days with a lot of atmosphere. Our two teams each emerged first from their group and stopped at the foot of the podium. We met the future leaders and we failed at the foot of the podium for the place of three. We ended up fifth each time. Although it is a little bitter, it is still a great experience.
« The momentum is back on track.”
So it’s a positive dynamic…
Yes ! At the level of participation, level of results, we have nothing to complain about. we have done a lot of things and the results are there. We are very happy to relive all that just after the Covid. Everyone wanted to practice and the results are there. Even in terms of cadet results, we have a youngster from Saint-Gratien who was the first substitute at the cadet world championships. Without forgetting the junior team of Saint-Gratien which obtained the title of champion of France by teams, therefore good results.
What is the current number of graduates?
When the management team took office in November 2021, the number of licensees was around 7,000. We ended last season with 10,200 members. Today, we count approximately 8,900 licensees. The momentum is well distributed, although clubs have been dormant due to a lack of teachers or licensees to operate. After the pandemic, they were able to restart their activities. They managed to hire a teacher for several clubs and work like that with a unit of two or three small neighboring clubs by hiring the same teacher. In addition, it is also necessary to relaunch the training. It’s important, because we have a lot of work to do. We must relaunch the training of teachers and also obviously the training of students. But one does not go without the other.
You hosted the Judo Tour Île-de-France twice this summer. Do you draw a satisfactory balance sheet?
This is a satisfactory result. This type of event gives an overview of judo and brings together many citizens. It is a very accessible event for people who are passing through the leisure islands. And then, for those who would never have practiced judo, it’s an opening.
“Integrate young people more into the life of the Department”
What will be the actions to promote judo in all its forms?
In the department, we have a big effort to make with para judo. We have a project that we are in the process of setting up. We have already started contacting IEMs and IMPROs by mail to be able to offer young people from the school environment the opportunity to discover judo. Our department is all in length. So we are going to try to develop this in three zones, the east, the west and the centre. We will try to mobilize these young people who are in training to discover judo. This is an operation that was set up by the committee and is completely free.
We will try to find a nearby dojo to be able to have quick access without too much transport. And then a specialized sports educator who will give an introductory course, or even several, depending on the project that will be established with the institutes. We would also like to make a big step forward in the training of teachers, but also of the youngest. In the baby judo category, we would like to set up a judo circuit. There would of course be judo and drills like adapted sumo wrestling where you can emphasize the principles and the use of partner strength. The objective is to ensure that our youngest are a little more integrated into the life of the department. The idea is to catch them as soon as possible and make them aware of the technique. And I’m not saying that the teachers don’t do that job, but I would like us to fly high the colors of technique before flying high the colors of competition.
At the level of school judo, will actions be put in place?
In the Vexin, we have very few judo sections. The idea is to develop discipline through the schools. There, we have some operations on some towns and villages of the Vexin. We therefore intervene by moving our tatamis, kimonos by offering schools the intervention of a sports educator over ten sessions. We have also set up training for school teachers with judo teachers who want it. And then some trainees from elsewhere, CQP or BPJEPS who are available on Wednesday mornings. We have three interventions in the year, it’s not much, but apparently it responds to a request since on the first intervention, we had around thirty school and judo teachers present.
« We plan to build one of the 1,000 Dojos »
Are there other projects?
Yes. We plan to set up one of the 1,000 Dojos. Everything is in place, we met the elected officials and we should meet again with the president of the Agglo to be able to set up the project definitively. We tried to develop this project in Saint-Gratien, in Sarcelles. For now, it’s a bit complicated to set up It’s not easy for elected officials either, but in Vigny, in the Vexin. We should end up setting up one of the 1,000 Dojos. We’re wishing for the best.
How many 1,000 Dojos will be present in Val-d’Oise?
Of the five projects we had at the start of our mandate, there clearly remains that of Vigny and Saint-Gratien. On the other municipalities, it did not take. But I believe I understood that President Macron had decided to open the project to all possible structures, that is to say that it did not necessarily have to enter into a restrictive framework and that it had extended to all projects, not necessarily in a specific area.
