Rome, 28 December 2025. Italian Judo knows no stops and while the cities dress up, hundreds of judokas from all over Europe have chosen to end 2025 on the tatami, dividing themselves between the snow-capped peaks of the Val di Susa and the sporting warmth of the Gulf of Naples. Two events, the Christmas Judo Camp in Bardonecchia and the Randori Day by Ponticelliwhich, despite having different souls, represent the beating heart of the competitive and promotional activity at the end of the year.
Bardonecchia: world stars on the Alpine tatami
At the Bardonecchia Sports Hall, the atmosphere is that of great occasions. From the 26 to 29 Decemberthe Christmas Judo Camp organized byAkiyama Settimo Torinese he transformed the Alpine resort into the technical capital of the discipline. This year, the attraction for over 1,100 participants is irresistible thanks to the presence of two icons of modern judo: the Japanese Soichi Hashimoto and the Swede Tommy Macias. Hashimoto, legend of the −73 kg category returns to Bardonecchia after recently announcing his retirement from active competitions. His presence offers participants a rare opportunity to learn the secrets of the Japanese school. Alongside him, Macias confirms his link with the event after the success of the previous edition, bringing his renowned tactical effectiveness and the freshness of a coach who knows how to speak to young champions. Numerous foreign clubs present from Kosovo, Slovenia, Hungary, France, Greece, Switzerland and Montenegro as well as numerous high-level athletes such as Kelmendi, Gahie, Lombardo and Basile just to name a few.
Ponticelli: the marathon of a thousand fights
Moving south, to PalaVesuvius by Ponticellithe climate is no less hot. From the 28 to 30 Decemberthe 15th edition of the Randori Daythe traditional event organized by the companies Pomilia, Nippon Napoli e New Body Center with the support of the FIJLKAM Campania Regional Committee. If Bardonecchia focuses on masterly lessons, Ponticelli is the kingdom of randori. The 2025 edition records a record participation, with over 1000 athletes from every corner of Italy who in the presence of the Federal President Gianni Morsiani and the Councilors of the Judo sector, act as the stage for the delivery of the 7th dan to the President of the Judo sector Giuseppe Matera. For three days, the six training sessions will put the resistance of rookies, cadets, juniors and seniors to the test. Under the gaze of all the federal technicians present, the children will have the opportunity to “cross kumi-kata” with members of the national youth teams and athletes from military sports groups. It is here, within the walls of PalaVesuvio, that the competitive character is forged: hundreds of non-stop fights to refine the sense of time, stress management and physical condition in view of the national events at the beginning of 2026.
Despite the geographical distance, Bardonecchia and Ponticelli are communicating vessels. Many sports clubs choose to divide their teams or alternate participation from year to year, sometimes seeking technical improvement, sometimes the quantity and variety of training partners. The success of these two winter stages confirms the golden moment of Italian judo. The ability to attract champions of the caliber of Hashimoto or to mobilize over 1000 athletes for a marathon of fighting in Naples demonstrates that the movement is alive, rooted in the territory and projected towards the next four-year Olympic period. For Italian judokas, the New Year’s toast comes only after the last one hajime and the last one rei on the tatami.
