The “Grand Gala of the Ernesto Giaverina Federal Martial Arts” turned out to be a truly great party where the successes of the athletes, technicians and clubs achieved in the sports season just ended were celebrated.
Over two hundred were awarded in the splendid setting of the Sala dei Notari by the Fijlkam Regional Committee which, on this occasion, awarded ‘Youth 2.0’ scholarships to the Clubs which in 2025 registered the greatest number of young people for the promotion of the Judo, Wrestling, Karate, JuJitsu and MGA Personal Defense disciplines. ‘Champions at School’ scholarships also awarded to those young athletes who have recorded, in addition to competitive results, also an excellent academic average.
The memory of the family of the coach from Foligno Andrea Ceccaroni who passed away last September was touching, which preceded the consecration of those reported as athletes of the year Alessandro Bicorgni (Judo), Clay Madio (Wrestling), Ettore Mostarda (Karate), Andrea Calzoni (JuJitsu).
The moment in which the ‘Pioneers of Judo’ took to the stage was exciting: those athletes, match officials and technicians who were among the first to practice ‘Japanese wrestling’, accompanying Master Ernesto Giaverina starting from the 1950s and who laid the foundations of the colorful world of martial arts and combat sports in the entire Region.
The occasion of the Grand Gala allowed the sixth dan to be awarded to Maestro Romeo Cappella and the seventh dan to Maestro Giuseppe Guiducci, who at the age of ninety still climb onto the mats to practice judo with the very young students.
The highlight of the event came when, to everyone’s admiration, the ninth dan, the highest recognition in Italy, was awarded to Maestro Ernesto Giaverina’s wife Lidia and daughters Barbara and Francesca.
The many champions, the pride of the Umbrian movement, were then awarded gold, silver and bronze awards by the Fijlkam Regional Committee.
President Andrea Arena speaks: “Really a beautiful celebration, the celebration of the great family of the federal disciplines of martial arts. Everyone’s celebration for everyone, it was an immense pleasure to have succeeded in the aim of involving those who made the history of Judo, Japanese wrestling, in Umbria. Those characters who with their work allowed the birth of the many dojos, of the many combat sports gyms that have survived to the present day. The intent was precisely to turn the spotlight on what is history and those who are the values that are the basis of our disciplines which involve, alongside the purely competitive sporting aspects, all those values such as: respect, sharing, collaboration, meticulousness, correct comparison and education which seem to be missing nowadays.
Remembering history and being an example as educators and teachers can certainly represent a guide for those young people who today are too misled by the messages of a society that is too social and not very social. I am convinced that through example, through ethically correct behavior, done with a smile, we can change the world around us in our own small way.
Thus, today’s over two hundred winners are welcome with the hope that they will be testimonials of the messages that our disciplines embody, also for this reason it was an immense honor to have managed to grant the ninth dan, in Umbria, to the maestro Ernesto Giaverina who represents the flag of our movement in a small territory made up of great men”.
Robertino Camilli, regional president of the Judo sector, speaks: “I would like to first of all thank President Arena for the brilliant initiative of rewarding ‘the Pioneers of Judo’ which allowed us to reunite with old friends who had been away from the world of Judo for years but who were able to embrace each other again ten years after the death of Master Giaverina.
Thanks also go to the Municipality of Perugia and to all those institutions in the area that stand alongside our Associations and with their support allow us to promote our disciplines rich in social values that go hand in hand with the competitive sporting aspect”.
Francesco Sagrazzini President of the Karate sector continues: “On this day of celebration I would like to express gratitude to the families who in the shadows are the true driving force of youth activity. Many are the sacrifices that are required of our kids to compete at high levels; conversely there are few spaces that can highlight their value. The Giaverina Memorial wants to represent a showcase for them and for the Committee a way to also thank the families”.
Luciano Pierini, President of the Wrestling sector, concludes: “It is a unique emotion for us humble men of sport to see the sixteenth-century Sala dei Notari full of young people who represent the excellence of our disciplines. An honor to be able to reward the many Umbrian excellences who, on a national and international level, bring Umbria to the top of the federal rankings”.
