The Judo Club Gascon in Auch has posted a strong start to its 2026–2027 season, driven by youth enrollments, successful charitable events, and an international performance by its president and instructor, Fred Esteve, ladepeche.fr reported.
As the club reviews its opening months during the Toussaint school holidays, participation figures show solid momentum across most age groups and disciplines. Instructors Guillaume Pader and Julie Toussaint have overseen a sharp rise in Saturday morning interest for the “éveil judo” program, which targets children aged 4 to 5.
Older Students and Self-Defense Classes Boost Dojo Numbers
While the 6-to-7-year-olds saw a slight dip in numbers, older children, adolescents, and adults have filled the dojo’s schedule. Instructors Florence Pacoud, Benjamin Benquet, Jérôme Destefani, and Frédéric Esteve manage the core judo groups. Wednesday night jujitsu self-defense sessions have also drawn heavy turnout—particularly among beginners—under instructor Jean-Luc Pourcel. Meanwhile, taïso conditioning classes, focused on physical preparation, continue to attract broad public interest.
Charity Training for Octobre Rose
Beyond competitive training, the club hosted a joint workout on Friday, October 16, to mark the Octobre rose awareness campaign. Adult judokas shared training drills and sparring with younger members, while the Gers branch of the League Against Cancer set up an information and support stand at the dojo entrance.
World Championships Kata Result in Sarajevo
On the international stage, club president Fred Esteve teamed up with Didier Bournhol of the Judo Club de L’Isle-Jourdain to represent France at the World Kata Championships held in Sarajevo on September 26 and 27. Competing in the Itsutsu no kata category—a demanding sequence of codified techniques—the pair advanced past the preliminary pool stage and secured a fourth-place finish in the finals.
New Monthly Sessions for Adult Beginners
To broaden participation further, the club introduced a monthly training slot this season dedicated entirely to adult beginners. Running on Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the dojo de la Réthourie, the sessions focus on basic movements and safe falling techniques.
Keep reading
