Judo Stage in Follonica: Technique, Passion, and Olympic Gold Expertise

Campidoglio Hosts Official Launch for FIJLKAM Seminar

The venue serves as the official Olympic Center for the federation, bringing together high-ranking judo masters from across the country for specialized training, technical evaluation, and collaborative workshops.

Civic Leaders Spotlight Martial Arts and Youth Development

Roma Capitale hosted the morning launch event, featuring remarks from Svetlana Celli, President of the Capitoline Assembly, and Daniele Parrucci, a Capitoline councilman and mayoral delegate for school infrastructure, sports facilities, and training policies. Celli emphasized the civic importance of hosting the sports leadership in the city’s primary municipal chamber.

«It is an honor to host you here in the Sala Giulio Cesare for the launch of this two-day event, which is so important not only for judo but also for Rome,» Celli stated during the opening session. She added that the PalaPellicone stands as a prestigious athletic venue and that judo represents an essential discipline to promote across all age groups, particularly for youth development.

Parrucci echoed those sentiments, highlighting the institutional and educational weight of martial arts training.

«We are in the most important room of the city, and today we are launching a seminar of national and international caliber,» Parrucci said. «Judo and martial arts carry values that we want to transmit.»

Federation Leadership Outlines Strategic Focus on Training

Representing the governing body, FIJLKAM President Giovanni Morsiani and Judo Sector President Giuseppe Matera outlined the federation’s strategic focus on advanced technical instruction and leadership development. Morsiani pointed to the recent competitive success of the national delegation at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games, where Team Italia secured 20 medals, with eight coming directly from the judo squad.

«Alongside the competitive path, judo wants to pursue a technical and training path with Uemura, Galea, Rougé, and our federation’s only tenth dan, Franco Capelletti,» Morsiani noted. He emphasized that high-grade practitioners form the backbone of instruction and merit direct institutional recognition.

«As FIJLKAM, we have placed training and respect at the center of the federation. This moment must become a solid base for our journey, and the high grades must be a point of reference for the entire movement,» Morsiani said.

Symbolism and Social Responsibility of White and Red Belts

Matera drew attention to the traditional symbolism woven into the seminar’s focus on white and red belts. The white belt signifies the purity of the novice, while the red belt represents technical maturity and strength, with their combination embodying the equilibrium mastered by senior instructors. Matera noted that the federation continues to evolve while anchoring its mission in the educational principles established by judo founder Jigoro Kano to improve society through collective growth.

Master Franco Capelletti, a 10th dan and Honorary President IJF Kata, addressed the social responsibility carried by veteran instructors. He pointed out that in modern households where parents often face heavy work schedules, high-grade instructors act as custodians of educational judo, helping families guide youths toward positive development.

The international dimension of the seminar was underscored by Jean-Luc Rougé, President of the IJF Kata Commission and former IJF General Secretary, alongside Envic Galea, President of the IJF Academy. Rougé stressed the importance of focusing on judo culture and the foundational philosophy of Jigoro Kano rather than competition alone, while Galea acknowledged Italy’s historical contributions to the sport globally.

The technical sessions at the PalaPellicone in Ostia continue through Sunday, bringing together senior instructors to shape the future curriculum and coaching methodologies for the national movement.