That date marks the birthday in 1860 of the sport's founder, Jigoro Kano.

The IJF aim to use the occasion to encourage those with a love of the sport and who partake in it to share experiences and promote the sport in their region with activities such as demonstrations, competitions, inter-club training sessions and taster sessions.

More than 20 million people practice judo around the world on a daily basis, according to the IJF, which has 200 National Federations across five Continental Unions.

The world governing body President Marius Vizer is urging judoka across the world to take part in activities later this month.

"With the occasion of the World Judo Day I ask all judoka and judo communities in the world to follow, defend and promote the Olympic spirit and values which are also the values of our sport," said Vizer, who is also President of SportAccord and SportAccord Convention.

"I ask for unity and solidarity and through the energy and spirit of judo to increase our community and build a better world."

Young judoka spell out the theme of 2012 World Judo Day - judo for all ©IJF




Brazil's double Olympic Games medallist Leandro Guilheiro explained the theme of this year.

"Honour means character, respect and integrity," said the 31-year-old, winner of bronze medals at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

"In judo, these nouns are more than words, because honour is the foundation on which judo was built."

American Jim Bregman said that this year's theme encourages judoka across the world to show respect and admiration to each other.

"Honour means humility, gratitude, generosity, and understanding the value of all things," added Bregman, the first athlete to win a judo medal for the United States at an Olympic Games, taking bronze at Tokyo 1964 when the sport made its debut in the Games. 

"The earth is a blue dot, our lives are a fleeting spark, the universe is, well, perhaps infinite and, perhaps, ultimately unknowable to us.

"When we bow in judo we show respect and admit that our opponent is but a reflection of ourselves which is a stone on which we perfect our technique and our understanding of life.

"Ultimately, judo is a way of life.

"Admire the past, live in the moment, and rejoice in the future."

Double Olympic Games bronze medallist Leandro Guilheiro says honour is the foundation on which judo is built ©Getty Images



Perseverance was the theme of last year's World Judo Day, while in 2012 it was judo for all and respect was the theme of the inaugural World Judo Day in 2011.

For more information on World Judo Day 2014, click here.

You can visit the official World Judo Day Facebook page here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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