A Paralympic pathway for visually impaired judoka
Para Judo is Judo for people with visual impairments, and Australian judo clubs are embracing the opportunities available to visually-impaired players at a local, national and international level through the Paralympic movement.
Under the Para Uplift grant, initially in 2024 and expanded earlier this year, the Australian government has committed record funding to the Paralympics movement and Para athletes. Para Judo has benefited through WinWell funding to expand Judo Australia’s Para Judo Pathway, under Para Judo Pathway Coach, Ivica Pavlinic.
Ivica works directly with our Para Judo team, and also with coaches around Australia to develop capability in teaching and supporting Para Judo athletes. Judo Australia is also working to develop grassroots participation in Judo among visually impaired players.
At a club-based level, judo training is undertaken by prioritising preparation of the environment to ensure safety and ease of access for people with low vision. Removing barriers to participation can be as easy as some basic discipline – ensuring bags and shoes aren’t cluttering walkways, removing or warning visually impaired people about unpredictable obstacles or hazards, and becoming aware of the individual needs of specific judoka.
For those looking to pursue a competitive path, Para Judo competition within Australia can take place within Adaptive Judo rules, and alongside mainstream competitors at state and national level. For international competition, peak events are organised through IBSA, the International Blind Sports Association, the Australian arm of which is Blind Sports Australia.
Para Judo athletes competing in official IBSA Judo events must have undergone Classification to ensure they are medically certified into the appropriate division: only two vision classes are recognised in Judo, J1 and J2. (Detail about classification for international competition is HERE.)
LINK: About Para Judo at Paralympics Australia
LINK: IBSA Judo
LINK: Blind Sports Australia
RESOURCES FOR PARA JUDOKA & SUPPORT TEAM
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
BSA Transport Reimbursement Incentive Payment (download)
CLASSIFICATION:
About Classification at Blind Sports Australia (LINK)
IBSA Judo Medical Diagnostics Form for Classification (download)
OTHER RESOURCES:
