Message from Guyana Judo Association, Raoul Archer on World Judo Day

Oct 28, 2014 Sports

Today is World Judo Day and administrators of the Guyana Judo Association (GJA)

Raoul Archer (standing l) moments after conducting a session with his charges recently.

will join with their affiliates and counterparts worldwide in celebration of this auspicious occasion. Activities are being observed under the theme, ‘Honour’, one of the core values of the extraordinary art of combat, had its inaugural launch in 2010 and dedicated to all judokas worldwide. In keeping with tradition, President of the GJA, Raoul Archer, has delivered remarks to commemorate the auspicious occasion.
Today, more than 20 million people within 200 National Federations across five continental Unions are engaged in the practicing of Judo. Permit me to extend heartfelt congratulations, on behalf of the Guyana Judo Association, to local Judokas and those involved in the sport worldwide. On this auspicious occasion, our association will continue to promote awareness on the values of the sport, the importance and benefits derived from participation and its correlation to overall academic development.
October 28, is the birthday of the founder of the sport, Dr. Jigoro Kano, popularly regarded as The Father of Judo and a stalwart who comprehensively studied the ancient art of self-defense forms. Subsequently, Dr Kano integrated the best of these forms into a sport which is known as Kodocan Judo. In his lifetime, Professor Jigoro Kano attained a doctorate degree in Judo and a degree equivalent to the twelfth Dan, awarded to the originator of Judo only.
The sport made its debut internationally in the 1964 Tokyo Games and after fifty (50) years in the world arena, judo has become the third highest ranking sport in the Olympic Games, just behind athletics and swimming.
Judo was built on a foundation of honour and during this year’s celebrations I’d like to see all those that are connected to the sport, directly or indirectly, continue to honor the precepts and foundation on which this noble sport was built. I’d also like to call on all judokas in Guyana to instill the quality of dignity and honor acquired from the training they would have received from their involvement in the sport as honour is the most single variable to achieving goals in the sport.
Raoul Archer (President Guyana Judo Association)