Combine fighting and training at the International Belgian Adidas Judo Open in Herstal-Visé

The best hub for Paris is as usual the "International Belgian Adidas Judo Open" held in Visé and Herstal. Since last year the Federation took the organization of the women’s tournament in Herstal in own hand and simultaneously organised the men’s tournament in Visé. Both events are followed by an international training camp in 2020 in Herstal.

The outstanding hall in Herstal where many international judo events were held is the perfect venue to host the international training camp  where last year also a strong team of Russia made its preparation for Paris.

As usual the French men in Vise are always strong and last year the women of the Netherlands captured three gold medals. Herstal is also a tournament where the challengers of 2020 will appear. Top talents from the Western European nations mix with those of Canada, Argentina, Russia and Japan. Some of those go to Paris to fight, some also go to the international training camp after the Paris tournament. Belgium as a host counts on more than 500 registered athletes from over 30 countries with huge teams from France, the Netherlands, Germany and of course Belgium. Super talent mixed with World class athletes.

Belgium that had an excellent year with a season opening of Jorre Verstraeten with gold in Tel Aviv in the week in advance of Visé. Also Sami Chouchi took bronze in Tel Aviv, both from the Fédération Francophone Belge de Judo. Matthias Casse had an excellent year with three international bronze medals at Grand Prix and Grand Slam level and of course the final of the World Championships in Tokyo. Charline van Snick, Toma Nikiforov, Kenneth van Gansbeke all took medals in the IJF World Tour.

The European title of Matthias Casse was the highlight at the European Games. One day earlier Jorre Verstraeten captured a bronze medal in his weihgt class U60kg. Both athletes were invited at the Royal Palace in November.

In Visé and Herstal traditionally teams from Pan America are welcomed in Belgium with already confirmed participation from Argentina, Cuba and Canada. The Canadians have a tremendous team for both men and women and booked world class results in 2019 with its first world champion for Canada in Christa Deguchi and two finals between Deguchi and Klimkait.

Like last year likely also teams from Africa will prepare in Belgium will be coming from Congo, Morocco, Angola and Mauritius.

The registration is open and the organization invites all teams to prepare at the International Belgian adidas Judo Open for both men and women and join the EJU Training Camp in Herstal, taking place directly after the both tournaments.

In the past, future Olympic champions such as Lukas Krpalek, Giuseppe Maddaloni, Kenzo Nakamura and Aurelio Miguel started in Visé. Also strong Japanese who later won Olympic medals won gold in Belgium such as Hisayoshi Harasawa or Cubans Asley Gonzalez and Oscar Brayson set the preparation in the fifth week of the year.

Join the International Belgian adidas Judo Open in Visé (men) and Herstal (women) at 1-2 February followed by the TC at 3-6 February 2020.

The podiums are awarded with prize money and great prizes.