The Judo Encyclopedia was born out of a passion for judo and a strong desire to share knowledge within the judo community. It began as a modest knowledge bank filled with information for judo practitioners and teachers, and has since grown into a comprehensive and structured online platform.
In the early stages, the encyclopedia mainly focused on explaining techniques and grading requirements. Over time, this expanded to include videos, educational methods, historical background, and valuable contributions from other judoka and teachers across the country.
Recognition and Growth
In 2024, the Judo Encyclopedia was nominated for – and won – the Sport-ID Award of the Municipality of Doetinchem. This award recognises innovative and impactful sports initiatives that contribute to community building and knowledge sharing.
This milestone confirms the value of the encyclopedia, not just as a source of information, but as a living platform that continues to evolve.
A National Judo Community
The project has sparked the creation of a growing Judo Encyclopedia Community. More than 100 passionate and skilled judo teachers from across the Netherlands have joined forces to share expertise, record videos, and work on educational innovations together.
These teachers collaborate through:
- WhatsApp groups
- Knowledge exchanges
- Filming sessions for grading and teaching materials
- Community-driven challenges and assignments
- This grassroots network has become a source of inspiration and professional development for many within Dutch judo.
The Future of the Encyclopedia
The Judo Encyclopedia continues to evolve every month, with:
- New technical videos
- Clear explanations of grading criteria
- Methodological insights
- Contributions from a wide variety of judo schools
- We aim to offer even more in English so that judoka worldwide can benefit from the collective knowledge we’ve built in the Netherlands.
Thank You All!
As with any great achievement, it cannot be done alone. Collaboration makes us stronger. Thank you for your help and support over the past years:
- Tanja Holtermann – Grammar and language review
- Mark Swanborn – Uke & Tori in photos
- Larissa Pasman – Text contributions
- Luna Loeven – Text contributions
- Hinako Akiyama 秋山日向子 – Sensei at Kodokan – Technique and kanji review
- Richard de Bijl – Technical insights and knowledge
- Ivor Hiltop – Grammar and Japanese language accuracy
- Peter Vleerbos – Various written contributions
- Charles Keijzer – Photography
- Wouter te Witt – Website, poster & banner design
Together, we’re building something that strengthens the judo world—step by step.
Initiator and Editor-in-Chief
The driving force behind the Judo Encyclopedia is Thijs Holtermann, founder of Judo School JINDO and holder of the 5th dan in judo. As an experienced judo and jiu-jitsu teacher, Thijs has a deep passion for martial arts and lifelong learning.
His mission: to make the essence of judo accessible, insightful and inspiring—both in the Netherlands and beyond.
Through this project, Thijs not only collects knowledge, but actively connects judoka, teachers and schools in a growing international community.
