In 1951 Judo administrators from Great Britain, Italy, The Netherlands and Switzerland gathered to form the European Judo Union (EJU). When EJU leaders met in London, Austria joined the organisation as well. Inclusion of judo in the Olympic Games was first mentioned in this meeting. Young French publisher Henry D. Plee suggested that he print a translation of the Kodokan’s monthly magazine in English and French; the EJU agreed to make it an official organ of the EJU.

The EJU consists of 50 national Judo federations/associations, and is itself recognised by the IJF as one of five continental unions. The organisation of the administration of Judo is based on a pyramid system of regulations, with the IJF the world governing body, the EJU the European governing body and national Judo associations the governing bodies at domestic level.

Major European Judo Stars

Women Alina Dumitru, Romania, U48kg, 2008 Olympic Champion Natalia Kuzyutina, Russia, U52kg Telma Monteiro

Telma Monteiro

Telma Monteiro is a Portuguese judoka from the city of Almada. She is currently in the number two spot on the world ranking list. She is also a multi-time medal winner in both World and European Championships and Cups. She won silver medals in the last European and World Championships.Since July...

, Portugal, U57kg, triple vice-world champion Elisabeth Willeboordse, Netherlands, U63kg Lucie Decosse

Lucie Décosse

Lucie Décosse is a female French judoka.-Medals:She won several gold medals:* 2002: European Championships* 2005: World Championships* 2007: European Championships* 2010: World Championships...

, France, U70kg, current World Champion Abigel Joo, Hungary, U78kg Lucija Polavder, Slovenia, +78kg

Men Georgii Zantaraia, Ukraine, U60kg, 2009 World Champion Sugoi Uriarte, Spain, U66kg Joao Pina

João Pina

João Pina is a Portuguese judoka. He is the current European champion in the under-73 kg category, having revalidated his European title at the 2011 European Judo Championships, held in Istambul, Turkey.-Achievements:...

, Portugal, U73kg Ivan Nifontov, Russia, U81kg, 2009 World Champion Ilias Iliadis, Greece, U90kg, current World Champion Elco van der Geest, Belgium, U100kg Teddy Riner

Teddy Riner

Teddy Riner is a French judoka. He's and and has been given the nickames Teddy Bear and Teddy Winner. At 18 years and 5 months Teddy Riner became the youngest world champion of the history of his sport. To date, he holds an unmatched record of six world titles obtained in the +100kg, Men's Team...

, France, +100kg, current World Champion

Most successful European female judoka

Edith Hrovath, Austria, 8 European titles Angelique Seriese

Angelique Seriese

Angelique Elisabeth Seriese is a former Dutch judoka, who became world champion in the 78 kg category at the 1995 World Judo Championships....

, Netherlands, 8 Ulla Werbrouck

Ulla Werbrouck

Ulla Werbrouck is a Belgian politician and former judoka.At the 1996 Summer Olympics, she won the gold medal in the women's half-heavyweight category. In January 2007, she joined the newly-established right-liberal List Dedecker party and in June 2007, she was elected member of the Belgian Chamber...

, Belgium, 7 Gella Vandecaveye

Gella Vandecaveye

Gella Vandecaveye is a judoka from Belgium.At the 1996 Summer Olympics she won the silver medal in the women's half-middleweight category. Four years later, at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, she captured a second medal: a bronze one in the same category...

, Belgium, 7 Isabel Fernandez, Spain, 6 Alina Dumitru, Romania, 6

Most successful European male judoka

Anton Geesink

Anton Geesink

Antonius "Anton" Johannes Geesink was a Dutch 10th-dan judoka from Utrecht. He was a three-time World Judo Champion , Olympic Gold Medalist and won 21 European championships...

, 21 European titles Willem Ruska

Wim Ruska

Willem Ruska is a retired judoka from the Netherlands.During his career in the 1960s and 1970s he won seven European titles, five in the +93kg category and two in the open category . He furthermore won two world titles and two Olympic titles...

, Netherlands, 7 Tamerlan Tmenov

Tamerlan Tmenov

-Achievements:-References:* on JudoInside.com* -External links:* on judovision.org...

, Russia, 7 Mark Huizinga

Mark Huizinga

Mark Huizinga is a Dutch judoka and Olympic champion.Huizinga was born in Vlaardingen, Zuid-Holland in Netherlands in 1973. He won the gold medal in the men's under 90 kg class at the 2000 Summer Olympics by defeating Brazil's Carlos Honorato by ippon. He took bronze at the 1996 and 2004...

, Netherlands, 5 Alexander Mikhailin

Aleksandr Mikhailine

Aleksandr Mikhailine is a Russian judoka.-Achievements:-References:* on JudoInside.com* on Judovision.org...

, Russia, 5 Neil Adams, Great Britain, 5 Jean De Herdt, France, 5

Presidents of the EJU

Mr. Jaap Nauwelaerts D'Agé, Netherlands, 1952-1957 Mr. H. Frantzen, Germany, 1957-1960 Mr. A.J. Ertel, France, 1960-1984 Mr. Kurt Kucera, Austria, 1984-1996 Mr. Frans Hoogendijk, Netherlands, 1996-2000 Mr. Marius Vizér, Romania, 2000-2007 Mr. Sergey Soloveychik, Russia, 2007-present