TANZANIA is set to host this year's edition of the International Judo Club Championships in Dar es Salaam, scheduled for December 4-9, according to an announcement by Innocent Mallya, President of the Judo Association of Tanzania (JATA).

Mallya revealed that invitations have been extended to all African judo associations through the Africa Judo Federation, marking the sixth time Tanzania will host the prestigious event. 

Previous editions were held in 2011, 2015, 2018, 2020, and 2022.

This year, Tanzania will be represented by ten clubs from the Mainland, as well as additional clubs from Zanzibar. 

Mallya named the participating Mainland clubs as Prison, Police, Jeshi, Stars, JKT, Kinondoni, Kisutu, Budokani, Korogwe, Flamingo, and Okapi.

Judo, a modern Japanese martial art and combat sport, has been an Olympic discipline since 1964. 

Developed in 1882 by Kanō Jigorō, judo is distinguished from its martial art predecessors through its emphasis on grappling and throwing techniques.

The sport gained prominence after judo schools dominated established jujutsu schools in tournaments hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. As a result, judo became the primary martial art for the Tokyo police force.

Judo practitioners are called "judoka," and they wear a uniform known as "judogi." In competitive judo, the objective is to throw or pin the opponent, or force submission via a joint lock or choke. While strikes and weapons are part of certain pre-arranged forms (kata), they are not trained for or allowed in competition.

The sport is governed internationally by the International Judo Federation (IJF), and top athletes compete in the IJF professional circuit.

With Tanzania preparing to host the championships once again, the event promises to showcase the best of African judo talent and bolster the sport's growth in the region.