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Judo star Joshiro Maruyama joins Swiss school as coach
🇨🇭 Switzerland /Culture & Society

Judo star Joshiro Maruyama joins Swiss school as coach

From Le Temps · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Former double world judo champion Joshiro Maruyama has been hired as a coach by Ecole Mont-Olivet, a private school in Switzerland.
  • The school integrated judo into its curriculum in 2022, aiming to instill values like respect, discipline, and perseverance in students.
  • Maruyama, described as the "Zidane of judo," is expected to inspire young athletes and contribute to the school's educational philosophy through sport.

Joshiro Maruyama, a judo athlete often compared to football legend Zinedine Zidane for his exceptional skill and elegance, has taken on a new role as a coach at Ecole Mont-Olivet, a private institution in Switzerland's Vaud region. Maruyama, a retired two-time world champion, brings his renowned expertise to the educational setting, aiming to inspire a new generation of young individuals.

Ecole Mont-Olivet introduced judo into its academic schedule in 2022. The school's director, Christophe Santschi, explained that judo was chosen for its ability to impart core values essential for student development. "We were looking for the ideal sport to transmit common values to our students," Santschi stated. "And there are not so many sports that integrate as well into an educational program as judo, which, in essence, was created to educate young people. That was the idea of its founder, Jigoro Kano."

We were looking for the ideal sport to transmit common values to our students. And there are not so many sports that integrate as well into an educational program as judo, which, in essence, was created to educate young people.

— Christophe SantschiDirector of Ecole Mont-Olivet, explaining the rationale behind introducing judo into the school's curriculum.

The school emphasizes that its judo program is not focused on creating elite athletes but rather on education through sport. The fundamental principles of judo, respect, discipline, self-control, perseverance, and self-improvement, are utilized to foster personal growth and, consequently, academic success. This approach aligns with the original philosophy of judo's founder, who envisioned the martial art as a tool for character development.

Maruyama's appointment signifies the school's commitment to integrating high-caliber athletic mentorship into its educational framework. His presence is expected to significantly enhance the judo program and provide students with a unique opportunity to learn from a world-class athlete who embodies the discipline and philosophy of the sport.

In our school, it is really not about making our students champions. We are not in sports-studies but in education through sport.

— Christophe SantschiClarifying the educational focus of the judo program at Ecole Mont-Olivet.
About this summary

Originally published by Le Temps in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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