1999 – Canada is hosting the first edition of the World Master athlete Judo Championships. The Canadian creation was managed by Liz Roach from Ontario and travelled around the world for 12 years.

 

Excerpt from the book Judoka, The History of Judo in Canada, 2019:

 

« 1998 was also the year when the first International Masters Winter Games were held, in Ottawa. Elizabeth (Liz) Roach (1934-2018) was a part of the 4-member team who decided judo should have its own tournament, and that’s how the World Masters Judo

 

Championships were born. The WMJC then travelled around the world for 12 years, writing another page in judo history, touching numerous lives, creating good memories and lifelong friendships. They were where “Judo for life” took all its meaning. Individual, team and kata events were part of the program.

 

The Canadian creation was managed by Liz Roach and travelled the world between 1999 and 2012: 12 events in 8 countries. 1999 (Welland, ON), 2000 (Sydney, NS), 2005 (Mississauga, ON) and 2010 (Montreal, QC) editions were held in Canada. It’s worth noting that the 2003 edition was held in the mythical Kodokan, in Japan, and the 2008 edition in Brussels had a record number of participants: 1269. The WMJC became the organization recognized by the international judo community as the official authority who could grant the Kata and Veteran World Champion titles.

 

The IJF, under Marius Vizer, elected in 2007, quickly understood the potential of katas and veterans. In 2009, in Sindenfilgen, in Germany, was organized the first World Veteran Championship sanctioned by the IJF. The following year, in 2010, the second edition was held in Budapest, and kata events were added to the program. Slowly but surely, the IJF attracted the participants of the WMJC, and after a request from Marius Vizer, Liz Roach decided to close down the WMJC.

 

When Liz Roach died, Mr. Vizer and the IJF publicly recognized her contribution: