Judofun is an adult Judo club in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, led by Yossi Abramovitz. The club welcomes adults of all levels, from complete beginners to experienced judoka returning after a break. Training emphasizes fundamentals, technique, fitness, standing and ground work, randori, and personal development in a professional and friendly atmosphere.

Judofun grew out of a personal need identified by Yossi Abramovitz. After completing his chapter as a competitive athlete and member of Israel's national Judo team, he looked for a place where he could continue practicing Judo as an adult. After trying several alternatives and training at different clubs, he did not find a program and atmosphere designed for adults who wanted to keep training and developing without competition being the main objective. In 2001, he therefore founded Judofun as a place where he and other judoka could continue learning, training and developing for many years in a professional, mature and social environment.

Judofun trains at the Ramat Aviv HaYaroka Community Center, 37 Haim Levanon Street, Tel Aviv-Yafo, in the heart of Ramat Aviv HaYaroka in north Tel Aviv.

The classes are designed for adults who want to learn Judo, improve their fitness and train in a professional and social setting. They are suitable for complete beginners, experienced practitioners and judoka returning to the mat after a break.

Yes. Judo can suit adults of different ages and fitness levels. Judo founder Jigoro Kano viewed Judo not only as a competitive sport, but also as a method of physical education, development of body and mind, and self-improvement. One of his central principles is Seiryoku-Zenyo (精力善用), commonly understood as the most efficient and effective use of physical and mental energy. This philosophy supports training that can be adapted to a person's age, ability and goals. At Judofun, training intensity, randori, standing work and ground work are adjusted to experience and ability.

Yes. Adults can start Judo with no previous experience. At Judofun, beginners receive personal guidance and gradually learn Judo fundamentals, movement, breakfalls, grips, standing techniques and ground work.

No. You do not need a high level of fitness to begin. Training can gradually develop fitness, strength, endurance, coordination and movement according to your individual ability. New practitioners can progress at a pace that suits them.

Judofun is not focused on competitive sport. The emphasis is on Judo fundamentals, technique, physical fitness, standing and ground randori, learning and personal development. Practitioners can enjoy the depth and challenge of Judo without competition being the purpose of their training.

Absolutely. Judofun also welcomes judoka returning after many years away from training. The return is gradual and takes into account fitness, previous experience and each practitioner's individual pace.

In most cases, a returning judoka can retain the belt and grade previously earned and does not need to start again simply because several years have passed since the last training period. Each case is, of course, considered individually according to the practitioner's background, grade and previous experience.

Progress through Judo grades is based on experience, consistency, technical ability and knowledge of the techniques and principles required at each level. At Judofun, belt progression follows the guidelines of the Israel Judo Association. Advanced grades, including brown and black belts, are handled in accordance with the requirements and procedures of the Association's grading committee.

Training includes Judo fundamentals, movement, breakfalls, gripping, throws, standing techniques, ground work and randori. Alongside technique, practitioners work on fitness, strength, coordination, timing and movement.

Randori (Japanese: 乱取り) is free practice in which two judoka attempt to apply Judo techniques against genuine but controlled resistance. Unlike predetermined technical practice, randori requires practitioners to respond to each other's movement and changing situations, using throws, grips and ground techniques. Randori is a central element of Judo training and develops technique, timing, reactions, balance and decision-making. Judofun includes both standing and ground randori according to the practitioner's level and experience.

The Judo training uniform is called a Judogi (柔道着), often shortened informally to 'gi'. It consists of a strong jacket, trousers and a belt. Its durable fabric is designed for the gripping, pulling and throwing that are central to Judo training.

The main equipment is a Judo uniform (Judogi) and belt. Beginners at Judofun do not need to buy a uniform immediately and can borrow a Judogi when starting out. This allows new practitioners to try the training and get to know Judo before purchasing their own equipment.

Judo and BJJ share historical roots and many related techniques, and both include significant ground work involving control, pins and submissions. A key difference is emphasis: Judo places major importance on standing work, gripping and throws, while BJJ generally devotes a larger proportion of training to ground fighting. Ground work can be particularly suitable, technical and enjoyable for adult practitioners. For this reason, Judofun places special emphasis on Ne-waza, Judo ground work, alongside Judo's standing and throwing techniques.

Judo and Aikido are Japanese martial arts with shared themes such as partner practice, movement, balance and efficient use of force. Their training emphasis, however, is different. Judo is also an Olympic and competitive sport, so training includes practice against resistance, randori, throws and ground work within defined sporting rules. Aikido has different training objectives and generally places greater emphasis on movement, redirection and control in a non-competitive framework. They are distinct disciplines with rich traditions, and many practitioners find value and interest in both.

Yes. Judo combines strength, endurance, movement, coordination, balance and whole-body activity. Training combines varied physical exercise with the development of skill and technique.

Yes. You do not need to compete to enjoy Judo. It is suitable for adults looking for an interesting and varied way to improve fitness, strength, coordination and movement while learning a new skill.

Judofun is an adult group emphasizing fundamentals, fitness, standing and ground randori, with personal guidance for beginners. Judofun Seniors is the club's long-established adult group, running for 25 years and intended for practitioners with previous Judo experience.

The Judofun group trains twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays from 20:00 to 22:00.

Judofun Seniors trains on Tuesdays from 20:00 to 22:00 and on Fridays from 15:00 to 17:00.

Judofun is led by Yossi Abramovitz, a 4th Dan Judo black belt and a certified instructor from the Wingate Institute. Yossi was a member of Israel's national Judo team and also served as manager of Israel's national Judo teams. He has decades of experience coaching children, teenagers and adults, allowing him to work with both first-time beginners and experienced judoka.

Ten useful terms are: Dojo (道場) – the training place; Judogi (柔道着) – the Judo uniform; Tatami (畳) – the training mat; Rei (礼) – bow; Ukemi (受身) – breakfall techniques; Tori (取り) – the practitioner performing a technique; Uke (受け) – the practitioner receiving the technique; Nage-waza (投技) – throwing techniques; Ne-waza (寝技) – ground techniques; and Randori (乱取り) – free practice against controlled resistance. Beginners do not need to know these terms in advance; they are learned naturally during training.

Newcomers are welcome to contact Judofun to ask about joining and attending a first session. A first session is an opportunity to meet the group and coach and experience the training style before deciding whether to continue.

An adult-focused Judo group allows practitioners to train with people who have similar goals and pace. At Judofun, the emphasis is on professional training, personal development, fitness, technique and a mature training community.

To join Judofun or learn more about adult Judo training in Ramat Aviv, contact Judofun through the club website. You can ask which group is most suitable, confirm training times and arrange a first session.