UJKC Potsdam is crowned German Judo Champion for the first time!

UJKC Potsdam is crowned German Judo Champion for the first time!

The judo world in Brandenburg has gained another chapter. The UJKC Potsdam won the final on October 26, 2025 Judo Bundesliga won the first German men's championship title in Wuppertal, defeating the defending champions Remscheider TV 8:6. A truly historic moment for the club and the city!

Overall, UJKC Potsdam managed to win the league finals for the first time at the seventh attempt. The team had previously been in the semi-finals six times and had come home with bronze several times. As northern relay champions, the team went into the final with a lot of momentum after they also defeated southern runner-up JSV Speyer 8:6 in the semifinals.

The exciting competition

The excitement at the final was palpable. After the first round, the Potsdam team led 4:3. The victories of Martin Setz, Tim Gramkow, Tim Schmidt and Ivaylo Ivanov brought the decisive score at the break. At the end of the second round, Noel Schmidt, Tim Schmidt, Krisztian Toth and Ivaylo Ivanov were able to take over the direction and thus secure the title. It was a real thriller as Remscheid's Balabay Aghayev initially equalized and Anthony Zigg did the same. But Tim Schmidt and Krisztian Toth gave their team the necessary lead, while Ivaylo Ivanov took the last point to win the championship. With a score of 8:6, Potsdam was happy!

Potsdam is now the second club from Brandenburg to win the men's Judo Bundesliga, after JC 90 Frankfurt (Oder), which won the title in 1992, 1998 and 1999. Clubs from Brandenburg also shine among women, including PSG Dynamo Brandenburg and UJKC Potsdam, with a number of championship titles.

A look at the league

The Judo Bundesliga, founded in 1956 and organized under the umbrella of the German Judo Federation, is not only one of the most renowned judo leagues in Germany, but also offers exciting competition between the participating teams. In the current season, 16 teams are active in the men's league, divided into north and south groups, with the two best teams qualifying for the final round.

In the recent past, the league has undergone some reforms to further professionalize the sport. The reforms of the last few years have modernized the structure of the league and increased its attractiveness for spectators and athletes. Now the latest developments and successes of teams like Potsdam can go down in the history of the league!

With the title win, Potsdam is now also in the spotlight for international competitions, as the champion team will represent Germany in the European Cup. In addition to this great achievement, the goal remains to be successful on the national and international stage in the future.

It remains exciting to see how UJKC Potsdam will develop in the coming seasons and whether the team will be able to defend this success.