Rio2016 : One year later

Geraldo Bernardes is a Judo master and has practiced the sport since he was 15 years old. His training was hidden from his parents, who only discovered his skill when he appeared on a televised demonstration. Once retired as trainer of the Brazilian national judo team, Geraldo decided to break ties with the elite of the sport to devote himself to working closely with the communities of Rio de Janerio. Now, at 74 years old, he is the founder and a coach at Instituto Reação, a training center located right outside of Rio, close to the well known City of God favela.  Its slogan is “Formando faixas pretas dentro e fora do tatame” that means: forming black stripes on and off the mat. Their objective is not to focus on winning competitions, but on the education that practicing a sport entails.

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Instituto Reação was also the training center of part of the Refugee team that competed in Rio 2016.