British ColumbiaAfter moving his family to the Fraser Valley from Ukraine, Maksym Kovalov enrolled his son in free judo classes for newcomers. Nothing, he says, makes him happier than seeing his eight-year-old son rolling on the mats at the Abbotsford Judo Club. Kids from around the world learn judo in a low-barrier settingKier Junos · CBC News · Posted: Dec 01, 2025 9:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 5 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.A student in the Judo-4-All program executes a judo throw on his sensei at the Abbotsford Judo Club on Nov. 27, 2025. (Kier Junos/CBC)When Maksym Kovalov sees his eight-year-old son Boris rolling and running on the mats at the Abbotsford Judo Club, he says he could not be happier.“When I see my son happy at the judo, this is the best feeling, probably, for dad,” Kovalov said.Kovalov moved his family to the Fraser Valley from Ukraine in Janurary 2023 because of the war. His son, along with dozens of newcomers to Canada are enrolled in free classes at the Abbotsford Judo Club, part of a program called Judo-4-All.Boris Kovalov, 8, has been practising judo for about two years. He has a yellow belt with one black stripe at the Abbotsford Judo Club. (Kier Junos/CBC)Boris, who has a yellow belt with a stripe, said one of his favourite parts of the classes is the “randori.”“It’s kind of a free fighting,” he said.Besides the randori, Boris said he loves the dodgeball game played with an exercise ball at the end of the class.Students dodge an exercise ball during a Judo-4-All class on Nov. 27. (Kier Junos/CBC)Layton Keely, the club’s head instructor, said the program is funded in part by the federal government and Judo Canada.“We’ve been able to offer it for the past two and a half years,” Keely said. “It allows newcomers to Canada and their families to access judo classes free of charge. We also give them uniforms.”Students ages five to 14 learn many important judo basics, from how to fall to properly to avoid injury to basic judo throws.A judo student prepares to throw Layton Keely, head instructor at the Abbotsford Judo Club, on Nov. 27. (Kier Junos/CBC)The low-barrier nature of the program means kids with different ability levels are able to participate.“My son … he has autism,” said Iryna Bondar, who came to Canada from Ukraine three years ago.“I see how judo helps him to understand himself, his body and society more.”A new Canadian homeKeely said many of the students in the program are from Ukraine.Kovalov said it was difficult to leave his country, but he has found a new community in the Fraser Valley and connection with other Ukrainians who made the move.“Of course we do miss our country. And right now we feel like it became a new home for us, Canada,” said Kovalov.“And also to be a part of community — it’s really important, especially for new immigrants just like us.” Parents watch their kids during a judo class at the Abbotsford Judo Club on Nov. 25. (Kier Junos/CBC)Coach Keely said the discipline and moral code he learned within the sport when he was a beginner is something he’s passing onto the young students of today.“Judo is a combat sport — we’re fighting. But it always begins and ends with a bow, showing respect to your partner,” Keely said.“That’s kind of part of what judo is — taking care of each other and the community around you.”ABOUT THE AUTHORKier is an award-winning journalist reporting from CBC’s Fraser Valley bureau in Abbotsford.
New Canadians find community in Abbotsford at free kids judo classes
