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The story of Joseph Lev is an extraordinary one:

Joseph Lev was born in Jerusalem on August 10, 1939. In 1952, at the age of 12.5 he was totally paralyzed by Polio. At the age of 17, he joined the first Judo group in Israel, founded towards the end of 1958. After one month of just watching the lessons he was permitted to join the training. First he concentrated on ground techniques only (Ne Waza), but later on he was training on all other Judo techniques, and reached a black belt 5^th Dan. Through the years, Joseph practiced other Marshal Arts as well.

 In 1972 he formed the first organized Judo and Self-Defense groups for the disabled and blind. In 1974 he wrote the first set of Judo contest rules for the blind. The same year, during the European Judo championship in Tel Aviv, in an unforgettable Judo demonstration Joseph Lev presented his pioneer work with I.D.F. war disabled veterans and other disabled people.

 During the year of 1976, Joseph served as the president of the Israel Judo committee in the Israel Sport Federation. He was known for his initiative and contribution to the field of Judo and Self-Defense in Israel.

 On May 15, 1978, Joseph organized the first National Judo Championship for the blind in Israel. In August 18, 1978, he established the Israel Judo, Self-Defense and Sport Association for the Handicapped, Visually Handicapped and Blind.

 On April 1977 Joseph went on a tour in Europe, giving lectures and demonstrations on the topic of Judo for the disabled. Helping him with the demonstration were one amputee and one blind Judoka. Lev continued to teach his methods of working with the disabled both in Israel and in Europe. During October 1988 he gave an international course for Marshal Arts trainers in Belgium.

 In December 1978 the late Professor Sir Ludwig Guttman, president and founder of the I.S.O.D. (International Sport Organization for the Disabled), visited Israel and observed the Judo activities. Following this visit Sir Guttman committed to arrange an official Judo demonstration in the next Olympic Games for the disabled. This was successfully implemented by Joseph in July 1980 in the Olympic Games in Holland.

 Since then, a lot of work was done by Joseph, not only by developing the field of Judo for the disabled but also in all sports for people with different kinds of disabilities.

The results of Joseph work and innovative plans of activities for people with limitations in the community were most successful and gained wide recognition.

The sports model that he planed and implemented in Jerusalem is used today as a model for other cities.

 In 1995 the Municipality of sports authorities and the municipality of Jerusalem elected Joseph the best employee of the year. In 1996 he received additional awards from the President of Israel, among them the prize of the best employee in the Israeli civil services.

 Today Joseph works in "Shekel" (Community Services for the Disabled), teaching and qualifying sports trainers for population with special needs, heading the national professional committee of BUDO - Marshal Arts - for the disabled and Special Olympics Judo committee, a member of I.F.A.P.A. (International Federation of Adopted Physical Activities) board and lately served as the chairman of I.S.T (the Israel Sport Therapy Association).

 Joseph has several publications in the field, including:

-           "Torat Ha'Judo" - the first modern methodical Judo book in Hebrew, published 1972.

-            "Judo and Self-Defense for the Disabled" - a unique book in this field, published in English, 1986.

-           Various articles in Hebrew, English and German dealing with sports, Judo and self-defense for the disabled.

Written by Joseph Lev