Judo For 3 Year Olds? 126 Most Correct Answers

I may earn commissions if you click on my links and make purchases. However, this does not affect my reviews and comparisons. I try my best to keep things fair and balanced to help you make the best choice for you.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Judo 4 Kids is an eight-hour introductory program that combines fun and physical activity for children with learning of basic judo techniques, terminology and values; including friendship and respect that will accompany them throughout their lives. Judo 4 Kids is a fun and enjoyable way for children to learn judo and reap the various social, physical and mental benefits that this great Olympic sport can offer. Judo has a strong moral culture that can enrich children’s lives from the mat to everyday life. In each lesson, participants will learn various judo terminologies in the Japanese language, as well as judo techniques and skills through integrated gameplay. The program is intended to offer children of all skill levels the opportunity to gain successful initial judo experience in a club or school.

To get involved with Judo 4 Kids, please contact your responsible Member State:

Judo Australia (JA) has partnered with the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) to provide tax deductible contributions to the Judo4Kids project. Due to ASF’s deductible gift recipient status, all donations over $2 made to this project are tax deductible.

Judo is an inclusive and engaging sport that is suitable for people of all ages and abilities. Judo is also one of the safest contact sports for children and the best initial training sport for children and young people aged 4-21. Judo Australia together with our Member States and affiliated club networks are able to provide regular competitive and recreational opportunities for all in the club environment.​ Judo4Kids is an introductory program combining fun and physical activity for children with learning of basic Judo techniques, terminology and -values ​​combined; including friendship and respect that will accompany them throughout their lives. Judo has a strong moral culture that can enrich children’s lives from the mat to everyday life. Judo4Kids is a fun and entertaining way for children to learn judo and reap the various social, physical and mental benefits that this great Olympic sport can offer. Judo4Kids was launched in 2018 and Judo Australia is now raising funds to grow and expand this program to include as many Australian children as possible. The collected donations support the development and expansion of the Judo4Kids program. By expanding our program to more schools and clubs, we can attract more children to sport and provide them with a safe and healthy activity. The importance of grassroots sport is crucial to enable children to develop healthily later in life. Your donation to Judo Australia’s Judo4Kids program gives children the opportunity to participate in our sport and helps promote an active lifestyle.

Many people at 59 are thinking about relaxation and looking forward to retirement. However, for Scotsman William Burt, he decided to start a new sport and study judo.

“I’ve been studying judo for five years now, I started judo in May 2014 initially to get myself back to a reasonable level of fitness and to lose weight.”

“I used to be fairly fit and had good fitness until my early 50s, but after my early retirement at 52 I became a couch potato! I started karate as a teenager, up to the brown belt, but after breaking my wrist I took up long-distance running before moving on to strength training and five-a-side soccer. But seven years of inactivity took its toll.”

“I think I was attracted to judo compared to these other exercises because of the concept of using the opponent’s weight against them, the friendliness of the judoka in the class and their willingness to help me and pass on knowledge.”

“Four of my grandchildren are learning judo and I’ve been to most of the competitions to see them, so I decided to get into the sport and that’s where my judo journey began.”

“I can still remember the face of Tayside Judo head coach Andy McInroy when I showed up at the club and said I wanted to start judo at the age of 59. He looked at me (5’4″ and 99.5 kg) and said, “REALLY?”

“I started out under a top-notch trainer, Scott Malone, and the ever-watchful eye of Andy ‘Mac’ as we call him! I won’t pretend that starting judo at 59 was easy, in fact it was quite a challenge, but after great coaching and Andy advising me to sit outside when needed, my judo and fitness leveled up training sessions twice a week. A session was held at Perth High School where I was introduced to two brilliant young coaches, David Scobbie and Aiden Moffat from British Judo who now also attend the Dundee classes. Attending the two courses improved my training, judo, fitness and general health to no end and by 2016 I had passed my brown belt and was ready to compete.”

“I started my judo journey at 99.5kg and now I went to my first competition, the 2016 British Masters Championships to compete at M7 -73kg. I won gold!”

“On the morning of February 7, 2017, I was not feeling well at all and I knew something was wrong. It turned out that an artery had ruptured near my heart and a blood clot from it had penetrated my heart and stopped it – I was having a heart attack! After being stabilized in coronary care, I asked the cardiologist if it was my fault and if all the exercise at my age caused the fracture. He said, “No, not at all, whatever you’re doing, keep going, your fitness actually saved you.” Judo helped save my life!’

“After my heart attack in 2017, I just wanted to make it onto the mat in Cardiff for the British Masters. I was privileged to face the very impressive Chris Doherty in the Finals and managed to defeat my 2016 opponent, Irish Masters Champion Manus O’Donnell en route to winning the Silver. I remember waiting to hit the mat at the British Masters in Thetford in 2018 and numerous players wishing me good luck. It was only after the fight that I realized my opponent Steve Ashford had won the British title ten times and was also a Commonwealth gold medalist! Sharing a mat and fighting with these men was an honor and a privilege.”

“I fought a two-time veteran sambo world champion at the Senior European Championships at Emirates Stadium in Glasgow, unfortunately I didn’t win a medal, but what an experience!”

It’s been quite a journey for William, but what does the future hold?

“I haven’t won any major competitions this year as I am currently training for a September veteran rating. My goal is to achieve my Dan degree before or during 2020 as I will be 65 years old. I passed the theory, so I’m already halfway with 50 points, so I hope I can fulfill my ambition by then!

“I think judo is a great way to get fit and healthy at any age. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done and I love it. You will meet new friends who are tough, loyal and dedicated. Becoming a part of the Judo family is an honor and you can improve your fitness both physically and mentally. Sometimes I’m really inspired in training by people like Gordon Swan, a 3rd dan in his mid 50’s recovering from double hip surgery and a 3rd dan player who is in her 70’s – we call her Sensei Maz and she trains twice a week. Both inspire and motivate me.

If you have an inspirational story you would like to share please email [email protected] and you could also be featured on our website.

We are now just a few days away from the Rio Olympics. With 39 different sports, there is something for everyone.

One of the lesser known competitions is judo. The martial art has close ties to another discipline that originated in host country Brazil.

At McVicker Martial Arts in Terre Haute, students are introduced to the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The focus is on grappling and ground fighting. Judo has its roots in Jiu-Jitsu. But the techniques are a bit different.

“In judo they actually place a little more emphasis on throwing than in jiu-jitsu, and in judo you can win with one throw. But you can’t do that in jiu-jitsu,” said Jack McVicker, owner of McVicker Martial Arts.

Jiu-Jitsu is a form of martial arts. It’s geared toward grappling techniques like choke holds and armlocks.

“A lot of judo people train jiu-jitsu, and a lot of jiu-jitsu people actually cross-train and do some judo for their sport. You might like one more than the other, but they actually go really well together. The rules are just a little bit different. It would be like playing flag football and playing tackle. They’re a little bit different, but it’s still the football game,” McVicker added.

In every sport there has to be a winner. In jiu-jitsu, you win when your opponent taps or you have the most points, which are awarded through various moves and styles throughout the fight. In judo, the fight could end a little faster.

“It’s called ‘Osaekomi.’ If you keep them pressed for 25 seconds, the fight in judo can be won by a pin. Or by a throw. A full throw where most of the back hits,” explained McVicker.

Jack McVicker’s students get involved in the sport of jiu-jitsu for a number of reasons: to learn self-defense, to learn something new, or even to lose weight. Nine months ago, Krista Ferando walked into Jack’s store for the first time. Since then, she’s undergone quite a transformation…lost 70 pounds!

“Actually, I didn’t want to go to the gym. I was bored trying to run and lift weights. I googled McVicker Martial Arts. I don’t even know why. I have a friend who does jiu-jitsu in Florida and I thought I’d give it a try,” Krista said.

Now, along with other classmates, she takes part in national competitions. All because of a decision she made almost a year ago. And it’s safe to say that Jiu-Jitsu certainly levels the playing field.

“Everything is based on technology. So you can weigh 100 pounds and compete against someone who is 200 pounds and beat them. It’s amazing,” added Krista.

OUR REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN JUDO

Judo is a sport that can be viewed as violent, but if you take the time to learn the sport you will find that there is much more to it than that. Since the participants need not only physical strength but also mental toughness, the sport is becoming more and more popular.

Judo is just amazing and we hope to share why we think it’s an activity your child should start today.

1. Judo is an amazing form of physical activity

Judo is not only a fun sport for children, but also a great form of exercise. Fitness is generally specific to what you train for, however judo is a sport that offers all round fitness, from upper body strength to endurance. Offering the sport at such a young age gives children a kick start to an active life and quickly improves their cardiovascular fitness.

2. Judo is more than just sport, it is education for life

In our courses you will not only learn the techniques of judo, but also the philosophy behind the art of the sport. Beginning with a bow as a sign of respect, the lessons continue learning how to coordinate and balance the body and mind.

In addition to mastering the art of judo, participants will also learn the art of randori, which is considered a form of physical chess. The participants quickly realize that they can do more than they thought and test mind and body against their opponent.

Just like in life, participants will be tossed, pinned, and challenged, pushing you to learn and learn from your mistakes. Judo is a sport that challenges the body and mind to work as one!

3. Self control and discipline

Judo is a powerful sport that involves practicing skills on another human being. A sport characterized by self-control and discipline, and if taken too far it can lead to injury. It’s not just a strength test, it builds confidence. As your child begins to see their physical potential and gain strength and fighting skills, their confidence will improve.

4. The feeling of throwing for ippon

You can experience the thrill of judo without risk, as your child will learn how to fall correctly in the first lesson. A knockout, also known as an ippon, results in a person getting back up immediately without injury.

5. It is a martial art and an Olympic sport

The sport has many benefits, but the people who practice it see judo not just as a form of exercise, but as an art. Not only the techniques of judo are taught, but also the extensive and colorful history. It is an art suitable for all ages, not just the elite and super fit.

6. Respect is taught from the first lesson

Respecting oneself and others is the central tenet of judo. From the initial bow to avoiding hurting yourself and others, it’s a lesson your child will learn over and over again and it can be applied to all aspects of life.

7. Troubleshooting

Finally, exercise is a great way to learn the art of problem solving. While practicing judo, your child will encounter many problems in a high-pressure environment, causing them to think quickly and learn to adapt to the situation using the skills they have learned. Judo will encourage self-development in and out of the sport, teaching your child to ask empowering questions such as: B. “How can I avoid this situation” and “How can I improve in this area”.

Conclusion

There’s more, such as the way in judo we develop friendships that last a lifetime and also the self-defense element of the sport. These are the strongest motivating factors that should encourage people to try our wonderful sport and art.

Our judo courses take place three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Call today to book your place for your child!

Judo is a martial art that can be translated as “gentle way”. Its aim is to throw an opponent to the ground and then use a joint lock or choke to subdue them. But it’s not for everyone, so what are the pros and cons of judo?

Judo Benefits Judo Disadvantages Helps build core strength Throws can cause injury if not performed correctly Helps promote healthy weight management May be less effective for self-defense than other martial arts Boosts self-esteem Training in a gi prepares practitioners poorly on real fights before as rounded as BJJ

Judo shares similarities and origins with both Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Finally, both Judo and BJJ are based on the original Japanese Jiu-Jitsu.

So this means that judo shares many of its advantages and disadvantages with these two arts.

Today we are going to dive deep into all the ins and outs of judo including the 1 cheat that broke my rib once. So you can decide if it’s the right martial art for you or your child.

Are you ready? Let’s go!

Is Judo Really Effective?

Judo is very effective, as proven by some of the best MMA champions with a judo background, such as Ronda Rousey, Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov and Fedor Emelianenko. But judo is also effective for its ability to use an opponent’s momentum against them.

Judo (translated “gentle way”) is a modern Japanese martial art and a weaponless fighting style, which is now mainly a sport.

Judo is a path of human formation as well as a form of physical and mental training. Jigoro Kano (1860–1938) invented it in 1882.

He studied ancient jujutsu (samurai martial arts) but eventually decided to eliminate “the most dangerous methods” and establish “Kano Jiu-Jitsu,” which is now widely recognized as judo.

Punches and kicks with the hands and feet as well as defense against weapons are part of judo.

The most salient feature of judo is its emphasis on randori (free practice). The rules of “judo sport” are complicated. The objective of “sports judo” is to either throw or knock down the opponent, immobilize or otherwise subdue the opponent with a pin, or force the opponent to submit with a jointed lock or choke hold.

The International Judo Federation is the international governing body of the sport. It has also been an Olympic event since 1964. A judoka is a judo practitioner and the judo costume is known as a “judogi”.

Judo has also spawned a number of derivative martial arts worldwide, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, Sambo, ARB (Army Hand-to-Hand Combat), hand-to-hand combat (CQC), and mixed martial arts (MMA). .

But almost all Japanese martial arts have some things in common.

For example, in a recent article on my website, I shared how Aikido differs from BJJ when used for self-defense. BJJ is of course used much more frequently in UFC matches. But there is a key way an Aikido practitioner can beat a BJJ fighter.

Just click this link to read it on my website.

Does judo make sense in MMA?

Judo is extremely useful in MMA and many champions such as Ronda Rousey, Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Karo Parisian, Fedor Emelianenko, Hector Lombard and Vito Belfort have won multiple bouts using judo in conjunction with other arts .

When it comes to mixed martial arts, it is believed that certain martial arts are more effective than others.

Wrestling, BJJ or Muay Thai are often considered to be the most beneficial martial arts for MMA. But judo definitely has its place among some of the top MMA champions.

It is understandable to choose BJJ and wrestling over Judo as they are very similar in moves and techniques. After all, they are all grappling styles. All of these are excellent subjects to study.

But judo is actually very useful.

Of all the fighters I just mentioned using judo in MMA, Rhonda Rousey is probably the best known. There’s a good reason for that; eventually she used judo to become one of the most famous MMA fighters.

In fact, she won the match in just 14 seconds in her top fight.

“THE FIRST SUPERFIGHT” Masahiko Kimura vs. Helio Gracie 1951 in Rio. Maracana Stadium. Kimura won via armlock pic.twitter.com/PpSDCi4zcS – Fight Pics (@Fight_Pics) July 22, 2014

Can Judo beat BJJ?

Judo has proven effective against BJJ as seen in the 1951 fight between Masahiko Kimura and Helio Gracie. Kimura threw and pinned Gracie to the ground, grabbing his arm and breaking it (twice) before Gracie’s teammates officially accepted defeat.

And yes, the Kimura armlock, which is widely used in BJJ and Judo is named after Masahiko Kimura’s technique that he used to break Gracie’s arm (in 2 places).

But Judo can also defeat BJJ because it is a more versatile martial art that teaches standing and ground fighting. BJJ, on the other hand, focuses primarily on ground fighting.

So while a BJJ practitioner could win on the ground (although it wouldn’t be easy), a judo practitioner would excel in stand-up combat. Judo offers more stand-up combat training than BJJ.

Because of this, Judo can defeat BJJ in a fight.

If you want to learn more about the differences between BJJ and Judo and how they compare, you can check out this recent article on my website.

Just click this link to read it on my website.

WHY JUDO?

In addition to the physiological benefits that we have seen, in the dojo (gym) there is an increase in the concepts of self-defense that they can acquire and apply to life if necessary! #judolife #judolifestyle #selfdefence #destinationjudo pic.twitter.com /FyBakk3vPL – Destination Judo (@destinationjudo) July 13, 2021

Top 5 professionals of judo training

1. Great for knowing how to defeat an opponent

If there is one thing judo will teach you, it would bring your opponent down.

In judo, ground fighting and chokeholds are core drills that must be passed before students are awarded belts. And since many street fights end on the ground, knowing how to control who gets downed, when, and then what to do on the ground is crucial.

2. Great for knowing how to defeat an attacker on the ground

In addition to throws and grappling, joint locks and chokeholds are also based on judo.

And that’s the only way to get your opponent into submission after you’ve tripped him up. Holds and locks can be very painful, so it forces an opponent to tap out and willingly accept defeat.

Or you can easily break someone’s arm in a real self-defense situation and then escape.

3. Helps to increase self-confidence and self-esteem

Regular judo training not only promotes self-confidence, but also self-esteem.

This is done in part through hard training, where when you get good at certain techniques or meet the goals you set for yourself, you feel like you’ve accomplished something.

Another way to boost confidence is to know that you can handle yourself and others when things get out of hand. This in turn increases self-confidence.

And that will help you avoid potentially awkward situations.

Judo is the foundation of your lifestyle. It will give you respect, perseverance, balance, discipline and honor. To name just a few life benefits. For any age, judo is the values ​​for your life. pic.twitter.com/RsKBF30DL7 – Judo Training Camp (@JudoTrainingC) January 16, 2019

4. Training helps build strength, flexibility, and healthy weight management

From the outside it may not seem like a strenuous workout as there are no vigorous punches and kicks.

However, judo training is one of the most difficult in all martial arts. Also, the warm-up exercises for judo can make you breathe heavily and sweat profusely.

Also known as free sparring, randori is a component of judo training in which you practice your techniques against opponents who completely oppose your techniques.

This is easily one of the most challenging workouts ever created.

So you’re likely to lose weight if you exercise three or more times a week and eat a relatively healthy diet. And at the same time you build muscles and gain flexibility.

(Source)

5. Low risk of concussion

The injury rate in judo is very low compared to some other martial arts. So concussions are very, very, very (and again very) rare.

This is in large part because there are no punches or kicks to the head.

Most injuries that occur in judo are sprains and perhaps fractures, which are also very rare. Judo is rules based and an instructor should always be present so incidents can be cleared up before they spiral out of control.

Judo means “gentle way” in Japanese. Find an opportunity to participate at http://t.co/vdNMmBLMmF #GetInspired pic.twitter.com/wBmc2DDJki — BBC Get Inspired (@bbcgetinspired) July 26, 2014

Top 5 Disadvantages of Training Judo

1. Lack of standing training for punches and kicks

While you’ll certainly learn all about grappling on the ground, there’s practically little if any training in kicks and punches, all of which can be grouped as stand-up training.

You start standing. But throw quickly or knock an opponent down. Then you’ll probably stay on the ground until one of you knocks out.

So if your opponent successfully dodges your takedown techniques, there’s no choice but to keep trying. This can tire you out and give your opponent an advantage.

And if they know boxing, karate, kung fu, or kickboxing, their punches or kicks could easily overwhelm you. But it’s worth pointing out that some judo dojos have been known to include strike work in their curriculum for this reason.

But it is not part of core training in judo.

2. Not very useful against multiple attackers

Judo is about taking someone to the ground and then joining them on the ground and subduing them.

But it doesn’t help much when you’re faced with multiple attackers.

When you’re down with a person and their buddies are still standing, you’re incredibly vulnerable. If you don’t get special training on how to choke and/or joint lock different people at the same time, then this is a major disadvantage of judo.

As a judo student or expert, if you are confronted with multiple attackers, please flee.

But really, in a real attack scenario, no matter how skilled you are or what martial arts you know, running is always the best option.

3. Very rules based, which can be unrealistic for self defense

Judo is now as much a sport as it is a martial art.

As such, depending on the dojo, it is restricted to Olympic rules which prohibit or abolish many very powerful movements.

For self-defense training, this can create an unrealistic framework as the real world doesn’t follow rules.

4. Training in a gi and on mats does not prepare students for an attack in real life.

Judo training is almost always conducted in the traditional Japanese uniform called Gi.

This consists of loose-fitting trousers, a robe and a colored belt. BJJ schools are now offering No-Gi classes so students are better prepared for real-world self-defense situations. But that is rare in the judo world.

Of course, nobody is going to wear a gi in a street fight, and it can be difficult to translate all the skills you’ve learned into street clothes.

In addition, using mats also offers a less painful approach during exercise.

But in real combat and in self-defense, you might get knocked down on concrete. Well, knowing how to fall correctly will still help you.

But a dojo mat can make it harder to recognize your own technical deficits.

5. Training for takedowns, chokes, and armlocks can be painful or harmful

While an advantage of judo is that there are no serious injuries like concussion, sometimes serious injuries do occur. This may be due to negligence on the part of the instructor and your sparring partner.

Not knowing when to type and send is another common mistake students make.

I was once knocked unconscious while practicing judo because I was brand new at the time and had never been told what tapping was and when to do it.

The fact that the woman who choked me unconscious was less than 5ft tall and in her 70s worked wonders for my ego lol.

But choke holds and locks that go wrong can cause permanent damage to limbs and other body parts if not done safely and under close supervision.

But as said above, this is rare, and you can rule out the possibility by checking a dojo’s accident rate online or by checking with family and friends.

What is judo?

Watch this video on YouTube

Conclusion

First, we checked whether judo is actually effective. Then we found out if judo is useful in MMA and I named some surprisingly well known UFC names that use judo in their fighting style.

We then looked at Judo BJJ and can beat the match Helio Gracie lost after breaking his arm twice! But we also concluded with a complete and thorough look at all the ins and outs of judo.

What is judo?

An enormous and dynamic sport

Judo is a tremendous and dynamic martial art that requires both physical skill and great mental discipline. From a standing position, it involves techniques that allow you to lift and throw your opponents onto their backs. On the ground, it involves techniques that allow you to pin your opponents to the ground, controlling them and using various chokeholds or joint locks into submission.

Judo is simple and fundamental

Judo originated in Japan as a derivative of the various martial arts developed and used by the samurai and feudal warrior classes over hundreds of years. Although many of the judo techniques derive from arts designed to injure, maim, or kill opponents in actual field combat, the judo techniques have been modified to allow judo students to practice these techniques safely and without injuring opponents and can apply:

Judo does not involve any kicking, punching or punching techniques.

In judo, no pressure is applied to the joints to throw an opponent.

Judo does not involve any equipment or weapons.

Instead, judo is simply two people who, by grasping the judo uniform or judogi, use the forces of balance, power and movement to attempt to subjugate one another. So it’s simple and basic. However, in its simplicity lies its complexity and mastery of even the most basic judo techniques, which often require a great deal of time, effort and energy and require rigorous physical and mental training.

The Principle of Gentleness

The word judo is made up of two Japanese characters, ju meaning “gentle” and do meaning “the way”. Judo therefore literally means the way of gentleness. Although gentleness may not be immediately apparent to newcomers seeing bodies flying through the air and seeing people pinned to the ground, it is on this principle of gentleness or Yawara (which is the same character as ju in judo) that all judo rests based techniques based.

Rigor and physical activity

Judo is a rigorous and demanding physical activity. Practicing judo techniques helps people develop basic and basic physical fitness in a variety of ways such as: B. the development of strength, flexibility, agility, speed, dynamic and static balance, explosive power and endurance. Practicing active offense and defense helps develop reaction time, coordination, and overall physical confidence. Judo students become physically bigger, stronger, and faster through their judo practice.

Not only does judo result in tremendous gains in overall physical and athletic performance; Judo students learn the specific skills and techniques of judo. You’ll learn a variety of techniques to knock down your opponents with power, speed, and control. While judo students are often exposed to many of these types of throwing techniques in their judo careers, they typically only master a handful, and a handful is generally all that is required to be successful in modern judo competitions.

Judo students also learn the basic principles and dynamics of subjecting their opponents on the ground through the use of pinning and submission techniques. Their skills both on the ground and on their feet, combined with the considerable basic physical fitness they acquire through daily judo practice, provide judo students with a considerable repertoire of techniques, skills, knowledge and abilities. These, in turn, enable them to be superb athletes with a solid physical base of essential skills and to be formidable and formidable opponents in competition.

Much more to learn

But beyond developing physical and athletic ability, judo students learn much more. They learn to control their feelings, emotions and impulses. You will learn about values ​​such as perseverance, respect, loyalty and discipline. Judo students develop an excellent work ethic as well as important social manners and etiquette. They learn to overcome their fears and show courage under pressure. Through the competition and the rigors of daily practice, they learn about justice and fairness. Through their experience, they learn courtesy, humility, and many other wonderful values ​​that contribute to their development as successful citizens of society. As such, judo facilitates the development of important moral knowledge and values ​​important to helping people become active and contributing members of their communities, nations, and the world. In this way, judo students play an important role in developing societies and creating new and better communities for the future.

Judo is a highly competitive, grappling-based martial art that emphasizes jumping and throwing using scientific means, i. H. the optimization of levers and balance. Due to its ever-growing popularity, younger and younger people are getting into judo. However, many may ask, is judo stunting your growth?

Judo does not stunt your growth. There is nothing inherent in the sport of judo or its training methods that could directly inhibit growth. However, judokas who lose weight for competition risk stunting their growth because the body needs calories and nutrients to grow.

This article gives you a quick and concise overview of how growth occurs and what factors can influence it. We also cover how to train and compete in judo without the risk of negative effects on growth.

Can losing weight in judo stunt your growth?

During the puberty phase of human development, the body grows to reach full adulthood through increased natural hormone production by the endocrine system. Growth retardation typically results from an internal cause, such as B. a lack of testosterone or human growth hormone.

While there is nothing inherent in judo itself that directly stunts growth, some athletes who lose weight too frequently or too aggressively may indirectly stunt their growth.

The truth is that judo can probably enhance growth by increasing bone and muscle density and inducing a hypertrophy effect. This encourages your body to increase production of natural growth hormone to allow recovery from intense sparring and training bouts.

Judo is a very physically demanding sport and for this reason judokas dedicate a lot of time and energy to strength and fitness training. But all that physical exercise, like weight lifting and running, doesn’t directly cause stunted growth. Rather, a lack of nutritional support for this physical training can stunt an adolescent’s growth.

Simply put, don’t lose weight for judo, especially if your body is still growing, if you don’t want to risk stunting your growth. The only way I can see judo stunt someone’s growth is by trying to reduce weight and not getting proper nutrition while a child or teen is still growing.

Malnutrition as a cause of growth disorders

If you don’t get enough protein, fats, and carbohydrates, your body will be deprived of the energy sources it needs to grow. Growing developmental teenagers are said to need upwards of 2,800 calories a day. Still, those who participate in judo might burn even more calories to account for the extra physical exertion they put off.

Stunting occurs when judokas or athletes going through puberty do not provide their bodies with an adequate amount of nutrients to sustain and support its growth. This can result in the athlete’s growth being permanently stunted.

I might suggest you use a fitness tracker to ensure proper nutrition on a daily basis. It could be the best health-related investment you’ve ever made.

How to avoid stunting in judo

Avoiding stunting is very important because stunting is largely irreversible and permanent. The good news is that by applying a few simple principles you can virtually eliminate the chances of stunting your growth through participation in the sport of judo.

Let’s take a look at these principles so you can stay safe and healthy while enjoying the great sport of Judo.

Never undergo excessive or aggressive weight reduction

The best way to avoid stunting is to eat a lot and not worry about losing weight in order to qualify for lighter weight classes.

When you compete in judo in your teenage years, the main goal is simply to learn and spend your time on the mat. Once an athlete reaches adulthood and has a solid base of experience, they can reevaluate and decide what weight works best for them. But for young judokas who are new to the sport, it is advisable to fight as close to their natural weight as possible.

This JudoInfo.com article provides comprehensive statistics specific to weight loss in judo athletes. They state that the average weight reduction is 9 lbs (4 kg) – which may not be excessive for a large adult. For a smaller competitor, however, this can be very drastic.

If a young judoka needs to lose weight for a competition, he must do so slowly and gradually while still maintaining an adequate diet. However, if you’re really concerned or want to get as big and strong as possible, I would simply advise avoiding weight loss altogether.

(What if you are severely overweight)

The only circumstance would be if a child or teenager is cultivating too much body fat. Losing some body fat might be acceptable for your health. Try to lose body fat at a slow to moderate pace with lots of protein and whole foods. A good weight loss would be 0.5-1 percent of body weight in pounds per week. So a 200 lb person would aim to lose 1-2 lbs per week.

Crash dieting is the best way to stunt your growth and should not be attempted under any circumstances. See my guide to getting fit for judo for more on this.

drink enough

Nutrition includes not only the intake of micro and macronutrients, but also the intake of water.

It’s important to stay hydrated as often as possible because the majority of your muscles are made up of water and water plays an important role in muscle recovery and development.

Actively ensure that the color of your urine is clear and not dark. This is the safest and easiest way to measure your fluid balance at any given time. If your urine is dark and yellow, this is a clear indication that you are dehydrated and you should start drinking water right away.

Do not perform water cuts to weigh in before your competition. Not only can water cuts stunt your growth, but they can also affect your energy levels and cause you to perform poorly.

Get enough sleep for proper growth

Finally, the third way to prevent stunted growth is to sleep.

Young adults tend to lead very busy and chaotic lives, akin to a non-stop balancing act. This can lead to a situation where they are constantly short of sleep.

When you sleep, your body does most of its hormonal work to repair and rejuvenate your body and mind. Your body needs sleep to recover from the day’s work.

Everyone should aim to get at least 7 or 8 hours of sleep per night, but in the case of judo players, they sometimes require even more due to the tremendous physical stress they are putting on their bodies.

If you want to avoid stunting your growth, make it a priority to sleep until your body is fully charged.

For more information on the vital functions the body performs during sleep, see this article from WebMD.

Judo will not stunt your growth if practiced properly

It turns out that judo does not stunt growth and instead encourages growth by prompting the body to produce more natural growth hormone as an accommodation mechanism. However, judokas who lose too much weight and often deprive their bodies of calories risk stunting their growth as the body needs nutrients to develop. Get enough sleep, eat plenty, and drink plenty of water. In addition, have fun!