Diabetes in Judo Training: Manage Safe Training & Competition

Managing Diabetes in Judo Training and Competition

Understanding the Challenges

Diabetes can influence judo training and competition, but with careful planning, athletes can participate safely and perform effectively. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes demand consistent blood glucose monitoring before, during, and after physical activity.

Judo involves sudden, high-intensity bursts that can rapidly lower blood sugar levels. This increases the risk of hypoglycemia, particularly if nutrition or insulin management is unbalanced. Effective control requires a tailored approach for each judoka.

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Monitoring and Adjustment Strategies

Judokas with diabetes need to regularly monitor blood glucose and adjust strategies based on training intensity. Before sessions, athletes should check glucose levels and adjust either carbohydrates or insulin if needed. During training, periodic checks help ensure stability, especially when sessions are prolonged or include repeated high-intensity drills.

After training, glucose checks remain essential. Levels can fluctuate hours after exercise, making ongoing monitoring vital. Adjusting insulin, carbohydrate intake, and meal timing provides balance and reduces the likelihood of delayed hypoglycemia.

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Nutrition and Hydration

Meal timing strongly influences performance. A balanced meal or snack consumed one to two hours before training helps prevent sudden drops in blood sugar. High-quality carbohydrates, protein, and hydration all support stable energy levels.

Hydration plays a major role in glucose control. Dehydration can elevate blood sugar and reduce performance efficiency. Judoka should regularly consume water, particularly during intense or extended training sessions.

The Role of Coaches and Teammates

Coaches and teammates should learn the warning signs of both high and low blood sugar. Quick recognition and response can prevent emergencies and keep the athlete safe. Having fast-acting carbohydrates—such as glucose tablets or sports drinks—available during training or competition provides an immediate corrective option.

Supportive environments reduce stress for the athlete and allow them to focus on technical and tactical performance. This teamwork is as vital as the training itself.

Managing Diabetes in Competition

Judo competitions present unique challenges because matches are unpredictable in length and intensity. Athletes should check their blood glucose before warm-ups, between matches, and immediately after their final bout.

Carrying fast-acting carbohydrates remains essential during tournaments. Insulin adjustments may be required if activity levels are more intense or last longer than normal training sessions. Careful planning ensures energy availability without excessive spikes or dangerous drops.

Sample Day-of-Competition Plan

The following plan illustrates how a judoka with diabetes might prepare and manage their condition during a competition day. Adjustments will vary for each athlete.

Competition-day plan for Diabetes in judo training

Time / Window	Actions	Food / Carbs	Hydra-tion	Glucose Checks	Notes
Morning (3 hours before)	Wake, confirm schedule, prepare kit, review plan.	Porridge with milk, banana, small nuts portion.	300 ml of water.	Check on waking; confirm target range.	Adjust insulin only if readings exceed personal thresholds.
Arrival (2.5 hours before)	Register, find the team area, relax and breathe.	None unless below range; take 10–15 g fast carbs.	Sips of water.	Optional: Check if symptoms appear.	Flag the location of the coach and medical staff.
Pre–warm-up (1–2 hours before)	Light mobility, band work, mental rehearsal.	Whole-grain sandwich with lean protein, or yogurt with fruit.	~250 ml water or elect-rolyte drink.	Check before starting warm-up.	Micro-adjust insulin only per personal protocol.
Warm-up (45–30 minutes before)	Gradual build: uchi-komi, movement drills, brief tachiwaza.	10–20 g fast carbs if trending down.	Sips between blocks.	Recheck if the session lasts over 25 minutes.	Keep fast carbs and meter within arm’s reach.
Match queue (10–15 minutes before)	Stay loose, visualise first grips and sequences.	5–10 g fast carbs only if needed.	Small sips; avoid over-drinking.	Quick check if symptoms or a CGM alert.	Confirm the coach carries backup carbs.
Between matches	Cool down briefly, then reset for the next bout.	Glucose tablets, a sports drink, or half an energy bar if dropping.	Sips of water.	Check after each match.	Note trends; adjust carbs for next round.
Long break (>45 minutes)	Light walk, stretch, keep warm.	Small balanced snack: fruit plus small protein.	~250 ml water or elect-rolyte drink.	Check mid-break.	Consider a minor insulin tweak if rising steadily.
After the final bout	Cool down, gentle stretch, debrief with coach.	Balanced meal: lean protein, vegetables, whole grains.	~500 ml water.	Check within 15 minutes post-bout.	Record outcomes to refine Diabetes in judo training plans.
Two to four hours later	Recovery, light walk, monitor for delayed lows.	Snack if trending down or symptomatic.	Regular fluids.	Check at least once in this window.	Document lessons for the next event.

Planning for Success

Managing diabetes in judo training requires preparation, awareness, and strong communication with coaches and medical staff. Athletes who plan their meals, hydration, and glucose monitoring can perform effectively and safely.

Diabetes in judo training highlights the importance of tailoring strategies to individual needs, balancing glucose control with performance goals. With careful planning, judoka can thrive both in training and in competition.

For further reading on managing diabetes during sports, see Diabetes Canada’s guidelines on physical activity.

Enjoy
Sensai
Richard
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Judo Competition & Supplements: A Guide by Sport Integrity Australia

Choosing the Right Supplement

In the realm of sports, the allure of supplements is undeniable. Athletes often seek ways to optimize performance, and supplements can seem like a promising solution. However, with the risks associated with doping violations, selecting the right supplement becomes paramount.

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The Importance of Batch Testing

Sports Integrity Australia advocates for the use of batch-tested supplements. These products undergo rigorous testing by third-party entities to ensure they are free from banned substances. While this doesn't guarantee absolute safety, it significantly mitigates the risk.

Recognized Batch Testing Programs

Two notable batch testing programs endorsed by Sport Integrity Australia are HASTA and Informed-Sport. Supplements bearing their logos offer an added layer of assurance. Athletes are advised to verify the batch number using designated platforms to ensure authenticity.

Utilizing the Sport Integrity App

The Sport Integrity App serves as a valuable resource for athletes. It features a supplement checker function, listing batch-tested products available in Australia. This enables users to make informed decisions before purchasing supplements.

Ensuring Safety and Compliance

Prioritizing safety and compliance is paramount in the world of sports. By opting for batch-tested supplements, athletes can mitigate the risk of inadvertent doping violations. Additionally, leveraging resources like the Sport Integrity App empowers athletes to make informed choices.

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Looking Ahead

As athletes continue to navigate the complex landscape of supplement use, education remains key. Sport Integrity Australia remains committed to providing comprehensive guidance and resources. Stay informed, stay vigilant, and prioritize integrity in sports.

Accessing Additional Resources

For further insights into supplement effectiveness, athletes can explore resources available on the AIS website. Education is a powerful tool in making informed decisions regarding supplement use in athletics.

Empowering Athletes Through Knowledge

In the final module of this course, athletes will receive practical guidance on checking supplements. By equipping themselves with the necessary tools and information, athletes can confidently navigate the realm of supplement use while upholding the integrity of sport.

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Richard

No Leg Grab rule: Steven Seagal's solution to Judo & wrestling

Steven Seagal's solution to Judo and wrestling (A comment on the No Leg Grab rule)

In the video below, Chadi discusses the importance of Judo as a martial art and the value it holds beyond just Olympic competition. He argues that taking away techniques, such as the "leg grab" rule in Judo, is not a solution to the challenges faced in the sport. I do not completely agree.

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Chadi highlights the effectiveness of techniques like "morote gari" and "harai goshi" in countering attacks such as leg grabs or "shooting". He also demonstrates how "Tawara gaeshi" can be used as a counter to the "morote gari" technique.

Chadi believes that Judo has solutions and counters for everything and that the techniques and history of the martial art can provide valuable insights into the sport. He points out that even techniques from Judo, such as foot sweeps and reaps, have found their way into wrestling.

Although the video uses a humorous clip of Steven Seagal to illustrate its point, Chadi argues that there is a serious discussion to be had about the value of Judo and the importance of not taking away techniques. He concludes by inviting viewers to add their thoughts on the topic.

Whilst I agree with Chadi that we do have to be careful to make sure we continue to teach the whole range of Judo, I am convinced that it is perfectly acceptable to separate training for competition (Sheai) and Randori (competition without points) training.

In support of this argument, I point to Kata.

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Kata is always taught separately from Sheai training. There is therefore no reason why Randori can’t be the same. That is, if you are using Randroi for Sheai training you don’t include that forbidden techniques. But if you are training for training sake or even for self-defence then you can include those techniques.

I have made it clear that I am no fan of the no leg grab rule but as a means to the end of making Judo distinctive from other martial arts in the Olympics then I have no problems.

When the rule was first instigated the IJF did a very poor job of communicating the reasons. Had they done a better job of telling everybody that it was to distinguish Judo from other Martial arts they could have avoided a lot of controversy. In fact, they still don’t seem to want to avoid this particular controversy so the discussion goes on. But it is not that had to live with and still be true to the spirit of Judo.

I still teach leg grab throws in class. It’s not that hard to separate it out from Sheai.

Enjoy
Sensai
Richard

Judo Throw: When Evasion Is More Beautiful

When Evasion Is More Beautiful Than The Judo Throw

In Judo you cannot score against someone that lands on their front. So to that end, one of the things that I get my Judoka to practice is a spin around Mae Ukemi (forward Breakfall). This is where Tori holds onto Uke's hands and leans back until they can no more and they let go and spin around into a Mae Ukemi. Tori is in complete control as Uke is entrusted not to let go until Tori does.

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I always start my students out using a crash mat as there is a lot of potential to land on shoulders until it is masted.

Incredibly Useful To Any Competitive Judoka

This is incredibly useful to any competitive Judoka as you will see from the video below

There is another exercise that involves doing cartwheels on your elbows and spinning out but I was never able to master it myself and could not get any of my students to be able to do it either. But I am told it is also useful.

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My son when he was competing did an amazing flip of the back of his opponent who was trying Ippon Seio Nage on him the result of the flip was a reversal of the throw and my son won. I was always under the impression that this was spontaneous, as I discussed in my posts Why Shouldn't Judo Be More Gymnastic?. But in recent months I was discussing this move of his and he informed me that he had spent weeks perfecting it with one of my fellow black belts.

Any question about the value of this kind of practice is flatly dispelled when you look at the video below.

The lesson here is that if you are a Judo competitor you should be finding ways to practice landing on your front.

Enjoy
Sensai
Richard

Aikido vs Judo - Real Sparring?

Aikido vs Judo - Real Sparring?

There are lots of assumptions made in this video but still, I was impressed that it seemed to be a genuine effort to compare the two martial arts of Aikido and Judo.

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For my liking, Aikido often has way too many movements in its techniques. I don't mean that it is a bad thing just that it is not a style that suits my personality. It's the same as me saying that I don't like Karate. Not because it is an ineffective martial art. It defiantly is effective and I never want to be on the end of a good practitioner's strike or kick, it just doesn't suit may mind set. The constant repetitive movement needed to learn a technique efficiently just does my head in.

In the same way, Aikido's apparent concentration on the windmill effect is not me. All that spinning around is not something I enjoy. That said, the very windmill action that I do not enjoy has a lot to teach a Judoka (Judo practitioner) about a number of, possibly most of, the throws in the Judo syllabus. If you don't believe me try and add the windmill action to some of your throws and I bet they will improve. Not all of them but a lot of them.

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    Effectiveness of Aikido Aganst Judo

Even so, I have to say I have always wondered about the effectiveness of Aikido. Only from a reading perspective, in that, there are blogs that argue about its effectiveness. Both for and against.

I think this video goes some way to putting an end to that debate. This was just a friendly sparing match and I have no way of knowing the real level of skill of either of the people in it. But it is clear that there were a number of moves done by the Aikido practitioner that tested and even caught off guard the Judoka despite him saying that he knew the move himself. Therefore one has to conclude that with surprise and just like Judo, walking or being led into the setup, Aikido can be effective and can defeat Judo.

Thus my rule of thumb that I try to teach all my students:

'Never assume greater knowledge than your opponent.”

Enjoy
Sensai
Richard

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Obi-tori-gaeshi, ko-uchi-makikomi, ushiro-kesa, uki & ura gatame

Kodokan added new techniques: Obi-tori-gaeshi & ko-uchi-makikomi

Kodokan has added new techniques to its list of official, named throws: Obi-tori-gaeshi (belt grab reversal, a te-waza, not a sutemi-waza) and ko-uchi-makikomi, but they have deleted daki-age unsurprisingly. New holding techniques named are the resurrected ushiro-kesa-gatame, uki-gatame and ura-gatame say, Balwyn Judo Club Inc.

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Obi-tori-gaeshi seems to be the name Kodokan has adopted for what Europeans call "kharberelli" after the player of that name.

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Groundwork - Ne-Wasa

New holding techniques named are the resurrected ushiro-kesa-gatame and uki-gatame (a variation of which is sometimes called eki-gatame in Europe after Keith Ekersley who used it) and, of course, ura-gatame (presumably the competition-recognised version, not the Mifune version).

On a personal note, uki-gatame could be a cautionary tale for some. You could find yourself unaware of the fact that you are in Osa-Komi.

Enjoy
Sensai
Richard

Groundwork - Ne-Wasa

Sugar Cravings, Nutrition & Judo Competition

Sugar Cravings: Are You Unknowingly Feeding Them? - Judo Nutrition

When it comes to food cravings, sugar is one of those that is the most difficult to resist. This is a problem if you are a Judo competitor or any kind of competitor for that matter and you are trying to cut weight or manage your weight for the next competition.

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There are other negative effects of high sugar intake as well. In fact, it is one of the most damaging nutritional blows you can expose your body to.

The key to healthy eating is an in-depth understanding of the pros and cons of the food you eat. This is important because many foods have both positive and negative sides, so careful balance becomes critical.

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Key Takeaways:

• People who consume a lot of sugar typically have poor sleep quality and fluid retention and fatigue.
• The Fast 800 program helps to re-sensitise your body to insulin and also helps you reduce cravings.
• Aim for full-fat dairy products as they help offer protective benefits along with healthy fats.

"Type 2 diabetes affects a large number of the global population, with many being unaware they have the condition. If left undiagnosed or untreated, type 2 diabetes can lead to kidney failure and blindness, while significantly increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease."

Read more: https://thefast800.com/sugar-cravings-are-you-unknowingly-feeding-them/

Enjoy
Sensai
Richard

Jimmy Pedro Teaches You How To Build Your Judo Game!

How To Build Your Judo Game Using The Four Quadrants Of Judo

This video covers competing using the four quadrants of Judo

You need to be able to throw your opponent in all four directions. Hence you need a throw for each of the four different quadrants of the mat so that no matter which way your opponent moves you need a throwing technique that will take advantage of that movement. If you don't have this your opponent should be able to note the difference and take advantage of your weakness.

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If Uke moves in one direction and then changes to the opposite direction you will be able to follow through and try to throw him in that direction.

The video will take you through the 4 preferred throws of Jimmy Prado by way of example but you would be better served by working out your preferred throws and training with them.

This does not of course mean that you should never train with other throws. You never know when one of the throws that are not in your normal set of throws may just suddenly present itself. Besides styles change over time and if you are not training in other throws you are potentially left behind and your regular opponents or even those that are just observant will pick up on that and take advantage of you.

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Having said that if you want to be a Judoka that other Judoka are weary of, you will be one that will trains with a set of at least 4 throws. One to cover each quadrant.

On a side note, you should also train with combinations of these throws. Both backwards and forwards and your counter reportage should be constantly building.

Train so that all that you practice becomes instinctive.

Enjoy
Sensai
Richard

Sutemi-waza - Sacrifice Throws in Competition (Shiai)

Sutemi Waza - Sacrifice Throws

Sutemi-waza - sacrifice throws in competition (Shiai), are always spectacular hence they are regularly seen in the movies and on television. When I was a junior, they were always very popular in competition (Shiai)but not necessarily because they were spectacular. However, they are more difficult to carry out in competition now.

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When I was a junior it was quite popular to attempt a sacrifice throw because many players were more comfortable on the ground than standing. This stopped, I think when the false attack rule started to be enforced. (Groundwork for many, is still more attractive hence, the popularity of Brazilian JuJitsu).

From a competition perspective there are some significant drawbacks in the sue of Sutemi Waza in competition:

1. As Tori, once you are on the ground you are at a significant disadvantage because you are the person on the bottom. It is not necessarily the end of the contest if the throw fails but you had better be ready to do some very strong groundwork.


2. Even when you do succeed with the throw the referee may still call it against you because your back or side hit the ground before your opponent.

These two have been the reason for a significant reduction in the use of Sutemi-waza in competition.

However, that does not mean you should stop practising sacrifice throws and I'll tell you why shortly.

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Sutemi-waza is defined as "the classification of Judo throws in which the attacker sacrifices himself by purposely falling to the mat while in the process of throwing his opponent".

Two Types of Sutemi waza

Sutemi waza are divided into:

• Masutemi (supine sacrifice throws)
• Yokosutemi (side sacrifice throws)

Masutemi (supine sacrifice throws)

These are throws like:

• Tomoe nage
• Sumi gaeshi
• Ura nage

Yokosutemi (side sacrifice throws)

These are throws like:

• Yoko otoshi
• Uki waza
• Tani otoshi
• Yoko guruma
• Yoko gake

Why Bother With Sutemi Waza

If it is so difficult to succeed in using Sutemi-waza why even practice it?

Well, there are 2 reasons:

1. Judo is not just about competition it is also about art. Failing to learn these techniques is to abandon that art. More than that, at some point in your Judo career you are going to reach the point where you can no longer compete. The beauty of Judo is that it doesn't stop when you stop competing. When you stop competing is where the art takes over. If you want to continue in judo after you stop competing you are going to want to learn the art and Sutemi-waza is part of that art.


2. Sutemi waza is still very useful in Judo competition. Sometimes it may be as a last resort but not always. You just have to be very careful that it can be clearly seen that you were both the initiator and controller of the throw.

If you are going to use Sutemi waza in competition it would be very wise to practise to perfect your prefered throw.

Enjoy
Sensai
Richard

Judo Competition Nutrition: Fighting Inflammation & The Table

Judo Competition Nutrition and Fighting Inflammation

When dealing with inflammation which we all are confronted with throughout life, there have been several options to treat this. One of those happens to be what you eat. For Judo competition nutrition as with all sport, our diet plays a significant role in how our body deals with invasions such as what occurs during inflammation.

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There are several inflammation reducing foods and as you probably already know, all of them are in their natural form. No processed or sugary foods if you are looking for chronic inflammation relief. Vegetables, nuts and fruits all play a huge role in fighting disease and reducing inflammation.

Key Takeaways:

• Some of the bacteria that live in our digestive tracts can foster unhealthy levels of long-term inflammation.
• Evidence suggests that some food additives used in processed foods can promote inflammation.
• Unprocessed nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetables tend to help fight chronic inflammation.

"A healthy diet goes a long way in keeping inflammation—a process that underlies most serious diseases—at bay."

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Read more: https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthy-eating/fighting-inflammation-at-the-meal-table?utm_id=386150&dlv-ga-memberid=32413555&mid=32413555&ml=386150

Enjoy
Sensai
Richard

Nutrition for Injury Recovery: Help Speed It Up

Nutrition for Injury Recovery: Some Foods Actually Help It

Most people are unaware of how to use nutrition for injury recovery. There are some foods that can actually speed up your recovery process. This has a lot to do with soft tissue repair starting with inflammation. This is due to the lack of oxygen and blood flow to the injured area.

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Then there is something called proliferation which is basically scar tissue. Then finally the remodelling in which nutrition therapy is critical as this sets the stage for what is leftover for life. There are other stages of recovery depending on the injury however the end results depends on your participation in proper nutrition and overall lifestyle.

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Key Takeaways:

• Inflammation serves the important purpose of clearing away damaged cells and attracting nutrients and blood to the site of the injury.
• Chronic inflammation is characterized by long-term, ongoing macrophage activity that continually damages tissue.
• As the injury heals, collagen (or new bone, for bone injuries) will be laid down and then replaced over time.

"With all the pain, swelling, redness, and dysfunction, injury can seem like a chaotic process. Yet at the physiological level, injury recovery is highly organized and consistent."

Read more: https://www.precisionnutrition.com/nutrition-for-injury-part-1

Enjoy
Sensai
Richard

Morote-gari Used To Be A Fantastic Competition Throw

Morote-gari Used To Be A Fantastic Competition Throw

Perhaps I'm just being nostalgic after all life moves on but Morote-gari used to be a fantastic competition throw. Now that it is not able to be used in competition, however, I can't shake the feeling that the effectiveness of Morote-gari as a Judo throw was the real reason that you can't grab the legs now in competition.

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I remember, before that advent of Facebook, being on an email list where there were a number of competitors that used to complain about how stupid this throw was. I was never able to follow their reasoning except, as far as I could tell, they had no defence against it so they thought it should be banned.

Of course, I'll never know for sure but I do know that some of those people eventually got onto the International Judo federation board and it is suspicious that a few years later the no leg grab rule came about. The official reason was given, at least the only one that is defendable was that we were under threat of being removed from the Olympics because we looked too much like Greek-o-Roman wrestling so they removed the leg grabs. I'll leave it up to you to decide but I have never managed to get anyone to officially confirm this.

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As for the lack of defence, if you are going to walk into (pun intended) someone grabbing your legs you deserve to be thrown.

I only managed to throw a few people with this throw when I was doing competitions. Only because I didn't know it was an option until I had almost stopped fighting. Up until then, all I had learned were the 40 throws of the original Gokyo and this is not one of them. It is from the extended version of 66. But it was very effective once I did.

I did, however, discovered the hard way that you don't make it obvious what you are going for the legs because the natural reaction of an opponent is to jerk their legs up in order to pull them away. Why is that the hard way? Well if ever you have had your nose take the brunt of the knee jerk you will know what I mean.

No Knee Jurk Defence

Despite its effectiveness, it is not the knee jerk that is the best defence against Morote-gari and it could end you up with a penalty as well as a bloody nose or worse. The most effective defence is O-uchi-gari or Ko-uchi-gari or even if you catch it early enough Uchi-mata or Tai-o-toshi.

You could use Sumi-gaeshi or even Tomo-nage but it is very difficult to convince the referee that you were the one initiating the throw, so you could lose anyway.

You should be able to tell that I am not convinced that there is no defence against Morote-gari so I was never persuaded by those who wanted it banned from competition. But it is a great throw to practice, although I do tend to use a crash mat these days as it is a had fall.

Phenomenal Self Defence

It is also a phenomenal self-defence throw so it is worth practising if self-defence is a consideration for you. But like I said, it is a hard fall so try to make sure you don't kill you attacker by mistake because they don't know how to fall.

Enjoy
Sensai
Richard

Is Getting Better Sleep One of Your New Year’s Resolutions?

Getting Better Sleep is Essential For Every Judo Player

Don't be mislead, getting better sleep, will, enhance your performance, development and competitive play. Every Judoka at every level needs good sleep.

(This article is reprinted from the Judo Victoria January 2020 Newsletter)

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Tennis great, Serena Williams, told a UK publication that she usually sleeps well and enjoys going to bed early around 7 p.m. Sleep is essential in the preparation for, and the recovery from, training and competition.

A study in the journal SLEEP confirms the role of sleep in performance with results that show declines in split-second decision making following poor sleep.

It is becoming increasingly clear that adolescence (ages 12–18 yrs) is a period of development where sleep is particularly important. What is also becoming obvious is that many adolescents do not obtain the recommended amount of sleep.

Sleep Checklist

Some research suggests that sleep deprivation increases levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Sleep deprivation has also been seen to decrease the production of glycogen and carbohydrates that are stored for energy use during physical activity.

In short, less sleep increases the possibility of fatigue, low energy, and poor focus at the competition time. It may also slow recovery post-game.

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If you would like more information on this :
sleep-health foundation
Sports Science Exchange
It's quite clear lack of sleep makes youth athletes more likely to get injured
Muscle Recovery After a Workout: The Important Role of Sleep

Enjoy
    Sensai
        Richard

Blind Leading The Blind: Visually Impaired Judo Lesson For Sited

What Visually Impaired Judo Sited

Who says that you can't take just take a grip and fight. A visually Impaired Judo player has been doing it for many years. There is little or no grip fighting, they can't afford to and yet I defy anybody to say that their fights are not just as exciting, skilful, strategic and powerful, all without the guile of grip fighting.

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It is said that there are none so blind as those who will not see and in my mind that is the case here. We have sighted players who just can't see that grip fighting is a waste of time and energy and blind (or Visually Impaired) player leading the way to how it should be done. It is a case of the blind leading the blind in a positive way.

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Those who read my blog will know that one of my pet hates is the patter-cake game that goes on at the beginning of almost every judo match these days. You know what I mean. Each Judoka tries to take their grip and gets slapped away by the other player who then, in turn, tries to take a grip only to have their hand slapped away and so on until the referee calls a halt or someone eventually gets a grip.

Enjoy
Sensai
Richard

Keep Calm And Do Judo: Breathing in Competition, Defense, Stress

How To "Keep Calm And Do Judo"

Calmness is the second of the 30-day skills from Kid power. It is a very powerful tool in life, particularly in high-stress situations. It is also very powerful in Judo, particularly in competition. Here I and going to talk about the idea of “keep calm and do judo”: breathing and its role in competition, defence and the stressful situations of life.

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I regularly use my calmness skills as part of my lifeguard skills in my work. You would think that a pool is a very calming place to be because it is associated with water but it can be surprisingly stressful; given the right set of circumstances. I guess you could say that water doesn't always quench some fires.

The Calm State Of Mind All The Time

To have a calm state of mind all the time is a very desirable thing and it is touted to have many health benefits. Those benefits become part of a kind of feedback loop in that your health contributes to your state of mind.

There are other things that promote calmness; certain foods, exercises, meditation, mindfulness, and exercises that combine both; such as yoga, music, massage, however, none of those are things that can be done in the moment you need to calm down. Breathing in contrast can be done in the spur of the moment.

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I Teach Calmness As Part Of My Self Defence Component

I teach calmness as part of my self-defence component in my self-defence classes. The prime method of becoming calm in a high-stress situation is deep breathing. Many people relate becoming calm with deep breathing as does the kid power. But do you know why breathing is associated with calmness?

It turns out that there is a nerve called the vagus nerve that runs down the neck that is part of the “parasympathetic nervous system”. This is the system that is responsible for returning the body to homeostasis; which is a state of equilibrium, after the fight or flight response.

Keep Calm And Do Judo

A bit technical I know but basically breathing appropriately stimulates the vagus nerve which helps to stimulate the systems that helps calm you. If you are in a high-stress situation, such as defending yourself or in a Judo competition (a state of fight or flight) you still have all that adrenaline in your body but it can be more efficiently used.

For example, if you are initially startled and you freeze up breathing can help unfreeze you. Thus allowing that adrenaline to do its job.

In such situations you want the adrenaline, as it will do several things that you need in fight or flight:

• It may make you think a bit more clearly
• It may make your move a bit faster
• It may make you a bit stronger
• It will reduce your sensation of pain

I say “may” above because while most people will have all these responses, some will not yet everybody will have a reduction ins pain response.

The Advantages In Self Defense, Competition, High-Stress Situation

The advantages of these responses in self-defence, competition or any high-stress situation are obvious so you want to keep the adrenaline flowing whilst you are in them. But you want them in control and you don't want to be in them for long periods of time. Correct breathing will help both during and after such events

Personal Application

I would not want anybody to think that I am always a calm person. Far from it, particularly if I get angry. But other emotions play an important part in life also and keeping things bottled up has its own detrimental effects. However, managing those strong emotions is a part of my life and I have used breathing skills very effectively to that end.

It's worth thinking about and incorporating correct breathing into your daily life and your training.

Enjoy
Sensai
Richard

Judo Grip: How To Get Correct Control Of The Inside Lapel

A Little Video On Judo Grip

Here is a little video (below) on Judo Grip, and it is very good advice.

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As anybody who has read my blog would know that I think practising grip fighting is a very bad idea. If you don't know how to attack from any judo grip you can get, you will be beaten by somebody who does. Your objective is to throw your opponent not get a grip on them.

Besides, watching two Judoka grip fighting in a competition is boring and looks like children playing patter cake rather than serious martial arts.

However, once you get a grip you do need to know what to do with it and Matt gives a very good description of how to use an inside lapel grip. It is not enough to just simply have an inside lapel grip. You have to be able to take advantage of being in that position.

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To make this work as with anything you would have to make sure that you practice this grip until it becomes automatic. Seems obvious I know but a significant number of Judokado do not registrar the word automatic when they are told this.

There is very little time between when you take this grip and when your opponent will attempt to pull you in so you have you won't have time to think about how to use the grip. You have to respond instantly and that requires training until the movement is automatic.

Enjoy
Sensai
Richard

Competition Judo Training: Beating The Stiff Arms Opponent

How To Overcome Stiff Arms In Competition Judo

In my opinion, there really is only one way to deal with a stiff-armed opponent in competition Judo ... Throw them!

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I know it is not that simple but of all the variation that I have been taught over the years, the only ones that ever worked for me in competitions were the ones that involved an actual throw.

But before I detail what I mean by that, let me make one thing very clear: it is only poor competitors that use stiff arms.

These player do it under the mistaken impression that it is a good way to defend and fight.

It's just not true!

A read of the table in this document will show you why. So don't do it.

Not only is it bad Judo it could get you disqualified for "non-combativity".

So if it's illegal why teach to defend against it?

Because whilst the referee is detecting it (and it may take a while as it's not that easy to see quickly) you are having your good contest time ticking away.

Besides if you can beat it before then why wouldn't you?

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Here is my take

So here is my take on dealing with stiff arms, using some videos to help.

This first video by Jimmy Pedro (below) does present some very good options for dealing with stiff arms. He does, however, fail to emphasis the very thing that is from my perspective the most important element and that is drawing or pushing of your opponent into position; though he does show it in the video.

The next video [Link Only] by Judo NYC, in my experience is quite useless in a real contest unless you are up against a very inexperienced opponent. This is because your partner is going to follow you as you move, so you are never going to get around to the side of them. It's not something I would teach my students if only because training to do something that is only ever going to be useful on the odd occasion, is not an efficient use of practice time.

The third video (below) by Kaze Uta Budo Kai is much better except for the very first move. I would never attempt to enter a throw from that far out. Not because of the risk of getting your throw attempt being reversed and you being thrown instead; though that is a possibility. After all, he does skip into it after the initial entry and good practice should avoid that. But rather because from that distance there is a real risk of damage to yourself and your muscles from that position.

If you are going to use the first move you have to make sure you skip in as quick as possible.

Take note that the instructor is all the time drawing in and leading his partner to the setup.

The fourth and last video is basically the traditional method taught and well...

Ok I admit that I am not nor have ever been an Olympic competitor like Matt in this video [Link only]. But I can't believe that people are still teaching this stuff.

The Judo Chop

The Judo Chop? Really?

No I'm not making fun of the name because up until the mid 70's nobody called such a thing a Karate chop. Until then it was always known as a Judo chop.

But even though I know that Matt doesn't mean you to “Strike” because that would be illegal in a contest and could get you disqualified, it doesn't work.

If the “Chop” doesn't work none of the set up's can happen and so the whole thing falls apart.

How do I know that it doesn't work?

Because I've watched hundreds of local contestants try it and I can't recall a single instance where it has worked in a local contest.

If it doesn't work or at best only rarely works in local contest what hope has it in Olympic contest?

No, take the advice of the other video's. Practice throwing whilst making use your opponent's stiff arms. There are many variations, not just the ones I've shown. It's the only way to beat stiff arms.

Enjoy
Sensai
Richard

Judo Randori: 5 Biggest Mistakes Stopping Maximum Efficiency

5 Biggest Mistakes In Judo Randori & How To Avoid Them

Here are the 5 biggest mistakes that I regularly see people make when doing Judo Randori. These mistakes can stop you from winning the contest. If you are a non-contest player then these mistakes will stop maximum efficiency in your Judo.

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Mistake #1 Being Defensive

There is no referee in Randori so you can afford to try stuff that you would never try in competition. I don't mean illegal or dangerous stuff. I mean trying something new. It is no big deal if you lose because there is no scoring. You just get up and try again.

Randori is the perfect place to try that throw that you think will be really useful but you have never perfected in competition. Since there is no scoring what does it matter if you mess it up and get thrown instead of being the thrower?

If you are defensive you miss a great opportunity to learn in the contest environment. Even if you lose, the worst that can happen is you get thrown or you just fail. You have learned what works and what doesn't and hence you win.

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Mistake #2 Only Playing To Win

Only doing Randori to win is fine as long as it is not at the expense of trying something new from time to time. You have to be prepared to lose sometimes if you want to learn and grow. Sure you have to practice what you know and perfect it but if you don't allow for things to change you will eventually lose to those who do.

Mistake #3 Fighting For The Perfect Grip

Grip fighting is boring, non-productive and looks really stupid on the competition mat. Learn to fight from whatever grip you can get instead of playing patter cake, patter cake, baker's man on the mat.

Grip fighting is a purely defensive play. In Randori you just look like an idiot from the side of the mat and you lose to those who couldn't care less what grip they get as long as they have a grip.

I have never been an Olympian and I know that there are coaches who have, that insist that you get your optimal grip. So you have no reason to take my advice on this. But heed my word on this: one day the rules on grip fighting will change; there are already moves in that direction and you will be forced to change or be penalized out of the contest.

I know this because the pendulum always returns to the centre and because there was no grip fighting in the beginnings of judo it will return to that. That also means it is unnecessary.

Randori Learn From Mistakes

You could argue that it is in contest at the moment and therefore you need to practice it. I would counter that if you have practised throwing from whatever grip you can get you will almost always beat the person who is still fighting for their grip whilst you are throwing them.

Randori is the perfect palace to practice non-grip fighting. Practice grip and throw without delay using whatever grip you can get.

Mistake #4 Not Taking Time To Contemplate Your Mistakes

After every Randori session, STOP and think about what happened. Thinking about what you did wrong and right helps you next time.

Mistake #5 Only Practising One-Off Attacks

Combinations always work better. Practice them as well as individual throws

Randori is a fantastic tool for developing your Judo. It is one of the primary forms of training. Don't waste it.

Enjoy
Sensai
Richard

Blind Judoka: A Guide To Visually Impaired Judo

Blind Judoka: A Guide To Visually Impaired Judo

There are a lot of blind Judoka(student). More than you may know. I may be wrong but I believe that Judo was one of the first if not the first, Martial Arts to develop a full set of rules for them (video below).

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It's not a surprise that so many of the blind are attracted to Judo for both self-defence and as a sport because it lends itself readily to that condition.

When I first started out learning I remember being so frequently told "Don't look at your feet" that it is now etched into my brain; just don't tell anybody that I still sneak a look. Throws are always much better executed if you feel your way into them and they take much less time that way.

Even today one of the all-time favourite activities of every one of my students is blind Randori, where every player wears a blindfold; especially Ne Wasa (groundwork). And we were doing this long before it became popular to have Martial Arts movies about special training so that you can win in the dark; though not before Spiderman.

All Jokes aside, every Judoka, not just blind ones need to develop a sense of spacial awareness and a feel for what is going on around them, for practice and contest, let alone self-defence.

What are The Guidelines for Blind Judoka

Even with the popularity of the blind practice, I willing to bet however that most don't know what the rules are for blind judoka competing. It's not complicated as there are only a few changes but they are important variations.

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There are of course varying degrees of blindness but as long as the player is classified as legally blind these guidelines apply.

Watch the video and learn all about them. In fact, why not practice them in your Randori. Between you and me I think that all of Judo could benefit from practising judo this way; at least sometimes. Blind judoka have a lot to teach us.

Enjoy
Sensai
Richard