To improve in judo, do more judo: Part 2

At KL Judo, we don't spend a lot of time on physical fitness training although on some sessions we do HIIT exercises as warm up drills.

There is a practical reason why we don't devote too much time to physical fitness training. Our players, who are either students or working adults (not full-time athletes) don't have that much time to spend on judo training so whatever time they have should be spent on judo skills training.

Weight training, running, calisthenics, etc... etc... can all be done outside of judo session and can be done at their own time. They don't necessarily need a judo training partner to do any of these things.

They can't however train in judo without a training partner. They also can't train in judo without a mat area. So, when they are in the dojo with training partners ready to go, they should be spending their time doing judo.

Should judo players supplement their judo training with jogging, swimming, weight training etc.. All these things build up your fitness and your strength and that must be helpful, right? Of course. And these are things you could do and should do if you are a full-time athlete who does judo twice a day and are up to your neck in judo already.

When you've done enough judo that it doesn't make sense for you to do any more judo than you already do, it makes all the sense in the world to do these supplemental training. When I was training full-time as a competitor in the early-90s, I did judo twice a day. I also ran and did weights. But I was a full-time athlete then.

None of my players is a full-time athlete. They are either students or have got 9-to-5 jobs. Most come for training only two or three times a week. If they really want to improve their judo, any free evening they have should be spent on the judo mat rather than running or doing weight training.

If you are already doing tons of judo and still have the time (and energy) to do weights and running and other physical activities that build up fitness, strength and agility, by all means do them. But how many people have that luxury?

So, whenever a player asks me: What should I do to improve my judo?, I always tell them the same thing: Do more judo. It is as simple as that.