The Importance of Training Partners

When two players are roughly the same size and have roughly the same level of skills, it is very natural for them to gravitate towards each other. If everyone else is way bigger, stronger, more experienced or skilled, it can be demoralizing. On the other hand, if everyone else is smaller, weaker, less experience or less skilled, training can be become boring. That's why it's important to have someone who is more or less the same level as you during training.

This is a luxury. Judo is not a popular sport and in many judo clubs, you will see a mismatch where very big players have to train with very small players or a solitary black belt has only beginners to train with and so on. If you happen to be in a club where you can find a suitable training partner (or better still, partners), then you can count yourself to be very lucky.

At our club, we have two players -- beginners -- who started around the same time. One is a bit heavier than the other and the lighter one is a bit taller, so they aren't perfectly suited for each other, but in terms of experience and skills level, they are about the same. Strength level too.

They are good for training with each other, sparring (in randori) with each other and competing against each other (in shiai). And they enjoy it too. Both tell me they really like fighting each other.

The fact that they have each other is a positive thing in two very important respects. Firstly, when you have a regular training partner, you will show up for training more often because you don't want to let them down.

There may be days when you are too tired or when your body is aching or when you simply feel too lazy to train. If you don't have a training partner expecting you to come for training, you might just skip training for that day. But if you know your buddy will be left with no one suitable to train with, you will get off your ass and head over to the dojo. You don't want to let them down because you know when you need them, they will be there for you.

Secondly, when you have a training partner who is roughly on the same level as you, it spurs you on to train harder and to progress faster in your judo. Why? Because you don't want to be left behind by your partner. If the person you are training with all the time is improving you will naturally feel the need to keep up or better still, surpass them. And they will feel the same way. Each will spur the other on.

This is why it's important to have a regular training partner (or partners). If you have one, or two or three, better treasure them. They are a rarity and you should never take them for granted. They are the ones who will make your training enjoyable and your progress in judo will be so much faster and smoother when you have them around.