9 Reasons To Make Judo Your Next Fitness Hobby

What is Judo?

Judo is a type of martial art which originated in nineteenth century Japan. The word means ‘gentle way’, and the object is to throw your opponent, using quick movements including grappling. Judo practitioners aim to use their opponent’s strength to their advantage. It’s important to practice ‘clean throws’ using safe pressure to the neck or arm joints. Judo can also involve thrusts and strikes using the feet or hands. However, these moves are often not permitted as part of competitions. Those who practice judo are often referred to as j?d?ka. Judo is now practised as a sport as well as a martial art. Back in 1964 it became an Olympic sport (for men only), and then in 1992, it was also added as a women’s event.

The benefits of Judo

1 . Get your cardio fix

Practicing judo is the perfect way to burn calories and improve your metabolism. If you’re looking to lose weight and get your weekly cardio fix, judo is a fantastic exercise to practice.

2. Improved respiratory health

Judo also has benefits for your respiratory health. A big part of the practice focuses on breathing correctly and healthy breathing techniques for sport. Learning how to properly inhale and exhale, throughout your judo practice, can also help you to pay attention to your bodily movements.

3. Improved cardiovascular health

Vigorous exercise helps to improve your cardiovascular health, increasing blood circulation and decreasing the risk of heart conditions and high blood pressure. Taking care of your cardiovascular health is increasingly important as you age and taking up a new sport is one of the best ways to do so.

4. Improve core strength and balance

Practicing judo will help you to build your core strength over time. Not only will your body become stronger, but you’ll be less prone to injuries, for example when lifting objects or bending down. You’ll learn postures which will allow you to improve your balance, increase the flexibility of your joints and the elasticity of your muscles.

5. Tone your body

Looking to tone up but finding it difficult? Judo is the perfect exercise to tone your body. When you first start practicing judo, you’ll find that it’s very physically challenging. It’s normal to feel tired, and your muscles may feel heavy the next day. Over time, you’ll notice that your body adjusts to the sport, and you’ll find that you’re more toned and energetic. When you first start out with judo, it can be useful to practice yoga to support your muscles.

6. Better mental health

Judo is an amazing way to improve your mental health; you’ll find that this safe contact sport is a healthy way to release stress. When you are feeling stressed out releasing endorphins is the best way to feel better. The more that you work sports into your weekly routine, the more you’ll improve your mood and unwind.

7. Boost your confidence

Trying something new is always a challenge; it can be daunting at first and even cause you a little anxiety. The great thing is that once you conquer that fear, you’ll give your confidence a real boost. Each time you practice judo, you’ll see a little improvement, and over time you’ll feel a real sense of achievement as your skills begin to grow.

8. The social aspect

Trying a new sport usually comes with a social aspect, you get to meet like-minded people, discuss the sport, and maybe even attend social events. Taking up a new sport isn’t just about the physical benefits, it’s an act of self-care which can do wonders for your social life and self esteem.

9. Judo competitions

Last up, if you start getting really into the judo scene, you might like to try competing in a few competitions. Practicing judo at a competitive level is a fun way to boost your confidence and potentially gain a few wins! Competitions are a fantastic way to motivate your sports practices, giving you a goal to aim for.

To practice Judo, you’ll need to purchase the correct clothing; you’ll find that the rest of the equipment will be provided by the judo class or club. For some top quality judo clothing check out Valor Fightwear. Due to current social distancing measures, many gyms across the globe are yet to re-open. Fortunately, we should see this change in the weeks to come. For now, plenty of gyms are offering online classes, including live and interactive judo lessons.