Typical advice in training is to make sure you are keeping track of what you are actually doing. Why? It keeps the momentum going and ensures a sense of direction. However, it is very important that you are covering all the areas.
In Judo, you might want to be keeping a look at:
- JUDO: Well, duh. This isn’t so much “I went to training today”. It is making a personal note as to what was covered in the session and what you got out of it. What were your strengths? Weaknesses? How were you feeling? What do you think you need to work on next time? Anything you forgot to ask your coach but should bring up next time? What are your short-term and long-term goals? Did you rely on your tokui-waza too much? Same applies for competitions. What did you learn? Why did you lose? What would you do differently next time? Did you win but feel you won ‘cheaply’?
- SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING: What weights did you lift? How far did you run? Was it easy? Hard? Is anything a bit more sore than it should be? Think you can push harder next time? By the way, I think we can put ‘Reading’ as a supplementary here, so have you read up on a few combinations that you would like to try next time in Randori?
- NUTRITION: You can lift all the weights in the world but if you are living on pizza you are not going to be getting all the benefits. Keep it logged, check you are within your limits. Are you getting enough protein? Not ODing on carbs? I recommend Gyminee for this (note you can also track your workouts!)
- REST: Yes, sometimes you need to log that you’re not actually doing anything. Rest days are important. Your cardio and your muscles do not improve at the instant you are training. It happens when you are asleep. Take appropriate days off, get plenty of sleep!
Here’s my own story to illustrate some of the above points.
When I started Judo, I lost over a stone just from Judo training itself. I hadn’t really exercised in the previous 10 years since leaving school, apart from occasionally getting motivated to go to the gym, then losing that motivation again. Going to the gym for its own sake eventually lost appeal.
Judo gave me the motivation. I love Judo. Going to the gym, or out for a run, to help improve my fitness for Judo was a purpose in its own right.
However, I did nothing about my nutrition. I was still knocking back pizza and my carb levels must have been through the route. So I’ve always remained overweight. Nicely at the top end of the U90s category but hardly looking like a ‘Judo athlete’.
Then, due to various factors (Getting my Dan grade, breaking a toe, Christmas, lazyness!) I stopped going to the gym and training so much. I put on a bit of weight again.
I’m now back at it, only this time tracking my nutrition as well. This sense of direction means I have not just cut back on intake, but I am eating the right things: Lots more protein, much less carbs! Keeping everything in balance. White bread is replaced with brown. No butter. No full-fat drinks…. all sensible changes in their own right.
It’s a start and I am only three weeks in. I am losing weight and my body fat is dropping. Controlled. Still hitting the weights to minimise muscle loss (and I’m still seeing gains right now, so I must have hit the sweet spot!)
Track all the factors. Missing just one of them will stunt your Judo development.
