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Roy Inman, judo teacher in
London schools and team manger judo to British squad for 15 years.
“If monitored correctly, it
would be a great idea. Of course, you would have to have experienced
coaches-it’s no good getting some PE teacher to do a four-week crash and
then try to teach martial art.
But there are many pluses to
kids learning judo, for example, at school. One of the most important is
the physical contact that judo gives, unlike most other sports. Most
children have very little physical contact with each other, but what
they do have is aggression. Judo allows physical contact in a controlled
manner - and I have found it helps relax the kids and lessen any future
hostile confrontations. Children are nervous of each other - you have
only got to watch a group of new first years. The physical contact of
judo helps ease these nerves.
The mat is also a great place
to expend al the pent up energy. I have over the years reached the opine
that the judo actually lifts
discipline levels. Even the most hyper-active and uncontrollable kids
develop etiquette and self-control. After all, judo is not a violent
sport. It is one of the few combat sports whose aim is not to hurt or
maim. If someone does get injured, it is an accident.
Another beauty of judo is that
everyone can do it. It gives even the most non-athletic shaped kids
something they can be good at. This just doesn’t happen in all their
other sports, especially ball games where you’ve either got
co-ordination or you haven’t, introduce judo and it will help those who
don’t normally stand out to shine.
Judo can be ultra-competitive
- but even children who don’t like one-to-one competition can still
measure their progress with the grading system. In this way, they
compete against themselves by improving judo skills and this builds
their selfconfidence.
Other sports have tried to
copy this sort of system - but really the grading system is unique to
the martial arts.
Specific Shiai preparation
requires planning ,various elements have to be in place one of which is
to peak for the event I call this Sharpening (other terminology used is
peradization programmes the sharpening is the final training period pre
contest) this would follow the final six week general preparation
programme the emphasis is on shia uchi-komi and nagi-komi concentrating
on the individuals shia wa.zas with speed, accuracy and timing with fast
gripping all top priority areas .in other words look sharp be sharp feel
sharp (SSS) Recovery rate programme has already been done in previous
weeks but this aspect is monitored within the Sharpening sessions so as
to maintain levels already reached. Probable possible opposition wazas,
grips, postures and stances is also a factor incorporated and considered
when devising the drills .Randori is essential part of the Sharpening
period each practice should be treated as shia (though your opponent may
not be aware of this) and be as fresh as possible for each practice do
not use the session as fitness and recovery training (ie do not go to
the failure and recovery phase) be very motivated and specific On
attacks with the aftitude of expecting to score not hoping to.. Ne-waza
opportunity and follow though must be incorporated into the randori
session and opponents should be aware of this so as to give the proper
response mat space safety must also be controlled with the tachiwaza
newaza combined policy a average newaza time allocation on this aspect
would be 15 seconds approx .this time allocation should be monitored by
the coach as players do tend to spend longer than is required in newaza
randori the newaza training should emulate what will happen in the
actual shiai EIJF referee policy of standing players up if no immediate
score looks likely.
Time allocation for the
Sharpening phase would be approximately 2weeks ( 6 randori sessions) pre
travel to the event . the rest time management aspect and monitoring
should be strictly enforced as panic training pre event can suddenly
manifest itself within the sharpening period .The objective of the 3 SSS
is to boost the confidence of the player they also feel prepared. To
undertake and achieve this standard of preparation Requires to have a
high degree of the general fitness elements strength flexibility and
muscular endurance With a judo recovery rate training drills a core
element of the programme
COMBAT JUDO
My definition of a judo skill is
something that works in a competitive situation. A lack of systenI~tic
teaching in judo all too often creates a dabblers mentality. A player
can at national training and club sessions and on international courses
during the course of the year be presented with dozens of ~ techniques
and combinations by various coaches. To establish a skill in any one or
two of these techniques requires planning. It takes time for the
individual to absorb the basic movements and they must then be able to
incorporate it into, their own
established judo patterns,
therefore it must be realised that a commitment to develop a technique
into a contest skill can be along term affair. The decision must not be
taken lightly
During the course of my years
of experience in coaching teams and players I have developed various
guide lines:
I. Look at your current major
throws and what they normally score. Look at the minor throws and what
they normally score. Is there an obvious weakness? e.g. The lack of a
throw to one side or to one angle? The lack of a throw against a
particular defence in extreme circumstances? The lack of a throw against
a particular opponent?
2.Only decide on a throw if it
not only suits the situation but also suits your own ability, size and
movement pattern eg. (it’s probably not worth a man over 6ft 6ins to
adopt morote seoinage as a special study)
3. First of
all consider the basic mechanics:
a. Look at the ideal grip.
b. Look at the entries - which
is the quickest and/or most effective entry? To by pass, slip or blast
through the opponents defenses? One step? Two steps? Jump in? Hop in?
Pull the opponents body onto you? Or set a trap so that he walks into
it?
c.Establish in your own mind
the direction of he throw.
d. Which is the ideal
stance/posture from which to attack?
e. To get the best result
should the opponent be moving or static? If moving then in which
direction?
f. Devise the uchi-komi
sequences, to begin with standing still and practising the established
entry with the occasional completion of the technique.
g.Start to incorporate
movement at first with just the one step pattern then gradually
introducing variety and covering large areas of the mat. h. After some
time has passed the technique should be ready to be introduced into the
randori session. Initially attempted against lighter and/or less
experienced players
4. Once fluency
has been obtained and you are sure in your own mind exactly what you are
trying to achieve, gradually introduce it into harder randori’s and
eventually into your contest programmes.
Additional Factors
Very often a new skill needs
time to settle down. This cannot be forced, sometimes it can fail for
months and then suddenly appear as if from nowherç as a mature contest
technique. The golden rule is to establish
First impressions are often
very crucial, so the first impression made upon the ‘body memory’ should
be the correct ones. Make each aspect of the throw - entry, lift,
rotation - precise. You should be very clear what you are aiming to do
at each point in the throw. It is not enough to just leap in with a fast
and extravagant movement and hope that it will work. Only when the throw
is becoming established should you consider spin off’s from the
movement, in terms of other opportunities or combinations. The study
should also be undertaken of counters to your particular movement or
throw. The understanding Of counters to your favourite throw is ~is
important as a study of the throw itself.
Players and coaches should
always remember that an important part of the judo skill (what works) is
very often linked to correct tactics and strategy and the fitness of the
player. When a player becomes tired his timing goes, his level of
co-ordination decreases and he ceases to think clearly. A fit player can
concentrate on his opponent, a tired player goes on the defensive and
makes mistakes. The objective of fitness in judo is very simple and very
specific: you are developing fitness in order to maintain your skill
level.
Of all the major throws seen
in top tournaments uchi-mata and seoi-nage (all types and entries) are
in my experience the most used; closely followed by ashi-waza’ s of
various descriptions, the most successful of which is ko-uchi-gari/gake.
Sutemi-waza’s like tomoenage and yoko guruma can also be very prevalent
in some tournaments.
The conclusion I have reached
over the years is that a top player has in his or her repertoire a
technical range of four to six throws with an average of two attacks in
ne-wa.za, and within this repertoire a standard ‘~-range of counter
techniques against particular styles of opponents. A rule of thumb I try
to use as a coach is to introduce skills that suit the player’s physique
and temperament and to produce training situations which make the skills
into automatic responses from the players.
Champion of the World
Kate Howey
THE PREPARATION
At the 1997 world
championships in Paris Kate became U66 Kg World Champion (forever
with category changes next year!) It did not just happen; a great deal
of planning, preparation and time was involved. Players like Kate
require an infrastructure containing seven elements. Listed below are
what I call
MAGNIFICENCE SEVEN
1. EXPERIENCE (coach &
player)
If a coach is going to prepare
a player for a~ major competition ie. Worlds or Olympic Games he has to
have an in depth knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the
player.
In the case of Kate Howey she
first got into a British National Squad aged 15 and I have been involved
in her coaching and preparation since.
During this period she became
Junior World Champion and went on to win a World silver medal (senior)
and various European medals not forgetting her Olympic bronze in 1992
games and A class Golds. Her experience is second to none.
2.
CONDiTIONING
Cardiovascular (recovery rate
training - 4 session per week)
Sprints, running, circuits and
speed/power uchikomi, with a weights training system inclusive of a
muscular endurance & slrength gaining module (always making sure and
monitoring that it had relevance to improving. Kate’s judo ie.weight
lifts that are throw specific)
3. COMPETITION
Two objectives in this
element: first to compete jn events and achieve results which would get
her selected for the World Championships ie. A class events and
Europeans (also using these events and others as preparation training
eg.British Open etc.) With such a comprehensive contest schedule it was
possible to put together a video index of probable and possible
opposition which was to become invaluable in the skills sessions
element.
4.RANDORI.
Structured randori is an
indispensable part of Kate’s preparation. It enables her to try new
skills and also maintain work on established skills with a pressure
training system included to improve match fitness (she had 4 sessions
per week: at Dartford,)
5.SKILLS
Eight weeks before the Worlds
we reviewed video of Kate’s previous and most recent fights. I analysed
her strengths and weaknesses and devised uchikomi drills geared to what
was actually happening in the contest situation, taking into account the
following: different opponents and styles, also their grips and
postures. Special attention was paid to the Korean and German players
(which with hindsight was most fortunate as they became her Semi & Final
opponents at the World Championships). The randori sessions were
plann’éd with a feedback dialogue ie. What’s working or not. Monitoring
and testing of judo fitness was also part of the Skills Element
sessions. I Would take Kate to her physical limit - with a judo circuit
we nicknamed “devil training” -whilst endeavouring to keep her skill,
entries and throws accurate. We linked this with recovery rate work.
These mat session were one-on-one, 2 per week( mornings). Kate’s
training schedule consisted of a seven day week; five working days, two
resting. The rest aspect was very important, this enabled her to recover
in time for the next session.
6.
PSYCHOLOGICAL
One of the major aspects of a
good performance is confidence. It can be easily shaken’ by many factors
but it is hard to erode if you have established it through good
preparation. Kate knew at the Worlds she was well prepared. She knew her
opponents and had tactical and visualisation plans in place. She also
knew
• she was as fit as it was
possible to be anci she had fought and beaten most of her probable
opponents. My emphasis in training was to remind her of this aspect as
often as possible and point out just how worried the opposition was
about her. You could tell she was really confident (as the day
progressed at the Worlds her confidence grew). It became apparent that
when she attacked she expected to score rather than hoped to. This
increased her follow through and she scored more ippons.
Physically and Technically prepared =
Psychologically prepared
7.
RESOURCES
To undertake a World
Championships competition and training programme requires resources ie.
money for: facilities, transport, food, fees and equipment. Kate’s
situation was that she was sponsored by Twinings Tea with the use of a
car without which it would have been impossible to travel to the
required veni~es. The majority of petrol costs had to be paid by her
(she had a part time job) other costs were funded by her father, family
or friends which paid for other living expenses. The B.J.A. pay for full
International trips and give a small food supplement for training camps.
She also had a grant from the S.A.F but has had to borrow money to
supplement her expenditure on training (not forgetting my fees which are
huge! I wish!!)
The Seven Elements mentioned
are only covered in abbreviated form in this article. To cover them in
real depth would require a lot more space than is available here.
QUOTES
The players make the coach.
The coach who thinks his talent for coaching is more than the talent of
his player is an idiot.
Coaches are best when people
barely know they exist; not so good when people obey or acclaim them;
worse when they despise them. But of good coaches who talk little, when
their work is done, their aim fulfiled, their charges will say “we did
this ourselves”.
Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching (sixth
century)
ROY INMAN 7th DAN
OBE (JUDO CV)
CURRENT
POSITIONS
A LONDON BUDOKWAI COACH
HIGH PERFORMANCE COACH
UNIVERSITY of BATH
A BJA DIRECTOR OF COACHING
(NBC)
A NATIONAL SENIOR EXAMINER
NVQ EXAMINER & ASSESSOR
MEMBER BJA NATIONAL COUNCIL
PREVIOUSEXPERIENCE
AND POSITIONS HELD
MEMBER OF BJA BOARD OF
DIRECTOR (1OYEARS)
CHAIRMAN NATIONAL GRADING
COMMISSION
AUTHOR OF CURRENT DAN GRADE
SYLLABUS)
AUTHOR OF VARIOUS BOOKS ON
JUDO
BJA REGIONAL CHAIRMAN NHC AREA
(13 YEARS)
PERSONAL
COMPETITION CAREER
A BRITISH INTERNATIONAL
(1OYEARS)
WORLD AND EUROPEAN
CHAMPIONSHIPS PLAYER)
COACHING EXPERIENCE CURRENT
& PREVIOUS
BRITISH WOMAN TEAM COACH &
MANAGER (16 YEARS)
OLYMPIC COACH AT SYDNEY
OLYMPIC GAMES
BRITISH OLYMPIC COACH & TEAM
MANAGER SEOUL OLYMPICS
BRITISH OLYMPIC COACH & TEAM
MANAGER BARCELONA OLYMPICS
BRITISH ESPIORS &MEN’S COACH
(4YEARS)
A BRITISH NATIONAL COACH (5
YEARS)
AWARDED INTERNATIONAL A COACH
OF THE YEAR ( NCF AWARD)
QUALIFIED B.A.W.L.A COACH
QUALIFIED TRAMPOLINE COACH
RESULTS WITH BRITISH TEAMS
AS A PERSONAL COACH
8 WORLD CHAMPIONS
13 WORLD TITLES
6 OLYMPIC MEDALS
7
WORLD SILVER MEDALS
12 WORLD BRONZE MEDALS
10 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS
19 EUROPEAN TITLES
15 EUROPEAN SILVER MEDALS
31 EUROPEAN BRONZE MEDALS
6 Commonwealth Games Gold
Medals
3 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONS
3 TIMES SENIOR EUROPEAN TEAM
CHAMPIONS COACH
2 TEAM SILVER
2 TEAM BRONZE
115 (A) TOURNAMENT MEDALS
GOLD, SILVERS & BRONZE
AWARDED OBE (SERVICES TO JUDO)
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