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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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