The Benefits of Judo

Just with any martial art, judo may seem an aggressive and dangerous sport. But the truth is that practicing judo can bring us many benefits, including improving our levels of creativity.

Judo was officially recognized by UNESCO, as one of the most comprehensive sports for children and teenagers. There are many benefits of practicing judo, as it improves your physical and mental health. But what is judo and what are the benefits involved?

What is judo?

Judo is a Japanese martial art. The term judo means ‘’gentle way.’’ It’s a weaponless combat system, where the goal is to knock down the enemy using your own strength to immobilize them.

To do so, you must use techniques that involve physical, mental and emotional strength. People who practice it claim that judo is much more than just a sport, they say it’s a lifestyle.

Your whole body benefits from practicing this sport, it improves your coordination, self-confidence and focus.

People of any age and gender can practice it, even if they have different abilities since it encourages huge respect, not only for yourself, but also for others.

What are the benefits of doing judo?

Physical benefits

Doing judo helps to burn calories. It’s ideal for people who want to practice a comprehensive sport. It’s also a great way to lose weight and stay fit, mostly because it activates your metabolism.

It also benefits your respiratory system because it teaches you how to breath correctly, and focus on your inhalation and exhalation. For that reason, it helps with respiratory disorders, such as asthma, by improving pulmonary ventilation.

Judo can make your cardiovascular system work better, by promoting good blood circulation. It also helps to prevent high blood pressure and other heart conditions.

Doing judo includes learning poses that improve your body balance and increase your muscle elasticity and joint flexibility. All of this reduces the discomfort caused by conditions such as, arthrosis.

This martial art regulates your digestive functions, facilitating your intestinal motility. It even tones up organs such as your liver and pancreas. The techniques and poses you learn have positive effects on your nervous system; they improve your memory and increase your pain resistance.

Judo is obviously beneficial to tone your muscles and keep your body in harmony with your mind. However, from an emotional and mental point of view, the contribution it makes is even greater.

Mental benefits

Practicing this sport improves your psychomotor learning, promoting a physical and mental balance. This results in personal growth and development.

Judo is a great way to encourage respect for yourself and others. It’s a perfect sport to overcome shyness and manage aggressiveness.

Shy people can lose the fear of making contact with strangers, and they can learn to express themselves through their own body by practicing judo. It also improves the confidence in their own abilities.

It’s a great way to let go of all your negative feelings. Judo can teach you to correct aggressive behaviors, by increasing your tolerance to frustration, in a constructive way.

Self-esteem boost

Judo can help you to improve your self-esteem. Practicing it frequently can give you self-confidence, an optimistic outlook and put you in a good mood, all at the same time.

Staying focused is just as important when you’re training, as it is in your daily life. People who practice this sport become used to thinking, before acting. They tend not to become carried away with their emotions during difficult times.

Judo’s a sport that benefits those who practice it in every way. With a few exceptions, it’s suitable for any person, regardless of their age or gender.

You can practice this martial art to compete, although most of the time, students prefer to learn the easier techniques for recreational reasons only.

But, the benefits for your health are undeniable and totally recommended by experts. Practicing judo increases the ability of each person to grow physically and mentally in a harmonious manner.

This Japanese martial art is much more than just a sport. It provides the necessary tools to train your body while you develop useful skills. It shapes your character and helps you to be in balance within yourself, and with others.