Originally posted by Harrier88
I was actually kind of forced to take judo as a child.I never cared for that sport, but my grade school teacher used to do it and thought that it could benefit me, so he recommended it to my parents and they sent me there. While I didn't enjoy it for the most part, I do think that the constant body control exercises, especially the falling techniques (known as Ukemi, I believe), ended up helping me later in life. Not only in other sports like rugby where safe falling can prevent a lot of injuries, but also in some situations like roughly four years ago, when I fell off a ladder at work
In all my life I had several learning experiences that I hated, but I've never had cause to regret knowing something.
On the subject of falling: I played soccer at age 10 to 12, and somewhere in there I learned to tuck in my head as I fell, landing on my shoulder, rolling, and ending up on my feet. I don't know if that qualifies as Ukemi. In my early thirties, I was leaving the door of our house, stepped on a toy, and did exactly that. Mrs Vorpal was stunned.
Originally posted by taavi1337
Younger son (7) won judo wrestling competition this morning. I love how he used strategy and mindfulness. "*Looking over shoulder*: "Oh, the outer border is behind me, I stop now and push the opponent that is pushing me."" Congratz to him.
Congratulations to your son! Terrific confidence boost!
