Learning to Appreciate the Difficulty of Judo

For many, judo sparks an instant love affair. But for my 11 year old self, it was anything but a love story. Nearly a decade later, it’s crazy to reflect on how my connection with judo has blossomed into a love story.

Being an 11-year-old who was shy and a bit chubby, the demands of starting judo felt especially intense, as it’s a tough sport even for those who are fit. The warm-ups, the endless throws and falls, and the sheer intensity that comes with practicing judo left me baffled as to why anyone would willingly come to class and torture themselves. I refused to continue judo, making up excuses to skip practice and even avoiding walking past the dojo. It was not only physically exhausting but also mentally challenging, as seeing any progress felt nearly impossible due to the fact that I was constantly being thrown while never managing to throw anyone myself.

Reluctantly continuing judo, I unexpectedly discovered what I love most about it, which turned out to be the very thing I had initially detested. At IJC, I learned that everyone faces the same uphill battle of self-improvement. That shared challenge is the glue that unites our judo family and keeps the bond so strong.

As a judoka, being “the best” is impossible; there will always be others who are stronger, faster, more athletic, or more technical. As an athlete, I’ve come to appreciate the difficulty of striving to be the greatest judoka I can be. It’s the challenge of improvement that fuels my commitment to practice, especially on tough days, providing a healthy outlet to relieve stress and escape external distractions.

While it was difficult to reach this state of mind as an athlete, it is exponentially harder to impart it onto others as a coach. This struggle can be seen across all ages, backgrounds and experience levels. Despite putting in so much effort throughout the week, students find it hard to recognize their progress and remain motivated. Instead of valuing the journey of learning, connecting with others, and building confidence, many people become overly fixated on comparing their progress. While fleeting satisfaction might come from throwing someone in randori or earning a medal at a competition, there comes a time when that instant gratification ends and you must delay it to focus on the bigger picture. In that bigger picture, judokas realize that judo is an incredibly challenging sport, and it is the  journey, not the results, that make it enjoyable.  When someone asks me what I have learned in my decade of judo, I don’t talk about the medals or the throws; I thank judo for changing my life by teaching me to appreciate the difficulty that leads to growth.