Judo & Knee problems

source

Hi all

I used to practice Judo many years ago (during childhood) but due to injury shied away from it. I'm now considering getting back into it and was wondering if anyone could give some advice.

I have dislocated my right knee a number of times and my left knee once. I have done a lot of physical work to build my legs up and try to somewhat rectify the problem.

I have done self defence classes through work but would like to back this up with further continued training, also i reckon it will help with fitness and it's something to get me out of the house of an evening.

My question (finally) is will my injuries cause difficulties for me training in Judo or will i just have to be careful?

Any advice/help will be appreciated.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Difficult one this.

**dammit I've typed & deleted so many replies to this**

My advice, in simple terms is to seek medical advice re. getting back to training for starters, then drop into your Judo club and speak to the instructors.

If you want to ask online first I'd suggest you also post over on judoforum.com. I know from using that site over the years that there's a huge amount of info on knee issue's in Judo.

Boston

The knees are a big thing in judo as you know. You'll probably be ok for training, the question is over randori and competition. I'd get a medical opinion on the condition of the knee and assuming all went well take things easy.

just-joe

Don't want to scare you but at the last comp I was at no less than 4 knees were dislocated! This was due to a number of reasons obviously, but I think Boston is right when he says you have to be careful about competition. It gets a lot rougher in the heat of the moment. On a whole though I would think you'd be ok, light randori should be grand on the knees, but the best thing to do would be to seek medical advice, and be careful on the mat.

I was kinda wondering about this too, in relation to drop seoi/kata-guruma attacks. Would doing these throws for a prolonged amount of time cause knee problems?

arybvtcw0eolkf

just-joe wrote: »

light randori should be grand on the knees

"Light Randori" usually lasts all of about 5 seconds in most places I've trained :P

just-joe

Yaretzi Mealy Lawyer wrote: »

"Light Randori" usually lasts all of about 5 seconds in most places I've trained :P

Funny ya mention that actually, its a problem we have in our club at the moment... all the higher grades can manage it ok if they're reminded a couple of times to take it easy, not worry about grips too much... but all the beginners finish some "light randori" and are gasping for air, falling all over the place! Its a shame that in judo people can't compute the words "use skill not strength!"..

source

Hey all thanks for the advice, i thought that i'd need to seek medical advice but was kinda hoping to avoid giving the doc €60 when i don't really have to

arybvtcw0eolkf

just-joe wrote: »

Funny ya mention that actually, its a problem we have in our club at the moment... all the higher grades can manage it ok if they're reminded a couple of times to take it easy, not worry about grips too much... but all the beginners finish some "light randori" and are gasping for air, falling all over the place! Its a shame that in judo people can't compute the words "use skill not strength!"..

Only once have I trained in a club where everyone from white to black belt were thought & encouraged to use Kuzushi (breaking balance) and where Uchikomi was practiced until you were nearly sick.

And I think they're really the essence of learning Judo, otherwise everything is scrappy, brute force & ignorance.

No matter what style is being practiced beginner will always gasp, its through a combination of being nervous of being thrown, submitted, choked, punched, kicked and in the case of Judo not understanding the fundimentals like Balance, grips, Uchikomi etc.

Anyway, thats getting way off topic and would need another thread.

OP, don't give up just yet. Drop down to a club, talk to the instructors. Most will be sympathetic & understanding because most will have encountered some knee problems over the years.

Dyr

I work right next door to a judo class but, as much as I'd like to, I have'nt gone near it. My knee's are knackered so randori etc is not going to be my friend. Not much point in taking something up if your ability to participate is very limited.

Burnt

I lack any medical training and my advices is based on soley on my experiences, so take what i say on that basis.

But I would strongly recommend that if you do go back to Judo to stay as
far away from Tai otoshi as you can both throwing and being thrown. Other
than that I would think that drop techniques wouldn't really be your friend
neither is any excess weight.

Work really hard on your Ukemi/breakfalls.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Burnt wrote: »

I lack any medical training and my advices is based on soley on my experiences, so take what i say on that basis.

But I would strongly recommend that if you do go back to Judo to stay as
far away from Tai otoshi as you can both throwing and being thrown. Other
than that I would think that drop techniques wouldn't really be your friend
neither is any excess weight.

Work really hard on your Ukemi/breakfalls.

Tai otoshi is a killer for me, although a technique I like to pull out in randori/competition its something I hate to drill.

Since training in a club which focus's on Ashi Waza my need problems have all but disappeared because prior to this my one big technique was a drop seoi.