Chihiro

Now, I realize that law and judo have so much in common : the fights, the need to win, the long hours of dedication and hard work, the control of emotions, the situation analysis, the search of rational solutions to imminent problems. Why law ? Because when your body gives up, your mind remains. But when your mind gives up, nothing remains.

1- Judo starts with the respect of basic rules : respect of the training partners (no make-up, no jewels, proper clothes), respect of the moral code (humility, respect, self-control).

2- Training long hours is useless without focus. When entering a dojo, everything else must be left behind : problems, friends, boyfriends and all feelings. Without focus, don’t enter the dojo. Otherwise your partners lose their time because of you or risk to be injured.

3- Dojos are not dating rooms or meeting rooms. While training one hour, judo must be in your mind every second of this hour. This is the judo mindset and attitude.

4- Judo requires a perfect self control of emotions. Being angry is counterproductive in judo. Bad fighters let their emotions control them. Bad fighters forget to breathe. Bad fighters get angry when they lose. Bad fighters don’t move properly because they are guided by emotions. Bad fighters get jealous when they see better players. Control of emotions is a prerequisite to be able to win. Technical skills without emotions control will never bring victory.

5 – Judo is like chess. You have to think fast, to analyze the opponent style and remain calm in every situations. Judo is not a weight training, brain use is required.

6- You must embrace physical pain. Pain is part of the deal. If you can’t embrace pain, you will always be weak. Weak people can’t win. Weak people complain at every occasion. Weak people victimize themselves and justifies their loss by physical pain. Pain is part of the judo journey.

7- You must embrace self-ego injuries. During training, prefer to lose against 10 opponents who are better than you rather than smash 10 opponents weaker than you. Your training partners make the difference. Good training partners will make competitions look easy. Bad training partners give the illusion of your superpower and you will get delusional during competitions with people out of your team.

8- Your training partners often are at the same time, friends and rivals. Your team often become a second family. Seeing a partner who wins even if you lose, should always bring a smile on your face.

9- Give back what has been given to you. Time, investment, belief, energy. Judo is not an individual sport, judo team is a community where each other contributes by giving something.

10- Be patient when you start. You are going to lose and lose and lose again. Be patient on your way. The higher the level, the harder the progress, the longest it takes for little steps.

11- Be open minded. There are as many technical skills variations as they are athletes around the world. If you train in other countries, maybe you will prefer your home training team. But you will definitely learn something new along the way abroad. Even if you miss your team, your coaches and your training partners 😉