Despite the surging popularity of kickboxing in the United States, judo remains the most widely practiced martial art in the world. The sport incorporates flexibility, strength, and stretching in each practice. Physical and mental aspects of self-discipline are required, and players are expected to compete fairly and avoid rude or dangerous behavior. However, no sport is risk-free, cautions Jon Shepard, PT, PhD, HealthSouth Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Omaha, Nebraska. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that defensive players sustain the majority of injuries in all martial arts, and that more injuries occur during tournaments than in practice.
Experts recommend participants master defensive techniques before learning offensive moves.
Such a warm-up will increase heart rate and blood flow to all the muscle groups and increase internal temperature a little. These activities will help the muscle groups improve their ability to accommodate the upcoming motions. Stretching of the major muscle groups is also vital to begin lengthening the muscles and their attached ligaments, joints, and tendons prior to the onset of the stresses of physical combat. Although the International Olympic Committee considers it a combat sport, there is no kicking or striking in judo. Instead, competitors use speed, cunning, and superior technique to get their opponents off balance, then throw or pin them to the mat.