Today I took part in a session focusing on getting back into judo, with a particular emphasis on two techniques: Uranaage and Kouchigari.
The Uranaage made a particularly strong impression on me, especially the way you secured the belt and the position backwards to throw the partner.
It’s a movement that requires a lot of energy, and at 43, I have to admit that my body reminds me that it’s not 15 years old any more! I used a falling mat to spare my back and joints.
The Kouchigari with the right foot caused me a few difficulties, particularly because of the pain in my adductor muscle. I recognised the consequences of my office life and my deep muscle imbalances.
This pain in my adductor reminds me of the pain I had during my triathlon training.
It’s still bearable, but it’s a warning signal that I shouldn’t ignore.
I also feel fatigue in the deep muscles, particularly in the abdominal and lumbar areas.
It’s as if my body were saying to me: “Hey, it’s been 27 years since you asked me to make these efforts, take it easy!”
Despite this slight warning, the calm and positive atmosphere of the class, with no randori, enabled me to concentrate fully on technique and managing falls.
I’ll have to work at home to strengthen my back muscles and abdominal muscles.
Like an old house that needs to be consolidated before it can withstand new stresses, my body needs to find its foundations.
I’m also going to do some stretching for my adductor muscle and avoid cycling to work for a few days.
I’m gradually learning to measure my efforts, and not to want to do too much too quickly.
Perhaps that’s the wisdom that comes with age.
This return to judo after almost three decades away reminds me of the importance of listening to my body.
At 15, I could do training after training without batting an eyelid; at 43, I have to respect my limits and accept that recovery takes longer.
It’s a lesson in humility that also applies to my daily life.
When I feel tension at work or with my family, I start to adopt the same approach: breathe, assess, then act consciously, rather than rushing in headlong.
Despite these minor physical challenges, I’m really happy to be back in judo.
This practice gives me deep mental satisfaction, as if I were reconnecting with a part of myself that I had put aside.
I have no ambition to compete, I simply enjoy the process of learning and rediscovering.
Perhaps that’s the real beauty of this recovery: appreciating every little bit of progress, every new-found movement, every familiar sensation that returns.
Judo becomes a metaphor for life: falling down, getting up again, learning, adapting and persevering.
"The pleasure of starting again is already a victory."
I trained as a judoka with the Arlésien Judo Club in the 90s, and discovered the rigour, humility and collective spirit of this martial art at a very early age.
After a 27-year hiatus, I decided at the age of 43 to put on my judogi again and start practising again, at my own pace and with an adult’s eye.
This website is the diary of that resumption, with the rediscovery of techniques, personal reflections, physical pain and deep satisfaction.
My goal: to achieve my black belt before I’m 50 and prove that you can always progress, whatever your age or background.