Today I took part in a session in the second dojo and the main objective was to discover the learning programme for the yellow belt.
I didn’t think there would be so much to assimilate for this first belt! We worked intensively on front left and right, side and back falls, as well as specific holds and associated immobilisations.
As the dojo was smaller than the one where I usually train, we had to do the falls one after the other, which required even more concentration and precision.
This session really opened my eyes to the scope of the yellow belt programme.
It’s like building a house: you can’t put the roof on until you have solid foundations, and in judo, those foundations are the falls.
I realised just how crucial it is to master them if you want to avoid injury and progress serenely.
The Swiss protocol for passing a grade also surprised me, you have to register one or two months in advance! It makes the process more official and encourages me to take my preparation even more seriously.
Physically, the session was intense, especially the repeated falls.
At 43, my body regularly reminds me that it’s not the same as it was when I was 16, but I feel that it’s gradually adapting.
The muscles are being used differently, and each training session helps me to become more flexible and confident.
Emotionally, I feel a mixture of motivation and humility in the face of everything I still have to learn. It’s both stimulating and sometimes a little intimidating.
Repetition is the key to these movements becoming natural reflexes.
Observing other practitioners, talking to them and understanding their difficulties and successes enriches my own practice.
This social dimension of judo is something I’d forgotten about and am delighted to be rediscovering.
Mutual respect and mutual support are values that I also try to incorporate into my everyday life, at work and with my family.
Coming back to judo after almost three decades is like meeting up with an old friend: there’s a mixture of familiarity and discovery.
Some movements come back naturally, while others seem completely new.
I feel privileged to be able to experience this sporting and personal rebirth.
“The first step is knowing how to fall safely.”
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.