This week was marked by a special session: after a rather playful warm-up, we attended a yellow belt passing. It was interesting to observe the protocol for three members of our group.
Parrallely, we worked on Ippon Seoi Nage, a spectacular yet accessible throw for beginners. I love this technique, which requires precision and timing, like a well-executed dance.
After four sessions, my body reminds me that it’s not the same as it was when I was 16! The aches and pains are still there, especially from the repeated ukemis.
It’s like learning to walk again after having learned to run, my mind remembers the movements, but my body has to readapt gradually.
What strikes me after these first few weeks is the difference in approach between the judo I knew in France and that practised here in Switzerland.
The emphasis is more on technique and learning than on pure competition.
I appreciate this philosophy, which values respect, self-control and group cohesion. The good-natured atmosphere allows me to progress without undue pressure, while sharing moments of laughter and achievement with my training partners.
I realise that it’s crucial to respect my current limits. My enthusiasm could easily push me to do too much too quickly. But as the sensei reminded me, lasting progress comes from listening to your body.
I need to continue to work on the falls gently, without trying to impress anyone. My priority is to build up my confidence in basic movements like Ippon Seoi Nage, taking the time needed for my body to integrate these techniques correctly.
This return to judo after a 27-year absence is giving me much more than I ever imagined.
As well as the physical activity, I’m back in a space where every training session is a lesson in life.
The tatami is becoming a laboratory where I’m learning to accept my limits while gradually working towards surpassing them.
Every fall is an opportunity to get back up stronger, every successful hold a small victory that boosts my self-confidence.
The patience and perseverance I cultivate on the tatami are now part of my everyday life.
This gradual rediscovery, at my own pace, with this new perspective, gives a special meaning to my return to the tatami after all these years.
“Respect, technique, and camaraderie: the essence of judo at my own pace”
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.