After a week’s absence, I found my way back to the dojo this evening.
This enforced break due to a back injury and a few stitches on my face (Dermatology) had left me feeling slightly anxious about getting back to it.
I was apprehensive about getting back on the tatami, but in the end everything went well. The body has an amazing memory, like an old machine that, after a little oil, starts to work properly again.
We worked mainly on the floor with the Kame Shio Gatame and Ushiro Geza Gatame fixed positions, which enabled us to get back into the swing of things gently.
Today’s session had a special touch with the arrival of a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner.
This situation added an extra dimension to the training, forcing me to pay even more attention to the sensei’s explanations. This exchange also reminded me that the language of the body and respect always transcends language barriers.
Physically, a few aches and pains persist, especially in the arm, but nothing alarming.
My back held up, which was my main concern.
I feel that particular fatigue after training, the kind that’s satisfying rather than exhausting. What’s striking at 43 is the extent to which coordination is a constant challenge.
Sometimes I feel like a child learning to walk again when I try to execute certain movements. Practising on the floor with our guest showed me once again that brute force isn’t the answer, it’s really a question of timing and well-placed imbalance.
I missed the atmosphere of the dojo.
This feeling of belonging to a group, of sharing a moment of concentration and common effort, is precious. After training, I always feel that special serenity that allows me to clear my head.
It’s as if the concerns of everyday life were hanging on the coat rack with my jacket at the entrance to the dojo. For someone with an “Office” job like mine, this physical break has become essential.
For the future, I need to continue strengthening my coordination and deep muscles. The fixed positions require a fluidity that I haven’t yet fully recovered, especially for Ushiro Geza Gatame.
I also need to take care of my back to avoid any relapses. Mentally, I’m starting to prepare for the switch to the yellow belt in September.
It’s just one stage, of course, but a symbolically important one in this return to judo after a 27-year absence.
This path I’ve taken confirms to me every week that perseverance and patience pay off.
I’m sticking to my goal of obtaining a black belt before I’m 50.
For me, judo has become a place to recharge my batteries, a place where I can concentrate on myself while respecting my body and its current limits. This practice helps me to build a better version of myself, while cultivating a sense of humility in the face of this demanding but hugely rewarding discipline.
"Technique is not just about strength, it's about coordination and timing."
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.