How to Prevent Common Judo Injuries

Judo is a full contact combat sport and players must realize that to participate there is the risk of injury. Broken fingers, toes, cuts, bruises, sprains and knee, neck and shoulder injuries are all common. A separated shoulder happens to anyone who falls and lands on the tip of their shoulder. A mild shoulder separation usually involves a sprain of your AC, acromioclavicular ligament. You can avoid a painful situation, by reading on to learn how to prevent common Judo injuries.

Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure you do the recommended warm-up and stretch exercises. The purpose and the most important part of the warm-up is to minimize the risk of injury. Heat the body and gently and progressively stretch the ligaments. Activating your muscles, stretch and contract them. The warm-up should be methodical, and cover all parts of the body.

    • 2

      Train and practice judo safely with a professional instructor and learn the correct techniques for carrying out maneuvers to reduce the risk of injury.

    • 3

      Reduce the risk of injury by keeping fit. Supplementary training such as walking, running, cycling, hiking or swimming may fit well with your program.

    • 4

      Apply ice and elevate immediately after injury for periods of about 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off for an hour or so, depending on the injury and its severity.

    • 5

      Acknowledge tapping and instruct new Judo participants thoroughly on the importance of tapping. If an opponent taps you must release. Tapping is Judo's submissions, a fighter might "tap out," or concede the fight. Ignoring tapping can result in injuries.

    • 6

      Use tapping to prevent or avoid serious injuries.