| When watching judo competitions many people | | | | thanks to their outstanding judo techniques won all |
| are puzzled when they see in the open weight | | | | their matches against the heavy ones with ease. |
| division a light weight beat a heavy weight: is it | | | | The same masters, that gave above advise also |
| thanks to their judo techniques, that they win? Or | | | | highly recommended to train in a specific way in |
| is there something else? | | | | order to face bigger or smaller opponents. It is |
| The debate is open and many have already said a | | | | not enough to try during judo training in the dojo |
| lot on the matter, however most everyone tends | | | | several fights with various sized opponents, but it |
| to think, that if somebody is twice the size of the | | | | is also important to do specific drills designed for |
| opponent he can only win, but in reality it is not | | | | the light to face the heavy and for the heavy to |
| always so. There is no doubt, that the advantage | | | | face the light. |
| of the big is power, strength, weight, but what | | | | When it comes to ground work again speed is |
| about the little? Is it just skill? And what if the big | | | | important, but at the same time becoming a |
| has the same skills? | | | | snake for the little can give some enormous |
| A first distinction, that needs to be made | | | | advantages. You should always move along with |
| between the two is concerning speed: do you | | | | your opponent and never oppose power or |
| think, that the big and heavy moves at the same | | | | stiffen yourself, especially if he is twice the size |
| speed as the light and little? Of course not and | | | | you are. Chokes and arm locks are also highly |
| this is one of the great advantages of the smaller | | | | recommended and again the golden rule is to |
| ones. The old masters used to give, and some still | | | | always keep moving, never create static |
| do, following advise: "if you have to face an | | | | situations, which will of course favor the big and |
| opponent, that is bigger than you, remember to | | | | heavy. |
| always keep moving and have him move too. In | | | | Athletes, that continuously keep training in order |
| a static situation, both standing and on the ground, | | | | to improve their judo techniques however can |
| you are dead meat to be squeezed like under a | | | | even do something more, independently if they |
| press!" | | | | are small and light or big and heavy. They can |
| In Japan the open weight division is nothing special | | | | both learn some more on how to improve their |
| or outstanding, it is rather natural and in the past | | | | performance by mastering their nutrition besides |
| there were really exceptionally small judokas who | | | | their opponents. |