Developing your judo #14

 

#14: 7 Reasons Why Warm-Ups Are Necessary

I often hear groans when we start a training session with warm-ups, but it's important to note that these exercises or drills are necessary to prepare the body for the upcoming stress of training.  Your body needs to be prepared to handle the hard falls, the bumps and bruises, as well as having the joints and muscles stretched.

Warm-ups can be in the form of games, light exercises, stretching and Judo specific drills.

Warm-ups do exactly that - warm up the body in preparation for more strenuous exercise.  Specifically warm ups: 

• increase the speed of muscular contraction and relaxation 
• reduce muscle stiffness
• increase the utilization of oxygen in muscles
• increase nerve transmissions in the muscles
• increase blood flow through active muscles
• increase heart rate in preparation for exercise
• help to mentally focus on training

In other words, it's all good.  More detail in the next tip. In the meantime, don't skip the

warm-ups.

By: Rainer Fischer (Canadian Olympian)