JUDO FOR LIFE PROF. Marcelo Ehrlich

JUDO FOR LIFE

Prof. Marcelo Ehrlich

Hello friends readers of the magazine "El Camino". In this issue of the month of November, our note on Judo, tells us about the different ways of learning, practicing and teaching the activity that we could enjoy all our lives. The approach is different when we start as children or teenagers, or when we start as adults, or when I just want to do a little physical activity, or when I want to practice to know how to defend myself, or when I just want sports and become a top-level competitor, either when I just want an approach to the philosophy that I think supports it. In all cases, if I am still not clear about what I am looking for, I should get the best possible advice, investigate, ask friends, search the networks, visit training and learning places, see the classes, learn about the Professor's curriculum, your credentials, national and international organizations that support you, try some classes... In this first part, we will give a snapshot of CHILDREN'S JUDO, its importance as a starting point for an activity for life. Children's Judo is excellent for the physical and psychological development of children at an early age. Accompanying growth, providing security to our actions, seeing how personal and group effort is gaining importance and I am making it part of me. The physical and technical development becomes palpable, and these changes can be observed, in a very short time. Attending a sports competition becomes natural, helping the development of classmates, being happy when I win a fight and when others do. When the Professor congratulates me because my techniques and behavior are improving in class, they are things that we will always remember. When I prepare for the grade pass exam, I do it conscientiously, so that it turns out as well as possible, and the day I change my belt, I realize that I am changing, but not only because of the color of the Obi (Belt) but because of how I interrelate with everyone and my family, he also notices. In my first competitions I am nervous, the place is not my Dojo, it is a large gym full of tatami mats, full of children wearing judogis, the stands full of people, the Administration of the championship, Referees, Teachers, the loudspeakers saying your name, the ritual of greetings, flags everywhere, my parents clapping, everyone taking photos and filming... it's stressful at first, but then it becomes normal, that day of the championship makes it special, desirable, enjoyable to the fullest. And surely his memory will accompany you, the rest of your life. Back in class, they talk about the championship, how we were, everything that can be improved, corrected, increased, copied, because at those children's levels we are already realizing that effort is part of the activity. And it doesn't matter if we win or lose, but we did the experience, we put it as one more activity within Judo, and we began to have a place at home where we put the first medals, trophies for participation and photos with our little friends. At School and College, everyone asks me how I did, what medal I got…everyone already knows that I am a Judo competitor child! And I also start to be part of exhibitions, where the Judo team shows what we do, exclamation voices and surprise gestures, before the falls, the throws, and at the end, the applause. First there were the meetings with other academies, then the friendly championships, in our city, in other regions of the country, then the official championships of our

Federation, then the international friendlies, the official internationals, always with divisions by age, weight and category of belt. Already as a child I am making friends in other clubs (the meeting point: the championships, the joint classes with other friendly Dojos), I am making friends in other countries, and as I write this, I am remembering the trips in which buses, by boat, by plane... and as a child to see that you are representing not only your Club, Federation, but your Country! Of course, not everyone wins, but we all do the activity, all in the same uniform, with belts of different colors, we have fun, in this playful stage, the game that has to do with Judo is super important, we are learning without know that we are doing it! Learning the falling exercises makes us lose our fear of falling, the correct way to fall (Ukemis) makes the ground friendly. I'm not competing with others, I do it with myself, to be better than yesterday (At least that's what my Professor says), and years later, I would understand that phrase that is one of the main thoughts of Judo philosophy! So far we are seeing the essential, academic formative stage, the Legacy of Judo, teaching, training, helping everyone. “Mutual Aid”, another of the great thoughts of the Judo! And all this, if we have a good Teacher, an Educator, a Trainer, whoI am interested in the integral and harmonious development of the little students... But, what if it were not like that? If you were only interested in small judokas, being just competitors, training them from a young age to get medals, so that with their achievements, they would make sports propaganda for his club, his academy, his Ego... Being at the top of the Podium as an Institution, so that the Coach continues to be hired by that club, sends him to all the championships, to all the trips. It teaches little athletes that the only thing that counts is victory, only the one who wins matters. There are even sports Institutions, which only pursue that end, they do not pretend more than to bring medals and cups for their club, and use sports achievements, as dissemination of supremacy! But as we said before, not everyone can win, they don't even care about that, those kids, they start to look different, I can't win a fight, the Professor doesn't treat me the same anymore, the team doesn't treat me the same anymore, my parents think that I can't beat anyone, why am I going to class…why are they spending money sending me to Judo! And the moment of abandonment arrives, I don't like Judo anymore, or I'm not good for this, I'm going to do something else, without realizing that... "Judo is for everyone"! The one who didn't know how to teach me like that was the teacher I had! And, dear friends, I am in tears as I write this! As you will understand, I have lived Judo since I was a child, and as a young man and an adult I got to know it in various parts of the world and in many places it is practiced that way, pure competition sport! While in others, Judo is done for everyone, respecting the natural evolution of Judoka. The competition is bad, no! No way, what is bad, is leading everyone down that path! I grew up in the competition! And I saw many children, young people and adults disappear, who did not fit that profile! Today with more than 56 years in Judo, I can count on the fingers of my hands, those of us who are still active! What happened to those who dropped out, what led them to that, where did the governing

authorities of our activity go wrong? What part did they not understand that "Judo for all" can help everyone! And that only in the children's Judo category! They don't even want to know about youth or adults, as I reported on another occasion, Japan itself has suspended certain children's championships, because in them, victory was only sought, leaving aside the teaching of master Jigoro kano, "Judo for all ”, excessively seeking competitive achievement, already at these early ages! It is not only sport, it is philosophy, it is understanding, it is mutual aid, it is personal growth, it is harmony, it is friendship. When I teach a child a technique, it is not for them to use it in a championship and come out champion, it is for them to learn the fundamentals of Judo, from the base, so that they learn to unbalance, to enter the movement correctly, neither before nor then, so that he learns to use the necessary force, neither too little nor too much, so that he can shoot correctly, neither weakly nor rudely that could hurt, and little by little, we see his constant evolution, his joy at do Judo… And that is priceless! Practicing with him, doing Randori (Dojo sparring or free practice), letting him throw me, letting him immobilize me and seeing him with that smile, seeing that he does things very well in his exam, is priceless!... . And the little Judokas are growing up, now they are pre-adolescents and adolescents, many changes in their life, the pressure of the increasingly demanding study, the first boyfriends and girlfriends, many new distractions, many activities to choose from and many continue in Judo, others have dropped out. Those who continue, already more prepared for everything, see how the study has no end, the body has changed, now I am stronger, faster, more technical, I move differently, I accept victory and defeat. And my teacher, he keeps teaching me! I learn with new eyes, my understanding is greater, I see the example, I want to be an example, I want to help others, I also want to become a Judo champion, represent my Country, be a Black Belt, I want to be an International Champion, a World Champion, Olympic Champion, I want to be a Judo Teacher, I want to be many things that I didn't know I could be before! The Magic of Judo, will allow you to be what you want! See you in the Dojo and in "El Camino". Prof. Marcelo Ehrlich.