Judo is a very good sport for all children, irrespective of Ability or Disability and is considered to be the safest form of contact sport for children from the age of 4. (source World Health Organisation)
Children who are wheelchair bound or have very weak legs are still able to do Judo, they do a form of Judo called NEWAZA
Children who have very limited vision can also do Judo, Paralympic Judoka’s all have limited or no vision
Children with Learning Disabilities Judo is considered as the best sport for you to start with (source UNESCO)
In fact 99% of the population can take part in Judo, the only people who need to undergo additional checks FIRST to ensure that Judo is suitable for them, are Athletes with Serious Spinal Injuries – Need to ensure that no further damage to the Spine or the Spinal Cord can occur, and Athletes with Downs Syndrome MUST have an x-ray to ensure that the ATLANTO-AXIAL joint in the neck is STABLE
Judo has several advantages for the development of all children.
The child, through an assiduous practice of Judo, develops his or her strength, speed, flexibility, coordination, reflexes, concentration, balance, resistance, personality, self-confidence and knowledge of one’s own body .Because of the constantly changing situations, in the practice of Judo, the child is obliged to stimulate their “tactical reflection”. Judo does not encourage aggressiveness; Through their relationship with their peers, the child learns to cooperate, to respect and develop self-control. Judo is practiced without blows and kicks in its initial phase, which is safer for children when they begin practicing a martial art.
Even though it is a martial art originally, Judo transmits in its practice a certain culture and traditions like respect, discipline, emotional balance, and introduces many other values in The daily habits of children.
