Judo is a highly competitive grappling-based form of martial arts that emphasizes trips and throws by scientific means, i.e., optimizing leverages and balance. Because of its ever-growing popularity, people are getting involved in Judo at increasingly younger ages. However, many may ask the question, does Judo stunt your growth?
Judo does not stunt your growth. There is nothing inherent to the sport of Judo or its training methods that directly stunt growth. However, Judokas who cut weight for competition risk stunting their growth because the body needs calories and nutrients to grow.
This article will provide you with a quick and concise overview of how growth occurs and the factors that can influence it. We’ll also go over how to train and compete in Judo without running the risk of adverse effects on growth.
Can Cutting Weight For Judo Stunt Your Growth?
During the puberty stage of human development, the body grows to reach full adulthood through increased natural hormonal production through the endocrine system. Stunted growth typically stems from an internal cause of some type, such as a deficiency in testosterone or human growth hormone.
While there is nothing inherent in Judo itself that directly causes stunted growth, some athletes who engage in the practice of weight cutting too frequently or too aggressively may indirectly stunt their growth as a result.
The truth is that Judo can likely improve growth by increasing bone and muscle density, eliciting a hypertrophy effect. This encourages your body to increase the output of natural growth hormone to accommodate the recovery from intense sparring and training bouts.
Judo is a very physically taxing sport, and because of this, Judokas devote a lot of time and energy to training for strength and fitness. But all of this physical training, such as weight lifting and running, does not directly cause stunted growth. Rather, a lack of nutritional support for this physical training can stunt an adolescent’s growth.
Simply put, do not cut weight for judo especially when your body is still growing if you do not want to risk stunting your growth. The only way I can see judo stunting someone’s growth is by trying to cut weight and not getting adequate nutrition while a child or teenager is still growing.
Insufficient Nutrition as a Cause of Stunted Growth
Not getting enough protein, fats, and carbohydrates will deprive the body of the energy sources it requires to grow. It is said that teenagers in the growing stage of development require upwards of 2,800 calories per day. Still, those partaking in Judo might demand even more calories to account for the extra physical exertion which they output.
Stunted growth arises when Judokas, or any athletes in the puberty stage of development, are not providing their body with a sufficient amount of nutrients to sustain and support its growth. This can lead to a situation where the athlete’s growth becomes permanently stunted.
I might suggest that you use a fitness tracker to ensure proper nutrition on a daily basis. It may be the best health-related investment you ever make.
How To Avoid Stunted Growth In Judo
Avoiding stunted growth is very important because stunted growth is largely irreversible and permanent. The good news is that by applying a few simple principles, you can practically eliminate the chances of stunting your growth through participation in the sport of Judo.
Let’s take a look at these principles so you can remain safe and healthy while still enjoying the great sport of Judo.
Never Undergo Excessive or Aggressive Weight Cuts
The best way to avoid stunting your growth is to eat plenty and not worry about losing weight to qualify for lighter-weight classes.
When you are competing in Judo during your teen years, the main goal is simply to learn and put your time in on the mat. Once an athlete reaches adulthood and has a solid foundation of experience under their belt, then they may reassess and decide which weight is best for them. But for young Judokas who are new to the sport, it is advisable to fight as close to their natural weight as possible.
This article by JudoInfo.com provides comprehensive statistics pertaining specifically to weight cutting amongst Judo athletes. They state the average weight cut is 9 lbs (4 kg) – which is not overly excessive perhaps for a large adult. However, for a smaller competitor, this can be very drastic.
If a young Judoka needs to cut weight for a competition, they must do it slowly and gradually while still maintaining adequate nutrition. However, if you a truly concerned or would like to grow to be as big and strong as possible I would simply advise avoiding weight cuts altogether.
( What If You Are Severly Overwieght )
The only circumstance would be if a child or teenager was caring too much body fat. For their health, it might be acceptable to lose some body fat. Try losing the body fat at a slow to moderate pace with plenty of protein and whole foods. A good weight loss number to shoot for would be .5-1 percent of body weight in pounds per week. So a 200-pound person would aim to lose 1-2 pounds per week.
Crash diets are the number one way to stunt your growth and should never be implemented under any circumstances. For more on this check out my guide to getting fit for judo.
Stay Hydrated
Nutrition does not just include micro and macronutrient intake, it also involves water intake.
It is important to remain hydrated as often as possible because the majority of your muscles are made up of water, and water plays an important role in muscle recovery and development.
Actively ensure that the color of your urine is clear and not dark. This is the most certain and simple way to gauge your hydration level at any given time. If your urine is dark and yellow, this is a clear indication that you are dehydrated, and you should immediately begin drinking water.
Do not perform water cuts to make weigh-ins before your contest. Not only can water cuts stunt your growth, but they may also zap your energy levels and cause you to perform poorly.
Get Enough Sleep For Proper Growth
Lastly, the third way to prevent stunted growth is to sleep.
Young adults typically lead very busy and chaotic lives that are comparable to a non-stop balancing act. This can lead to a situation wherein they are constantly running on inadequate amounts of sleep.
When you are sleeping, your body performs the majority of its hormonal work to repair and rejuvenate your body and mind. Your body needs sleep to recover from the work you have performed throughout the day.
Everyone should aim to get at least 7 or 8 hours of sleep per night, but in the case of Judo players, they may sometimes require even more than this due to the sheer amount of physical demand they put on their bodies.
If you want to avoid stunting your growth, make it a priority to sleep until your body is fully recharged.
For more information on the vital functions which the body performs while sleeping, see this article by WebMD.
Judo Won’t Stunt Your Growth When Practiced Correctly
It turns out that Judo will not stunt growth and may instead promote growth by requiring the body to produce more natural growth hormone as an accommodation mechanism. However, Judokas who cut too much weight and often deprive their body of calories will risk stunting their growth as the body needs nutrients to develop. Get adequate sleep, eat lots, and drink plenty of water. Beyond that, have fun!