20 June 2025

Building Champions: Why Judo Fitness Is More Than a Club Session

At Ultimate Judo, we're more than just a club—we’re committed to developing complete judoka, both on and off the mat. That’s why we’ve introduced Judo Fit, a purpose-built judo-specific fitness session designed to give our students the edge when it comes to randori and competitive performance.

Our first session, held on Saturday 21st June, was a huge success, with students aged 12 through adult pushing their limits in a high-energy, high-impact training environment. But this isn’t just another workout—this is a carefully crafted part of our club’s approach to Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD).

Why Judo Fitness Matters

Improving in judo takes more than just mat time. According to our LTAD model, athletes who want to reach their full potential—and avoid unnecessary injuries—must also train outside of traditional sessions. That’s where strength & conditioning (S&C) and prehabilitation come in.

Our Judo Fit sessions focus on:

• Functional fitness for judo

• High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

• Circuit training

• And yes… hill sprints for that extra push

These sessions are designed to mimic the demands of randori and shiai, while also building aerobic capacity, explosive power, and mental resilience.

The Edge You’ve Been Looking For

This isn’t a bolt-on for extra fitness—it’s an essential step toward becoming a stronger, faster, more resilient judoka. Students who attended the first Judo Fit session reported feeling motivated, challenged, and empowered.

“Hardest I’ve worked in a long time, I don't get this burn in the gym.”
“It pushed me, but I loved training with my teammates like this.”
“Can we do this every week?!”

Our community showed up, trained hard, and proved what we already knew—this club is built on grit, discipline, and mutual support. Every one of you dug deep, never gave up, and built the engine you need to thrive in judo.

We’re already looking forward to making Judo Fit a regular part of our training schedule. Together, we train harder, grow stronger, and move forward—always forward.

Key Takeaways:

• Judo Fit is judo-specific fitness based on LTAD principles

• Designed to improve performance and reduce injury risk

• Open to students aged 12 to adult

• Focuses on prehab, S&C, HIIT, and team motivation

• It’s more than a workout—it’s part of becoming a better judoka

Want to be part of the next session? Stay tuned for announcements and be ready to build your engine with us. Because at Ultimate Judo, we’re more than a club—we’re a team.

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