1. Mind Games
Judo, when translated, means gentle ways. It was patterned after the ancient Japanese fighting form called Jui Jitsu. While employing the throws and moves of the fighting martial arts program, Judo also removed many of the baser and dangerous moves of Jui Jitsu, such as striking moves. Judo incorporates more mental and spiritual components. These additional techniques make it a sport that can be very useful to blind athletes.
2. Let the Opponent Lose
The mental training in Judo teaches the student to back away from an opponent and let him beat himself. Stress is placed on balance and timing. Awareness of the opponent's strengths and weaknesses can be a much more powerful tool that muscle-bound bullying. The physical discipline inherent in the sport offers blind athletes an avenue for exercise while training them in self-defense.
3. Falling Correctly
Blind people usually fall more than their sighted peers, and Judo teaches students how to fall correctly. This useful skill can be used in everyday life. Body control is taught to all Judo students and can be particularly helpful to blind athletes. Vision does not play a big part in Judo training. Instead, the athlete is taught to stand in correct positions and to gauge his opponent's strength and position by how he moves and reacts to the holds. By learning how their body fills a space, blind athletes become more adept in all their movements.
4. Taking Risks
Judo is a great confidence builder for both sighted and blind athletes. By taking risks in a safe environment in the dojo, an athlete can learn what his body is capable of and achieve a measure of success. Blind judo students earn belts and rankings on equal footing with their sighted peers.
5. Competing Blind
The International Blind Sports Association provides plenty of opportunities for blind athletes to compete. The competition offers three classifications for blind athletes, based on the level of their blindness. Male and female athletes can compete in various weight categories. Athletes who are blind and deaf are accommodated with raised markings on the floors to indicate where they should stand as well as large circles of tape for Judo competitors with limited vision. Referees are trained in special touching movements in order to communicate with the competitors.
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