Comprehensive training programme for judo players nine plus 9+: possible lower limb primary injury prevention.

Dear Editor judo is a popular and commonly practiced Japanese martial art and an Olympic combat sport. Judo has its roots in Japanese unarmed fighting styles from the sixth century, the forerunners to ju-jitsu, and was founded by Jigoro Kano in 1882 in Tokyo1. It is a martial art, a physical education, an Olympic sport, and a way of life2,3. It is characterized by a great number of techniques and its history, culture and philosophical basis. Currently the International Judo Federation estimates 20 million participants4. Since the first time judo was included in the Olympic Games, the skill level of judo players has been dramatically increasing along with the rate and severity of injuries5. Judo is a contact sport; there is a relative risk for an injury as in every other sport. There is little literature on the frequency and seriousness on Judo injuries, it is important to continue to analyse the injuries that do occur. The most injured body areas were6: knee (26.3%), shoulder (21.8%), fingers (17.3%), and ankle (10.0%).