Judo for older adults: the coaches' knowledge and needs of education

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the views of judo coaches on their perceived knowledge (PK) and needs for education (NE) for training older practitioners. In total, 470 international (Europe = 48%, Americas = 22%, Africa = 23%, Asia = 5% and Oceania = 2%) judo coaches (IJF: level 1 = 55,3%, level 2 = 33%; judo black belt: 3,4 ± 1,7 dan; F = 15%; university education: 68% >BA) responded an online survey encompassing demographic information and 35 items relevant to training older adults (Aging process; Safety and First Aid; Organization & Environment; Physiology and Fitness; Psychology & Mental Health; Teaching & Training) to be rated on a 7-point Likert scale for PK and NE. Non parametric statistics (p > 0.05) was applied to ascertain differences and relationships between PK and NE, respectively. A bivariate go-zone plot was used to highlight items with the lowest PK and the highest NE mean values. The coaches reported high PK (4.5 ± 0.3 pt) and NE (4.7 ± 0.1 pt) values, with significant higher PK values emerging for high education levels and judo experience. In considering their unique needs and special role, the judo coaches presented valuable insights to develop a sustainable educational curriculum tailored to train older judo practitioners.

Intergenerational Judo: Synthesising Evidence- and Eminence-Based Knowledge on Judo across Ages

“…By employing this study's information (i.e., age-specific pedagogy and andragogy, adaptive teaching methods, progressive skill development, intergenerational activity organisation, and performance-and wellbeing-related aspects), judo coaches can create a more inclusive, effective, and enriching training environment that caters to the unique needs of practitioners at different stages of their life. Moreover, these innovative resources promote a holistic development of judoka, not only encouraging technical proficiency but also fostering intergenerational engagement and mutual learning within the sport [38,39,42,[75][76][77].…”

“…Future studies could complement existing evidence-and eminence-based knowledge by incorporating judo coaches' perspectives through surveys or interviews [39,42,77], which would enable researchers to collect direct viewpoints and personal experiences, enhancing the comprehension of intergenerational dynamics, challenges, and advantages within the discipline. Finally, to provide valuable insights into the universality or variability of coaching philosophies and practices, the influence of culture-and setting-based factors should be investigated worldwide.…”

“…Finally, the evaluation process of the online courses was limited to the educational programmes of the IJF Academy, not considering regional/national/continental resources, if present. Therefore, further research is necessary, as well as the collection of the practitioners' experiences, perspectives, and challenges within intergenerational judo activities [42,49,78].…”

“…The International Judo Federation (IJF) and national governing bodies often oversee coach education. Currently, key courses include (i) IJF Academy programmes for judo instructors, coaches, and managers, which offer different levels of certification and cover a wide range of judorelated technical, tactical, physical, psychological, and organisational aspects across the lifespan [38][39][40][41][42][43]; (ii) national coaching certification programmes, aligned with the sport structures of individual countries and covering coaching principles, sport-specific skills, and athlete development [44]; (iii) university courses offering degrees or programmes in sports coaching, some of which include specific modules on judo coaching (e.g., sports science, coaching theory, and practical coaching experience) [1]; and (iv) specialised workshops and seminars, conducted by experienced judo practitioners, focusing on specific aspects such as competition preparation, technical skills, and athlete psychology [1].…”