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The Olympic and Paralympic
teams are continuing their preparations for Beijing by completing
a three week training camp in Japan.
The two squads departed
for Japan on the 23 rd May, and will return on the 14 th June.
The Olympic squad has been training at three different venues,
Tsukuba University, Tokai University, and Tokyo Dojo’s, while
the Paralympic squad have remained at the same facility in Tsukuba
for the duration of their training.
All seven Olympic players,
Craig Fallon, Euan Burton, Winston Gordon, Peter Cousins, Sarah
Clark, Michelle Rogers and Karina Bryant are taking part, while
Ben Quilter, Darren Harris and Sam Ingram are attending the Paralympic
camp (Ian Rose withdraw due to injury). The players are being
supported by their coaches, strength and conditioning coach, a
psychologist and physios.
The Olympic squad are undertaking
three hours of gruelling randori each day, plus technical work
with their coaches. “They are moving around three different venues,
to keep the players fresh as three hours of randori with the same
training group can become very monotonous,” explains Karen Roberts,
World Class Operations Manager.
Tokai University, where
the squad will be in the second week, is the leading university
and often the toughest practice for the players.
Karen Roberts said “It
is fair to say that Japan is still considered by many to be the
leading judo nation, and will provide the players with a high
quality and variation of practise against the Japanese style of
fighting. It will also increase the volume of practices, which
are available.
“The volume and intensity
of the practises can not currently be matched in the UK, but will
hopefully be obtainable here in the future,” she continued.
Along with the randori
sessions, each morning the players are participating in a yoga
/ stretching session led by physio Neil Maclean Martin, followed
by a weights or cardiovascular session with strength and conditioning
coach Stuart Yule.
Commenting on the squads
preparations for Beijing Karen said, “Since the Europeans the
focused programme to Beijing has seen the players and coaches
working strongly as a team, and the work they have done so far
has exceeded expectations”.
Tokai
University Dojo
Mens Randori
Session in Tokai University Dojo
Craig
Fallon working with the team physio
Media Contact
James Sills
British Judo Association
01509 631 670 x230
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