Today is a special day for me, http://www.planetjudo.com has reached a milestone. There are now 100 (english language) blogs in the system!
I don’t actually recall how many sites were in the very first version of this site, but it was definately less than 20, maybe a dozen!
And now there are 100 Judo blogs being tracked and promoted on this site, that is very very cool!
What does it mean?
To me, it means that the Judo world is slowly coming online, more people are appreciating the opportunity we have with the web to learn and share. No longer does Judo discussion have to be on the tatami, no longer is it that the only opinions and knowledge you can learn from be that of only those in your club.
Now, you can read posts from world level players and coaches right down to those just starting out. We have national governing body, board members on here (at least two). And it it keeps growing! This year we added Spanish language blogs and next year I want to add Japanese and other languages (If you want to help let me know, I’m looking for people to add sites in their languages; I sadly only speak English).
With the growth in online Judo content, the opportunity for students of Judo to discover and share has never been greater. We can all watch videos of competitions and and other Judo events online and as the Judo blogosphere continues to grow you will be able to read the thoughts of those creating great Judo. And you can share your experiences so that others can benefit from your perspective.
The perfect example I use when talking to coaches and others about blogging is the blog of Ronda Rousey, the US Judo athlete who won a medal in Beijing last year. As a male coach, who never competed at Olympic level, I have no idea whatsoever what it is like to be a female athlete competing at that level. HOWEVER… by following Ronda’s blog, I was more able to understand it. And importantly I have pointed young female athletes at the blog and it spoke even more directly to them.
As a coach, it is my role to help athletes learn, and for me that does not mean that I have to spoon feed every drop of knowledge into them. For me, the growing Judo blogosphere is a tool I can use to help athletes progress. As more and more people in Judo start to blog, the more resources I have at my disposal.
My hope for 2010 is that even more of you start blogging, no matter what your level. Write about your yellow belt grading, or your World Cup victory. Talk about the mat burn and how you cope; talk about how you have tweaked your uchi mata. Talk about how Kata is sharpening your technique and how kata is sharpening your mind for shiai.
I find that the act of blogging helps me think through ideas and remember things more clearly, I always kept a training diary as an athlete, so blogging is I guess a long form version of the same thing for me.
So here is my request, in 2010 start a blog and email the address so me so I can include it here.
If you don’t know how or are not convinced why, then email me and I’ll talk you through it all.
Lance
lw@judocoach.com
(Creator of www.PlanetJudo.com)