In a recent video interview, renowned U.S. Judo national team coach Jimmy Pedro shared his insights on the appropriate timeline for beginners to start live sparring (randori) in judo. According to Pedro, it is crucial for beginners to wait at least two years before attempting standing randori, emphasizing that their bodies need time to develop the necessary strength, conditioning, and understanding of judo movements.

“The reason for that in my opinion is that people’s bodies aren’t ready for randori,” Pedro explained. “They don’t have the toughness and the hardness in their muscles, they haven’t learned the movements of judo properly, so their bodies aren’t ready to take those hard falls.” This highlights Pedro’s concern for the physical readiness of beginners, particularly in avoiding injury during the physically demanding practice of live sparring.

Pedro, who holds a significant place in U.S. judo history—having been the first U.S. athlete to medal in judo and having coached champions like Ronda Rousey and Kayla Harrison—emphasized that mastering the basic techniques and movements of judo should take precedence before jumping into full-intensity sparring. He noted, “It’s not until you actually have that level of experience that you should ever be doing randori, because you can’t control your own body and you don’t have the strength or physicality to hold yourself up, let alone hold your partner up safely.”

Pedro strongly advised against rushing beginners into standing randori, which he believes can lead to avoidable injuries. “That’s just a mistake waiting to happen, that’s an injury waiting to happen,” he warned. Instead, he suggested starting with groundwork randori, such as hold-downs and turnover contests, which are safer and can still keep beginners engaged while they develop the necessary skills for standing sparring.

In conclusion, Jimmy Pedro advocates for a patient approach to judo training, encouraging beginners to focus on building a solid foundation of techniques and physical readiness before engaging in standing randori. His philosophy is centered on safety and proper skill development, ensuring that new practitioners avoid injuries while they grow in the sport.

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