Maintaining an athlete’s physical build is one thing, but maintaining one’s weight is another. To most athletes, following a healthy diet is a preferable lifestyle but to others, following a strict diet is a must depending on their corresponding sport. Physical strength and mental toughness are just initial qualifications in joining sports as strict as taekwondo and judo. Commitment to the weight standards is one of the main requirements for these athletes in order to maintain high level performances.
Immanuel Nartatez Donato of the Green Jins and Adrian Perillo of the Green Judokas share their thoughts on weight requirement, the struggles of reaching their target weight, and the significance of their weight discipline towards their respective sports.
Reaching the target
Getting into the weight category assigned is no easy task. Some athletes are required to gain weight, but occasionally are asked to do the opposite. Perillo was definitely disheartened the first time he heard of having to do the prior and shares, “At first, of course I’m a little bit disappointed because I can’t eat everything I want, especially when we have tournaments.”
Likewise, Donato tells that having a weight requirement before every tournament is a grueling process, but knows that he has to follow the rules of the event in order to participate. Consequently, not reaching the target weight had its consequences. “I wasn’t able to cut weight because I ran out of time, so I had to play a higher weight category in the competition, and it was definitely harder,” Donato admits.
Decisive moment
The creation of the several weight categories is to see fairness in the game. Unlike other sports, judo and taekwondo is a contact sport. The saying “pick someone your own size” explains the importance of having a weight requirement in tournaments for these sports. For a fair fight, it is logical for athletes like Donato and Perillo to spar against players with similar body structures. Donato explains, “It would be unfair if you’d go up against someone who’s heavier than you, so I believe that it’s what makes the game unbiased.”
Both combat sports utilize different weigh in categories. Taekwondo makes use of eight weight classes, four for each gender, these weight classes are Flyweight (Men: -58kg, Women: -49kg) Featherweight (Male: -68kg, Women: -57 kg), Welterweight (Male: -80kg, Women: -67kg) and Heavyweight (Male: +80kg, Women: +67kg).
On the other hand, Judo employs 14 weight classes, seven for each gender. The weigh in categories for Judo were Extra Lightweight (Male: -60kg, Women: -48kg), Half Lightweight (Men: -66kg, Women: -52kg), Lightweight (Men: -73kg, Women: -57kg), Half-Middleweight (Men: -73kg, Women: -63kg), Middleweight (Men: -90kg, Women: -70kg), Half-Heavyweight (Men: -100kg, Women: -78kg), and Heavyweight (Men: +100kg, Women: +78kg).
Although the weigh in procedure may be as simple as stepping on the weighing scale, athletes still carefully maintain their weight before and after the process. The weigh in component in every competition is crucial as the athletes determine their weight categories depending on the results of their weigh in. In each sport, the deadline in reaching the target weight varies.
In taekwondo, Jins like Donato usually reach their target weight a week before the actual game day. He explains that in some tournaments, opening day is solely made for weigh in, while some are done days before the opening day itself. Although, there is no specific requirement to maintain their weight afterwards, Donato states, “I usually reach the target weight for the weigh in and gain weight again.” The Green Jin then affirmed that he gains weight right after the registration for recovery, and come game day, he would weigh heavier than his weight category.
In the avenue of Judo, the athletes need to maintain weight specifically before the opening day of the tournament. “We [already] need to reach the target weight during the night before the tournament,” says the Perillo. Green Judoka expounds further that maintaining their weight is as imperative as there are random weigh in procedures during the tournament day itself.
Effort is key
Two or three months before a tournament, Donato starts to reduce his rice intake and eats vegetables instead. Meanwhile, Perillo has to sacrifice the two extra bowls of rice he usually eats and simply eats one serving per meal or sometimes not eat at all. Maintaining a healthy diet is a must, not just to lose weight, but also to be able to keep up with the rigorous training they have. Despite their respective UAAP tournaments concluding in the latter months of 2016, Perillo and Donato always need to keep their weight in check, even during off seasons.
Aside from maintaining a healthy diet, Donato does his best to make time for extra workouts. The Green Jin resorts to using a sauna suit during trainings in order to execute effective weight-cutting workouts. Perillo revealed that he too makes time for workouts other than their scheduled trainings. “Just extra workouts and papawis lang lagi!”
Despite sacrificing a whole lot just to get into the right category, it teaches a far more important lesson. In order to become a great martial artist, one of the most significant value one must learn is discipline. The weight requirement is just one way the sport subtly trains its athletes with self-control. For Perillo, losing weight might be difficult, but it reaps benefits he never knew he needed. “I’ve realized [that] maintaining your weight is a form of discipline, and also, it makes me stay fit and healthy.”
