Animal walks and the rocking roll
Ready when: Judo games at home: tail tag and the mirror (b1) started.
What you are learning
Strength and coordination through animal walks, and the rocking roll: hugging the knees with the chin on the chest and rocking back without the head touching. That tucked chin is the first part of every judo fall.
Words on this card Tatami, Obi
- Tatami
- The firm padded mat judo is done on.
- Obi
- The belt; its colour shows the grade.
Set up
A soft carpet or mat; a thick mattress or folded duvet for the rocking roll.
Weather: any weather indoors
Show it first for the one teaching
- Bear walk on hands and feet, bottom up; crab walk tummy up; crawl on the belly; bunny hops side to side.
- Sit on the soft mat, hug the knees, chin on the chest.
- Rock back and forward on a round back; the head never touches.
Your part while they practise
Show each walk first; call the next animal.
Step by step
- Bear walk, crab walk, crawling on the belly, bunny hops side to side; 3 laps each.
- Sit on the soft mat and hug the knees, chin on the chest.
- Rock back and forward 5 times, head never touching.
How much: 3 laps of each walk and 5 rocks 8 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Call the animal
You call bear, crab or bunny and the child changes at once.
Who plays: the child against their own best; you call.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- The child moves across the room as one animal
- Call a new animal; they must change before you count to 2
- 10 calls; finish with 5 rocks on the soft mat
- Fair play
- Count to 3 for a younger child.
- Points
- 1 point for each change before "2"; 1 point for each rock with the head off the mat.
- Fouls
- No point
- The head touching the mat in a rock
- Collapsing onto the tummy in the bear or crab walk
- Changing to the wrong animal
- Winning
- Beat your best score.
- 6 points for 1 star
- 10 points for 2 stars
- 15 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Shorter distance.
Add a turn and a stop on a call.
What you will see, and what to say
- the child collapses on the arms
Lift your tummy, stay strong
Hips up, arms firm. - the head touches in the rock
Chin on chest, look at your belt
Keep the chin tucked.
Self-check
5 rocks in a row with the head off the mat.
Stop and get a coach when
Pain in the wrist, shoulder or neck.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains strength, coordination, rolling control.
awiseathlete.com/sports/judo/judo-b2