THE Judo club of Nabua had a wonderful opportunity when Judo therapy expert from Japan, Professor Itoh Yuzuru, visited their club to teach them the correct ways of strapping their shoulders, knees, and ankles before a game.
Yuzuru, who is from the Department of Judo Therapy and Medical Science at Nippon Sport Science University in Japan, made his second visit to Fiji to impart his knowledge on proper body care
for athletes.
During his visit, Yuzuru emphasised the importance of proper care for the body before and after a match, especially for students and older rugby players in Fiji.
“I came last year and visited Marist Brothers High School and Mahatma Gandhi Memorial School and was shocked at the number of students that were carrying injuries with them but kept playing,” said Yuzuru. “If they are not careful, these injuries left unchecked can lead to more lifelong injuries.”
Teaming up with local partner and former rugby player Deryck Thomas, Yuzuru visited Nadroumai Village in Nadroga, where he witnessed, the impressive work being done to help restore injured limbs to working conditions.
At the judo center, Yuzuru demonstrated the correct ways of strapping shoulders, knees, and ankles to prevent injuries during games.
Yuzuru’s visit has left a lasting impact on the athletes of Nabua, and the team from Japan plans to return next year to conduct more training workshops for clubs, schools, and sporting teams in Fiji.
Their goal is to help these organisations better manage the health of their players and prevent unnecessary injuries on the field.
