Making Weight & Everything Else Making weight and everything else | Page 31

Professional preparation for competition: Athletes who cut weight often
alter their training regime in a way that will help them cut weight. This is
not necessarily the optimal method of training to prepare for competition.
Before they start cutting weight, athletes train at a heavier weight than
competition weight, which can be misleading. When heavier, they are more
likely to be stronger but slower. They have more body weight to support
their techniques. A kick will have more impact when it comes with a greater
body mass behind it, and a throw will be more difficult to block. When the
competition comes, their lighter body weight will result in different
reactions and ability.
More about the long term effects of weight cutting can be found in the
chapter “The risks of being too professional.”
“I had a competition far from home. All the team flew out a
day earlier, and at the gate, just before boarding, we were
informed that the flight was delayed for a few hours. I was
desperate. I wore all the warm clothing my teammates had
with them and started running from gate to gate in the
terminal. I was so scared that security would suspect me of
being a terrorist and arrest me, but I had no choice. I wouldn’t
make weight otherwise.”
– Nick, judoka
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