Hey guys,

I'm in mid 30's and still playing judo. Started training 4 years ago and my joints seem to be giving me away especially when sparring. Just wondering if anyone takes any special supplements when training to releive joint pains. Problem areas are my knees, ankle and bit of lower back.

ive heard glucosimine is pretty good

If I were you, I would not look to supplements as my first recourse.

If you have pain, it is always a good idea to listen to it, and figure out what the cause is. I would seek out professional help.

One cause could be muscle imbalances. If you have limited strength and/or flexibility in certain areas, or one side of your body is considerably stronger or more flexible than the other, our bodies stop acting properly. Movements become inefficient, and extra stress can be placed on joints and the back. Hips, knees, and the back are all areas that could be affected by these types of problems.

If I were you, I would try to find a physiotherapist who specializes in sports injuries and get a consultation. Better yet, find a sports medicine clinic (they often have physio, doctors, chiropractic, massage, etc), and try to figure out what is causing the pain. It might be the case that this type of treatment will solve the underlaying issues and get your body stronger and healthier than before. It might cost you some money, but it will probably be worth it.

I really recommend the book: "athletic body in balance'.

Also, how often do you train? Maybe its time to take a bit of time off from randori, let your body recover a bit, and then ease back into heavier training.

And if none of that works for you, maybe try to switch to BJJ. It's has many similarities to Judo, but I find it is much easier on the body.

Having injuries is no fun, so hopefully you'll get it sorted out.