Judo/Дзюдо/柔道

HEAVYWEIGHT JUDO, BUILT STEP BY STEP 🥋

Galymzhan Krikbay does not rely on power alone. His ippons begin with kumi-kata, develop through kuzushi, continue with compact tsukuri, and end with committed kake.

Grip control. Broken balance. Precise entry. Complete finish.

That is how technique turns heavyweight power into ippon.

Which throw is your No. 1?

Analysis by Yerdos Khamzin.

Heavyweight judo is not just about strength.

Muzaffarbek Turoboyev first controls the upper body, breaks his opponent’s posture, and removes the stable base. He then drives through his legs and continues the rotation without losing control.

Power begins the movement—but timing, balance, and precise body positioning complete the throw.

Which detail was most important here: the grip, the timing, or the body position?

Technical analysis by Yerdos Khamzin.

The fight was over—but the belt wanted golden score. 😅

At the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, Temur Rakhimov had just finished a demanding +100 kg semifinal against Lukáš Krpálek.

Before the referee could indicate the winner, Rakhimov had to put his judogi in order. When the belt refused to cooperate, Krpálek stepped forward and helped the opponent he had just defeated.

Seconds earlier, they were fighting for a place in the final. Now one judoka was helping the other.

Krpálek went on to win gold. Rakhimov took bronze.

The fight ended. The respect did not.

What is the greatest act of respect you have seen on the tatami?

Natsumi Tsunoda: The Queen of Tomoe-Nage

TSUNODA = TOMOE-NAGE 🇯🇵🥋

Natsumi Tsunoda built one of the most recognisable styles in modern judo.

After moving from the under-52 kg category to under 48 kg, she became a three-time consecutive world champion and completed her journey with Olympic gold at Paris 2024.

Her tomoe-nage is already dangerous, but her immediate transition into juji-gatame makes the entire attack even harder to stop.

This is what true mastery looks like: one technique, refined thousands of times, until the whole world knows exactly what is coming — but still cannot stop it.

Is Natsumi Tsunoda the greatest tomoe-nage specialist of the modern era?