If you are present at the IJF Paris Grand Slam, currently held in the AccorHotel Arena at Bercy, or if you are watching any other exciting competition livestream via the computer, tablet of smartphone from your comfy seat at home or even on the bus or metro train, you must have noticed the judokas pre-fight ritual. Nothing wrong with getting yourself super prepped before the fight … and to be honest, it’s a genuine part of every bout and fans are secretly expecting it. It’s the athlete’s way of communicating to his/her fans: ‘I’m ready’ … Let’s bring it on!

Click here to watch the video!

We tried to discern the different categories … We found ten. Here is the result.

1. The Low Jumpers: when entering the tatami, they jump a bit up and down a couple of times;

2. The High Jumpers: when entering the tatami, they jump up and down pulling their knees up really high;

3. The Feet Sweepers: when entering the tatami, they sweep their feet left to right and back, repeatedly;

4. The Twisters: when entering the tatami, they shake their hips, short of ‘twist & shake’;

5. The Face Slappers: when entering the tatami, they slap their face a couple of times;

6. The Thigh Slappers: similar as the Face Slappers, but then the thighs;

7. The Body Slappers: idem ditto as previous two categories, but then the body;

8. The Exhalers: when entering the tatami, they fiercely exhale air through their mouth making a blowing noise;

9. The Yellers: when entering the tatami, they let out a terrifying yell;

10. The Mixers: when entering the tatami, they do a mix of some or all of the above.

What does your favorite judoka do when he/she enters the tatami?

See also
Tokyo GS 2025
Park24 Group Presents the Tokyo Grand Slam 2025 Perfectly

06. Dec. 2025 / The Park24 Group Tokyo Grand Slam is already at the ...

Tokyo GS 2025
-63 kg: Kaju Continues to Claims Crowns

06. Dec. 2025 / The last of the women’s categories on day one at ...

Tokyo GS 2025
+100 kg: Endovitskii Ends Japan’s Heavyweight Hopes

06. Dec. 2025 / The +100 kg final of the Park24 Group Tokyo Grand Slam ...

Tokyo GS 2025
-57 kg: Akari Omori Takes the Tokyo Title

06. Dec. 2025 / Akari Omori (JPN) and Momo Tamaoki (JPN) each wanted ...

Tokyo GS 2025
-100 kg: Ilia Sulamanidze Wins in Tokyo

06. Dec. 2025 / The Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium was bouncing as Ilia ...

Tokyo GS 2025
-52 kg: They Said it Would Be Uta and it Was!

06. Dec. 2025 / The second women’s gold medal of the Park24 Group ...

Tokyo GS 2025
-90 kg: Murao Makes His Mark

06. Dec. 2025 / The first of the men’s categories to complete its ...

Tokyo GS 2025
-48 kg: Koga Cuts Through the Category

06. Dec. 2025 / The first category of the final block of the Park24 ...

Tokyo GS 2025
Highlights From the Preliminaries - Day 1

06. Dec. 2025 / The will to win among the Japanese delegation is always ...

Tokyo GS 2025
Unlike Any Other...

06. Dec. 2025 / Closing the season carries a big responsibility but ...

Tokyo GS 2025
Three Things to Look Out For on Day 1

05. Dec. 2025 / The Park24 Group Tokyo Grand Slam is only hours away, ...

Tokyo GS 2025
The Continued Unification of Understanding

05. Dec. 2025 / Referee meetings prior to World Judo Tour events are ...

Tokyo GS 2025
Park24 Group Tokyo Grand Slam is Ready to Deliver the Season Finale

05. Dec. 2025 / The highly anticipated Park24 Group Tokyo Grand Slam ...

INTERVIEW EXPRESS
Shishime Ai (JPN)

08. Jun. 2018 / The next reigning world champion to be invited to answer ...

News
5 Key Takeaways from judo’s first Tokyo 2020 qualifier

06. Jun. 2018 / Highlights from Hohhot Grand Prix 2018

VIDEO
Judo for the World in Iran

07. Jun. 2018 / In April 2018, the International Judo Federation and ...

Meeting
JUDO: A Beneficial Cause

07. Jun. 2018 / 'Society should believe in sport as a beneficial cause ...