Don't play with concussion: learn the signs of brain injury now!

Tajikistan's Dzebov takes a hard knock while battling for bronze at the 2025 World Championships in Hungary. Photo courtesy of the IJF

Judoka are more familiar with concussion than they should be, and too many people take this type of injury too lightly.  Did you know concussion is a form of mild traumatic brain injury?

While most concussions heal quite uneventfully and without ongoing symptoms, some are more severe, and repeated concussions are particularly dangerous. 

Judoka have a responsibility to themselves and each other to understand the risks of our sport and how to respond – and staying up to date with information around diagnosis and treatment is critical for athletes and their coaches. 

Today marks the start of Brain Injury Awareness Week – an excellent time to update your knowledge of concussion, what might pose long term issues, and how coaches and officials need to respond.

Connectivity Traumatic Brain Injury Australia is organisation dedicated to improving understanding around traumatic brain injury and offers a short course to build individual knowledge around concussion, and safe behaviours following a suspected concussion. The Sport-Related Concussion Short Course is a test-based learning module that not only probes your knowledge of concussion, but delivers that latest information to supplement your understanding. 

Aimed at athletes, coaches and officials alike, the short course is an important introduction to the latest thinking around traumatic brain injury.

Judo Australia outlines our approach to concussion in judo in Medical section of our website, where medical personnel at tournaments can download the Medical Manual.  Our approach is guided by the 2024 AIS Concussion and Brain Health Position Statement, qualified by the Supplementary Clauses specific to Judo.

Also available is a detailed presentation for Judo coaches from the AIS Chief Medical Office, David Hughes on Concussion and Brain Health in Judo, and the CRT6 Concussion Recognition Tool from the AIS guidelines.