Tianjin Judo Squad Returns to Fuwei Training Base
While holiday decorations still hung on residential windows, the lights inside the judo hall at the Tianjin Fuwei Sports Training Base flickered on at 6 a.m. on the eleventh day of the Lunar New Year. Head coach Zhao Zhishan led the Tianjin judo team around the facility for morning jogs, kicking off a rigorous training cycle following the Spring Festival break. By 9:00 a.m., the hall echoed with the sharp thuds of bodies hitting the mats and the low grunts of athletes locked in pair combat. Sweat dripped from necks to stain the training canvas, while the friction of white judo gis mixed with the rapid breathing of competitors repeating falls and recoveries.
Zhao stood arms crossed near the edge of the mat, his eyes tracking every movement as coaching staff members scrutinized body mechanics and technical precision. Zhao noted that preparation schedules had prevented proper breaks for several seasons, making this year’s family reunions a welcome respite before the work recommenced.
Three Sessions Daily Under Zhao Zhishan
Training intensity ramped back up on the ninth day of the lunar month as the full roster returned to a demanding schedule of three daily sessions. Athletes report from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. for foundational conditioning, return from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for technical drills, and finish with sparring and combat simulation from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
In one corner of the hall, two younger athletes engaged in a fast scramble. One executed a sudden sweep before the opponent countered with a rolling escape and a tight rollover pin. The transitions occurred in seconds, featuring an aggressive exchange where neither competitor yielded even after being thrown to the ground. Zhao watched the exchanges and remarked that athletic output transcends age, stressing that willingness to train, adherence to coaching, and a competitive drive matter above all else.
National Team Commitments Keep Key Players Abroad for Tournaments
The Tianjin program lists 25 official athletes alongside a cohort of sports school trainees, bringing total numbers past 50. Several key members including Hui Xinran, Niu Xinran, and Tao Yuying missed the local resumption because they remained with the national team, competing at a Grand Slam event in France in early February before traveling onward to Uzbekistan. Xie acknowledged the value of the family reunion but immediately pivoted back to preparation for the National Judo Championships scheduled for March.
As morning drills concluded, Zhao gathered the athletes for a brief address to seal the transition back to competitive focus. He reminded them that the holiday had ended, family visits were complete, and mental concentration must return entirely to the mat. Outside the facility, paper window decorations from the Lunar New Year remained visible, but inside the hall, the shouts of competitors filled the air as the team prepared for upcoming domestic and international fixtures.
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