Tua Tagovailoa incorporating judo in offseason training to prevent concussions

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa turned to judo training this offseason to aid prevention in concussions moving forward. 

The basic principle of the martial art is throwing for takedowns from a standing position. During training, there is an emphasis on “break falling,” an ability to disperse impact once your body hits the ground. The same goes for jiu jitsu, another martial art but a much heavier emphasis on grappling.

Former U.S. Olympic judoka Jason Morris suggested Tagovailoa use judo as the best practical use to go to the ground and avoid head contact.

“I was watching your show with Peter King talking about Tua’s concussion situation and the fact he keeps hitting his head on the ground,” Morris said, via Pro Football Talk. “I have forever thought and wanted the NFL to employ an expert Judo player/coach to teach the football players a little Judo, which starts with learning how to fall properly as we take tons a falls everyday but know how to naturally take that fall without hitting our heads.”

Tagovailoa opened up to Kay Adams on Up & Adams about his plan to train judo throughout the offseason.

“We’ve got a plan set up,” Tua said. “I’ll be doing Judo on Fridays just so that I can kind of figure out understanding my body and how to fall. . . . Just trying to help myself.”

Tagovailoa had the best season, statistically, of his career. He threw for 3,548 yards, 25 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 64.8% completion percentage.

However, he did not play in the team’s AFC Wild Card playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Tagovailoa admitted he wanted to get right back on the field for the Dolphins after his concussions.

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“Yeah, one of the biggest things I was trying to do was get back on the field,” Tagovailoa said on the AP Pro Football Podcast. “And you know, it was something that I had to consult with my wife, consult with my parents, my family. But at the end of the day, I think others had bigger interests in my health than I did. Talking about the Dolphins. And, you know, their whole plan was, ‘hey, we, we want to just protect you from yourself and not put any pressure on you to return back for this year.’ 

“And so, you know, as much as I wanted to come back and a lot of the conversations that we’ve had, you know, it’s just how the cards played out. Looking back at it, I’m very, very grateful that they didn’t rush me back to come back and play and I’ve been able to take care of myself that much more and better.”