Purpose. The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of training implemented at an early school age on technical schooling as well as on sports achievements attained by judo contestants. Implementation of the above-mentioned tasks - according to the authors - may supply information on the optimal age at which to undertake training activities by judo competitors, as well as may be an indication regarding determination of technical schooling direction during this period of development. Basic procedures. The observation focused on the participants` activities during the Polish Judo Seniors` Championships that took place in Chorzow in 1998 and in Wroclaw in 1999. On the basis of survey studies, the following were determined: contestants` age, body height as well as the age of training commencement. The analysis of technical schooling comprised a comparison of application frequency, effectiveness as well as efficiency of their activities with regard to precise classifications that determined the contestants` technical preferences. The contestants came from two groups: those who had begun their training before and after the age of 11. The influence of the age at which the contestants had begun their schooling on the level of their achievements was determined by studying the numerical distribution of medalists deriving from the studied groups of contestants. Main findings. It was found that the judokas undertaking their training activities at an earlier school age applied hand techniques as well as throwing techniques combined with trunk rotation more often than those who had begun their work-outs later. Those relationships indicated a weak and moderate relationship. The moderate relationship occurred between the age of training commencement and effectiveness of sacrifice throwing techniques as well as attacks combined with pulling the opponent forwards. The analysis of the numerical distribution of the medalists from the studied groups of the contestants showed that those contestants who had begun their trainings at a younger school age were in majority. Conclusions. 1. Undertaking training activities at an earlier school age has a positive effect on high performance achieved by contestants during seniors` championships. 2. Technical schooling during this period of development should be targeted towards: throws with trunk rotation, sacrifice techniques, combined attacks with pulling the opponent forward.
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