Semi off topic - Health insurance 'risk factors'

This is off topic and probably shouldn't be in the 'beginners' forum, but I'm posing it because I want beginners to see it!

I started Judo in May of 2010, at age 34. I was overweight, very out of shape, etc. It took me a couple months to be able to do the entire Judo warmup without having to pause and sit on the side for awhile. But, I've stuck with it.

Today, we just had our health insurance employee wellness screenings and for the first time I had zero risk factors. This is based on things like blood pressure, BMI / Waist Circumference, blood glucose measurements, cholesterol, etc. Because I have zero risk factors I got a $45 bonus and extra money every paycheck to offset the cost of health insurance.

THANKS JUDO! I'm so glad I've stuck with it these past few years. I'm looking forward to many more. If you are a beginner on the fence, and you are frustrated that you can't throw anyone, and it's hard, and you hurt, and falling hurts, etc, stick with it; it gets a lot better over time and your skills will improve slowly but surely. Also, you'll wake up one day and realize how much healthier you've become. Sure, maybe your joints are shot, but still, much healthier

Good on you. Congrats!

I've been looking into different health insurance for expats. Most will not cover judo - comes under contact sports, or some as extreme sports (along with mountain climbing, hang gliding, etc).

but dojo insurance in Japan costs about US$20 a year.

So, risk is all about perception and experience - no insurance companies are more experienced with judo than the Japanese, and they see judo as a very low risk exercise.

So perhaps you shouldn't tell them how you got so fit!

NBK

Well just wait until "ObamaCare" BANS Judo, All Marital Arts, Boxing, Wrestling, Football, Hockey, and all other "dangerous" and potentially injurious sports and activities, because it isn't FAIR!!! Because that is not what the leftist liberal socialist Marxist approve of, cuz it's not soccer, tennis, golf, sailing, rowing, etc. Why should everybody else, the Gov't, pay for YOUR selfish and reckless injuries doing such violent, barbaric, ruthless, pointless sports and activities. You will only be permitted to do safe sports, approved sports.

Oh jeebus.

Hah, and yet, once I was denied health insurance because I was physically fit with no major health problems, but had a sprained back and neck from Judo. Or maybe I had asthma in childhood, I don't know. Either way, I was the perfect paying customer!

drinks on you next shiai. Congrats! keep up the good work, and recruit some of your co-workers.

Actual evidence of the benefits of judo - outstanding.