Several psychological benefits have been associated with judo training, including enhanced cognitive functioning, improved emotional regulation, and higher self-confidence, with training experience being associated with higher levels of several psychological characteristics. Purpose: The current study explored the differences in training and psychological characteristics between beginner and advanced judokas. Methods: A sample of 146 judokas (77.4% male), including 67 beginners and 79 advanced, between 18 and 45 years of age, completed the Brief Resilience Scale (a = .84), Grit Scale (a = .82), General Self-Efficacy Scale (a = .85), Brief Self-Control Scale (a = .82), Brief Aggression Questionnaire (a = .75), Satisfaction with Life Scale (a = .88), and Mental Health Disorders Screening Instrument for Athletes (a = .79). Results: Results showed that advanced judokas were significantly older (p < .001), more experienced (p < .001), and presented higher training frequency (p = .013) and volume (p = .004) than beginner judokas. Moreover, advanced judokas reported significantly higher resilience (p < .001), grit (p = .001), self-efficacy (p = .004), self-control (p = .009), life satisfaction (p = .025), and lower mental health disorders (p < .001) than beginner judokas. No significant differences were found between beginner and advanced judokas in aggression (p = .172). Conclusions: Advanced judokas were older, more experienced, and trained more days and hours per week, and exhibited significantly higher resilience, grit, self-efficacy, self-control, and life satisfaction, and lower mental health disorders than beginner judokas. Moreover, beginner and advanced judokas presented similar levels of aggression.
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