Judo UK

Training for Competition: Judo: Coaching, Strategy and the Science for Success

2001 World Police and Fire Games Judo Competition

Compétition de Judo. Les 3 combats de Léa. Elle finit 3ème.

Shodokan Aikido shinsah Randori year end competition

I heard that there is a movement to ban Morote Gari (double leg takedown) from compeition. Why would they want to do this? If it is such an inferior technique then why do Judo players utilize it when they go into MMA?

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BJ Penn enters a Judo competition as a White Belt.

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Today, the Welsh National Championships took place in the WIS in Cardiff. A few members of the Caldicot Judo Club and various players from clubs across Wales descended on the event organised by the Welsh Judo Association to battle it out to become the proud Welsh National Champion for 2008. The event that I personally took most interest was the < 81Kg category, which by far was the most packed out of the Male groups. Unfortunately, the Caldicot players most all of their fights (though they fought hard), but there was many exciting matches to remedy my disappointment. I noticed, many of the Welsh squad, male and female were attending the event and it wasn’t hard to see that many of these players dominated the event. My personal favourite was my very first experience of the ‘hard’ Kata Guruma in the < 108Kg category live, which was equally match with the ominous ’Oooo’ that echoed around the arena.

Some tips I picked up from this event were:
Throw and Keep Rolling!: There were some throws that landed Ippons even though the intial technique didn’t go to plan by simply keeping the momentum going by ‘rolling’ on top of your partner. This seemed to bring about Ippons due to the fact hat Uke, even though not initially, ended up on his back.

Be Nice!: You can be disqualified for being too aggressive.  One instance where a match almost ended up almost in the crowd to an over eager pickup which sent both Players though the advertising boards, well outside the match area. Even though it was plain to see that Tori was unnecessarily continued the move and was well aware that he was going out of the arena, Uke’s agressive ‘push’ to get Tori still gripping hands off him was mistaken (in my option) as a punch and thus Uke was disqualified.

Blast that Ne-Waza Technique: If you like Ne-waza then get it in as soon as you or (hopefully) your opponent hits the floor. It seems to me the advantages of this is that:

1. You are attacking Uke when he / she is most venerable;
2. You have a better chance of ‘Matte!’ NOT being called.

Ne-Waza needs to be constant: Keep moving! The judge will only keep you in Ne-Waza if you look like you are doing some and holding their attention… so you better keep moving, trying different things otherwise you’ll get stood up. You will notice that in competition, tachi-waza is preferred by the judges and they won’t keep you on the floor unless you are fighting to stay there.