It is with deep regret we have to postpone our competition on May 27th due to technical difficulties with our new booking in programme. (It wasn't working). We intend to find a new date later in the year so keep looking at our WEB site or for further information contact Mike Liptrot on 07708 968194
From Jerry Jackson: Left uchimata in a blink of an eye. This beautifully executed uchimata could not have been anticipated by the judoka in the red sash. It was perfect from start to finish, but notice the lack of a sleeve grip by white. He has gripped both lapels, which is not good for body [...]
The following individuals passed the Pan American Judo Confederation examination for “C” Referee Licenses at the US Open in Dural, Florida on May 12, 2012.
Mr. David Malek, WI
Mr. David Allen, MT
Mr. Ryan Shimokawa, HI
Mr. Sheldon Konno, HI
On behalf of the USJF Referee Development and Certification Committee, congratulations to our newest “C” Referees.
Submitted by
Harold Yamada
USJF Referee Secretary
IJF Continental Referee
This is about something that finally dawned on me which I'm sure all of you know already, which is: what do people mean by "power"?
I mean this specifically in the context of explaining a judo technique. Occasionally an instructor on YouTube, or in the dojo, will show how not to do a move because you'll "lose power". I always assumed "power" referred to some intangible energy, which vaguely bugged me because I like to understand judo in terms of tangible mechanics. But now I think I get it.
Consider a basic form of physical competition: arm wrestling. There's a right way to position the relevant body parts, and there are wrong ways. For example, if you bend your wrist back, your hand is at a terrible angle to apply force to the opponent's hand or to resist the force that he or she will apply. Don't bend your wrist back, or you'll lose power.
"Power" in judo technique is simply the same thing, multiplied by the larger number of body parts that need to work together against the larger number of body parts of your opponent.
What made this click for me was this paragraph from "The Difficult Way" about how to do tai-otoshi (emphasis added):
Because uke isn’t properly loaded onto the back as in Morote seoi nage and instead in a halfway house between tori’s hip and upper thigh and because tori’s hands have fallen behind their head. This is a very weak position and to then attempt to complete the throw requires a lot of power to be extracted from joints that aren’t in the correct position to provide power, the result is very weak and will result in injury when attempted on a resisting opponent.
You can see how similar language could be used for the arm-wrestling example.
Sometimes "power" is not only about positioning but about the speed of your movements. In this master class, Hiroshi Katanishi demonstrates how an effective foot sweep doesn't strike the opponent's foot but rather accelerates it. Skip to the 10:00 mark or click here to go there directly.
The whole video is excellent, as are all of Sensei Katanishi's videos.
In summary:
To apply a judo technique is to apply force in one or more directions to one or more parts of your opponent's body.
"Power" is the degree to which your positioning and speed are optimized to deliver the force you need to deliver.
Again, this was probably obvious to you, especially if you've done other sports. The same principles apply to throwing a fastball or pulling an oar. I've just been dense about it for some reason.
I stumbled on the following video blog post from Jordon Shultz. He is training with Team Lloyd Irvin and one of his old teammates, Alec Baulding, visited to join in on the hard training.
I know very little about Jordon Shultz except that he is a huge proponent of drilling. In particular what caught my attention is his mention that he just got done with the morning session of drilling 500 reps of his favorite techniques.
That’s the general training pattern I see among many top level competitors, from the up-and-coming purple and brown belts such as Gianni Grippo to the well-accomplished black belts such as Rodolfo Vieira:
3 sessions a day.
1-2 of the sessions each day are focused on drilling.
1 session is focused on hard training, probably because your body can only take so much hard training. Rodolfo Vieira for example doesn’t train hard every day. Some he goes lighter. Nonstop intensity works for many, but not for everyone.
Obviously, amateur jiu jitsu athletes such as myself can’t afford to train 3 times a day, but there is a lot to be learned from the emphasis these guys put on drilling. They are not screwing around either. A drilling session is 1-2 hours of hard drilling of your main techniques, especially as you get closer to competition. I drill a lot (just very basic moves), in fact, more than training, but I definitely don’t do 1-2 hour hard drilling sessions where I get 500 reps in. That’s definitely something I would love to work up to as I progress in the sport.
It takes the right kind of partner to make that happen. The more obsessed you are with drilling, the easier you are to drill with. I find that regular competitors make for the best drilling partners, because stuff they drill is what they have and will be using in competition. They have an urgency and obsession about the drilling process that makes it work smoothly. And it needs to work smoothly if you want to do many sessions of one hour or more a week.
If you want to get good faster, it’s your job to put the reps in somewhere, somehow, sometime.
I stumbled on the following video blog post from Jordon Shultz. He is training with Team Lloyd Irvin and one of his old teammates, Alec Baulding, visited to join in on the hard training.
I know very little about Jordon Shultz except that he is a huge proponent of drilling. In particular what caught my attention is his mention that he just got done with the morning session of drilling 500 reps of his favorite techniques.
That’s the general training pattern I see among many top level competitors, from the up-and-coming purple and brown belts such as Gianni Grippo to the well-accomplished black belts such as Rodolfo Vieira:
3 sessions a day.
1-2 of the sessions each day are focused on drilling.
1 session is focused on hard training, probably because your body can only take so much hard training. Rodolfo Vieira for example doesn’t train hard every day. Some he goes lighter. Nonstop intensity works for many, but not for everyone.
Obviously, amateur jiu jitsu athletes such as myself can’t afford to train 3 times a day, but there is a lot to be learned from the emphasis these guys put on drilling. They are not screwing around either. A drilling session is 1-2 hours of hard drilling of your main techniques, especially as you get closer to competition. I drill a lot (just very basic moves), in fact, more than training, but I definitely don’t do 1-2 hour hard drilling sessions where I get 500 reps in. That’s definitely something I would love to work up to as I progress in the sport.
It takes the right kind of partner to make that happen. The more obsessed you are with drilling, the easier you are to drill with. I find that regular competitors make for the best drilling partners, because stuff they drill is what they have and will be using in competition. They have an urgency and obsession about the drilling process that makes it work smoothly. And it needs to work smoothly if you want to do many sessions of one hour or more a week.
If you want to get good faster, it’s your job to put the reps in somewhere, somehow, sometime.
In less than 24 hours until Strength Training for Judo will be available for purchase. Strength Training for Judo contains exercises and strength programs written specifically by a Judo player FOR Judo.
There are literally thousands of Judo players all over the world following gym programs written for power lifting or for anything other than Judo. This is due to the fact that Judo players get their gym programs from 3 people:
- A personal trainer who knows nothing about the physical requirements for Judo
- A fellow Jud player who cannot write good, structured gym programs
- From their coach (who has been following the same out-dated strength program for the last few decades)
Do you know what sort of gym program you should be doing?
Are you following a program tailored for Judo?
If not, then Strenght Training for Judo is the book for you.
It is so important that you follow a gym program designed for Judo.
Strength Training for Judo also comes with 3 amazing bonuses.
Speed and Agility for Judo
Explosive medicine ball drills for Judo
And...
My Competition Preparation manual.
In this manual I discuss everything from tapering your training, what to take to weight in, post weight in food, rehydration, warming up and lots more.
The competition preparation manual is only available within the first 7 days so make sure you get in quick.
Keep an eye on your email because Strength Training for Judo will be released in less than 24 hours.
Starting on May 15th, 2012; we are again running an eight week course of Judo at the Oasis Academy (Green Lane, Lords Hill), Southampton.
This is the second time we have run a course like this for the Fighting Chance project.
As we have some graduates from the previous course; we are pleased to announce that we have an open session at 8pm on Tuesdays which is open to previous graduates of the 8 week yellow belt challenge and members of the community.
We are very happy to be involved in this worthwhile community project and would like to thank the sponsor organisations and referring agencies for their support. We would also like to thank Lee Quilter of the Fighting Chance project for bringing the great project to Southampton.
About Judo Judo is a Martial Art, Olympic Sport and Commonwealth sport.
Much like JuJitsu, Kung Fu, Karate, Aikido and other marial arts, Judo is an effective and powerful self defence. It does not however incorporate any kicks or punches. In Judo throws are used along with ground fighting techniques including arm locks, strangles, chokes and pinning techniques.
Judo in Europe is strong, and has been so historically for a long time. Specifically, France and Germany, along with the former Soviet Block countries. European Judo has been instrumental in the progress and history of Judo. The formation of the European Judo Union (EJU) was the for runner to the International Judo Federation (IJF) and is a major force in modern Judo.
Judokwai competition coming up.
