Judo class experience

TKD SC

HI,

Just thought I'd post up my experience from my 1st ever Judo class.
Background: doing tkd about 15yrs, doing BJJ with a little MMA for 6 months (only once a week max though). Always had it in my head to try out a Judo class - tried a load of martial arts about 3 yrs ago before settling with BJJ & MMA to go alongside TKD, but hadn't given Judo a go, so always wanted to try it anyway out of curiosity...

Tough class! Really enjoyed it. Started with drilling a few different techniques, maybe about 5 different types of throws. Seemed to pick them up quickly and really enjoyed throwing my partner!
Given it's the summer, pretty much went straight into randoori then...
Had about 5/6 different spars / matches against people of various grades. I was the newbie obviously, so got thrown alot! First spar, he literally was throwing me every few seconds! After that, I seemed to fair a little better, although ended up on my back a good bit!

Overall, really enjoyed it and good workout too.

Comments would be:
Was told previously about Judo's reliance on the gi and grip - could make sense of this during the class and really noticed the sort of grip fighting and use of the gi in throws, versus say greco-roman type wrestling in mma (although I've extremely ltd experience in that tbh - a handful of classes and one seminar).

The fight position as well I noticed as being fairly sort of drooped over / low. With no need to worry about knees or punches it makes sense. Different rule set and all that. Very different sparring position to tkd / kickboxing.

Can see how injuries may be more likely than stand-up striking arts or than bjj. It's the big throws and trips that I could see causing injuries - compared to just a bloody nose or black eye which aren't really injuries..

Overall good though. Not sure if I'd continue with it or not as don't really have the time, so it would mean sacrifising something else which don't want to do. But, 2 more classes before they shut down in Aug, so may just do those two anyway.
Found the landing / falling quite tough 'cos I'm not used to it, and always find it weird not being able to punch people! But did enjoy it and a good sport. Great guys and atmosphere too.

That's my spiel over anyway - if it's of any interest to anyone! Comments welcome of course - esp anyone from striking background or bjj / mma who cross train in Judo, or who don't and why not...


Simon

cowzerp

I've only a limited experience in judo but its great craic!

the skill of break falling really helps with the been thrown and landing badly, thats the most important thing you should learn,

in all grappling arts you will tend to lean over more but i find that less in judo/bjj because the gi and you need to keep a strong posture where a wrestler will lean right over using there head to control things and are more worried about there legs.

I still prefer BJJ but judo compliments it well..but it is much harder to use in MMA too so thats probably more reason why i prefer BJJ.

Hephaestus

Thanks for sharing :cool:

I've been training in BJJ for about 4 months now & have been itching to try out Judo.

In fact when I first decided to take up a martial art I originally wanted to do Judo but couldn't find a club which would allow me to train more than once a week, so I ended up doing BJJ instead.

I'm moving away next month & intend on trying Judo ASAP!

Out of interest, how did your Newaza skills (from BJJ) match up against the Judokas?

arybvtcw0eolkf

Good post OP, but for your first visit it seem's like you done an awful lot of work!.

As Cowzer said, learning your break falls is one of the most important things to learn - in fact I'd say break falls and learning about breaking balance, a lot of clubs neglect these lessions unfortunetly.

Injuries, unfortunetly their a big part of Judo - if you continue with Judo you'll get used to being sore

I'd certainly recommend you pay another couple of visits to the club, you seem to have come away with a good impression of the style so go back and try gain an understanding of it now.

TKD SC

Hephaestus wrote: »

Thanks for sharing :cool:

I'm moving away next month & intend on trying Judo ASAP!

Out of interest, how did your Newaza skills (from BJJ) match up against the Judokas?

Yeh, def give it a go.
My Newaza skills are fairly basic! Most of the spars just stopped once on the ground. With one guy he kept going for a few secs on the ground and certainly I managed to keep in a decent position (once I recovered from the fall ) and stopped him from doing anything to me, so obviously the bjj classes are making a difference even if I don't know it! This guys though was quite new to judo himself but had done some submission wrestling also so that's why he did a bit more on the ground. Didn't do any proper newaza with anyone else.
In fact, there was a brazilian guy there who prefers judo to "zhoo zhitz" as he called it!

TKD SC

Rory Pitiful Potassium wrote: »

Good post OP, but for your first visit it seem's like you done an awful lot of work!.

As Cowzer said, learning your break falls is one of the most important things to learn - in fact I'd say break falls and learning about breaking balance, a lot of clubs neglect these lessions unfortunetly.

I'd certainly recommend you pay another couple of visits to the club, you seem to have come away with a good impression of the style so go back and try gain an understanding of it now.

Did do a lot! He said it's the summer, so numbers are down and they mainly just do randoori at moment. Luckily we actually did some techniques first though! I think he thought I was better at bjj than I am and so he wasn't too worried about me being thrown in the deep end! I did do about 5mins of breakfalls with one of the guys too though. I have done them before between various other classes over the years (aikido, ju jutsu) so sort of know how to fall, although I wasn't a picture of grace at the same time

Will certainly go back the next 2 weeks before they break for Aug just for the experience, even if I don't continue with it. Glad I went down anyway and experienced it. If I won the lotto I could do everything then!! I'm bad enough trying to get in my tkd and bit of bjj as I am without more! Need more days in the week to do everything!!

Gorman

I started doing a few judo classes this year, and I love it. I've done bjj for 4 years and it matches up really well.

as far as not working for MMA - I believe that only applies to 0.5% of people. Most people who do bjj or judo will never compete in MMA. Judo works great when there in clothes on

The same thing goes for gi-bjj, a lot of people who start bjj now, don't bother with the gi "cos it doesn't work in MMA", well most of these people will never compete in MMA - it doesn't make sense.

Just like I would never exclusively do gi only (bjj and judo) I would never chose no gi only (bjj and wrestling)

dlofnep

Judo is awesome.