Most of us have them. Throws/pins/submissions that we are both more comfortable and successful with than others. I would really like to know yours, and how you set them up. Conversely, I would also like to know your least favored techniques.

My favored throw at the moment is uchi mata. Not only is it one of my better (i.e. least horrible) throws, but I also find it very visually pleasing. O uchi gari is by far my favored way of setting it up. It often goes o soto gari/o uchi gari/uchi mata. My least favored throw at the moment is hiza guruma. I would really like to add it to my arsenal of combinations, but I am completely unable to reliably muster a hiza guruma that can be considered a real threat to my opponent.

The pin I have the most success with is (kuzure) kesa gatame. Both because I normally get a good chance to apply it from my throws, but also because it is the pin which averages the longest time held. My least favored pin is tate shio gatame. This is both due to never really being able to apply it, as well as me not being able to hold it anywhere near the amount of time that I can with other pins.

As for submissions, I favor ude garami. Either on my opponent's right arm from kuzure kesa gatame with the aid of my legs (many people don't see it coming), or on his left arm with a regular one. I naturally only attempt these if it seems my opponent will be able to get out of my pin soon (ex: getting his right arm out from my grip), and they are not very high percentage. My least favored submission is juji gatame. Not because I don't like it (who doesn't?), but because I can never seem to get it locked in before we are stood up. I need to watch more Neil Adams videos.

I'm really not very good at submitting people. I'm a pinhead indeed.

Now, what's yours?

Most of us have them. Throws/pins/submissions that we are both more comfortable and successful with than others. I would really like to know yours, and how you set them up. Conversely, I would also like to know your least favored techniques.

My favored throw at the moment is uchi mata. Not only is it one of my better (i.e. least horrible) throws, but I also find it very visually pleasing. O uchi gari is by far my favored way of setting it up. It often goes o soto gari/o uchi gari/uchi mata. My least favored throw at the moment is hiza guruma. I would really like to add it to my arsenal of combinations, but I am completely unable to reliably muster a hiza guruma that can be considered a real threat to my opponent.


My tokui waza is o soto gari. It's strange that this would be my tokui waza because o soto gari is what many people call a typical "big man throw". I stand at a towering 5'6" and 150lbs. I do o soto gari from about eight different types of grips and most often my multi-throw combinations end up with o soto gari being the last throw. O soto gari is successful for me because I also have a very good ippon/morote seoi nage so a combination I end up doing is something like o uchi gari -> ko uchi gari -> seoi nage -> o soto gari. A lot of times in randori I'll get the seoi nage quite easily but if it's blocked I go o soto gari. I don't even think about it. Also, it should go without saying that such a combination works if you do seoi nage without dropping to the knees. I stopped doing that kind of seoi nage over a year ago and my Judo has improved.



The pin I have the most success with is (kuzure) kesa gatame. Both because I normally get a good chance to apply it from my throws, but also because it is the pin which averages the longest time held. My least favored pin is tate shio gatame. This is both due to never really being able to apply it, as well as me not being able to hold it anywhere near the amount of time that I can with other pins.
Without question for me it's kata gatame followed by kami shiho gatame.



As for submissions, I favor ude garami. Either on my opponent's right arm from kuzure kesa gatame with the aid of my legs (many people don't see it coming), or on his left arm with a regular one. I naturally only attempt these if it seems my opponent will be able to get out of my pin soon (ex: getting his right arm out from my grip), and they are not very high percentage. My least favored submission is juji gatame. Not because I don't like it (who doesn't?), but because I can never seem to get it locked in before we are stood up. I need to watch more Neil Adams videos.

I'm really not very good at submitting people. I'm a pinhead indeed.

Now, what's yours?I don't really have a favorite submission as I just end up using what's there but the submission that's there for me the most is ude garami from tate shiho gatame. I think that happens a lot is because I always threaten with sode guruma jime. I'm not very good with juji gatame from that position because for me at my age I just don't feel fast enough. My basics are probably off when doing that technique but it's a lot easier for me to attempt sode guruma jime and then secure an arm for ude garami when they start flailing about. Of course, if I can get the choke I'll just do that.

Tokuiwaza tachiwaza:
O soto gari and O uchi gari

Associated techniques:
Sasae tsurikomi ashi
De ashi barai
Ko soto gari
Uchi mata

Tokuiwaza newaza:
Mune gatame and Juji gatame

Associated techniques:
Kami shiho gatame
Ushiro kesa gatame
Uki gatame
Hadaka jime


There is no such thing as a 'set up' and the concept is a flawed one.

Well I don't know how well it works in Judo but I really like the Kneeling Kata Gurma in BJJ.
My least favorite throw/take down is the double leg.
On the ground.
I don't know the name of the choke but from side control you take their Gi that is on your side grab it from the bottom and give it to your hand that is under the neck then you slide your other hand under the pocket you just made and more or less just rest the knife hand side on the neck. It works surprising well for how little pressure it seems like your putting.

Favourite standing techniques:

Most suplex techniques
Ouchi Gari
Ko uchi Gari
Kata guruma

Favourite ground techniques:

RNC and variants are my favourite, but pretty much any chokes. Just because I find them really easy to achieve most of the time. I appreciate that there is generally a larger margin for error than with joint techniques, but still. I like them alot, and I figure they're the only submission I could go 100% with in a self defence situation without causing the sort of damage that could put me in jail.,

Whatever works.

Seriously, I try not to engage in cognitive thinking when doing randori or shiai.

I'm pretty good at all the throws in the first two kyo of the gokyo no waza plus a couple of hikkomi gaeshi and Yoko Tomoe Nage.

If I think back, ashi waza are probably what I score the most with these days, ashi barai techniques, Hiza Guruma, Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi, and Kouchi Gari.

When I was competing seriously, Kouchi Gari and Seoi Nage of various flavors were most common.

On the ground, it's the same way. Any pin is OK, it just depends on what presents at the given moment. I like to tie off an arm with the "key lock" and go from there. I do not do Juji Gatame so much anymore, as the flexibility in my lower back is not what it used to be.

When I was competing heavily, I favored Kuzure Kami Shiho Gatame (from Seoi Nage), Juji Gatame, Tate Shiho Gatame, arm locks using the legs from Kesa Gatame (Hiza Gatame), and rolling sankaku to turn over the turtle.

From bottom, I use a lot of Obi Tori Gaeshi, and various reversals that would be called in BJJ/subwrestling variations of butterfly and half butterfly sweeps, or elevator sweeps of various types, and Juji Gatame plus Katate Jime (loop choke in BJJ).

I'm probably less flexible in my ne waza from the bottom and have not changed much in a long time, other than favoring sweeping to pin over submissions, again, because of my lower back being stiff.

The key to it all is to develop sound basics-movement, gripping, posture, action-reaction, and the techniques, standing or on the ground.

Ben

Whatever works.

Yup




If I think back, ashi waza are probably what I score the most with these days, ashi barai techniques, Hiza Guruma, Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi, and Kouchi Gari.

Ben

LOL old man Judo. I been doing that too.

been playing with harai goshi as a tokui waza, in newaza i'm becoming a shimewaza specialist, trying to not limit my choices though, i tend to go for kata juji jime and sankaku jime a lot, but am trying to learn more fun ways to choke people with clothing.

My tokui waza is o soto gari. It's strange that this would be my tokui waza because o soto gari is what many people call a typical "big man throw". I stand at a towering 5'6" and 150lbs. I do o soto gari from about eight different types of grips and most often my multi-throw combinations end up with o soto gari being the last throw. O soto gari is successful for me because I also have a very good ippon/morote seoi nage so a combination I end up doing is something like o uchi gari -> ko uchi gari -> seoi nage -> o soto gari. A lot of times in randori I'll get the seoi nage quite easily but if it's blocked I go o soto gari. I don't even think about it. Also, it should go without saying that such a combination works if you do seoi nage without dropping to the knees. I stopped doing that kind of seoi nage over a year ago and my Judo has improved.


I like this way of going at it. I must say that I highly prefer doing standing seio nage as well. When I began doing Judo, one of the coaches would insist that we focus on standing seio nages; I quickly found that I enjoyed the possibilities this brought with it.


There is no such thing as a 'set up' and the concept is a flawed one.

I concede this. Poorly thought out on my part.

I concede this. Poorly thought out on my part.
Don't beat yourself up about it, I just like to reinforce the point when I can because its such a widespread misconception.


My least favored submission is juji gatame. Not because I don't like it (who doesn't?), but because I can never seem to get it locked in before we are stood up. I need to watch more Neil Adams videos.

I've had a thread in the works on straightening the arm/ finishing Juji gatame if I get round to it I will finish it and post.

In the meantime go here and buy either the whole dvd download or get the individual files titled- straightening the arm:
http://www.fightingfilms.tv/r/k51tk8qhd8

If don't want to get them all then get the 'collar hold' and 'swapping the arm', Adams doesn't mention a few key details because they're so basic and obvious to him, which is my only criticism of his dvds, but those two will literally ensure you can finish the Juji 90% of the time.

There is no such thing as a 'set up' and the concept is a flawed one.
Ok I will bite as I am under the impression that there is such a thing as a set up. You know like when you feint one way to get someone to move then you bam you execute what you originally have planned. So I would like a little more elaboration on what you mean.

Thanks a bunch for the recommendations. I will definitely check them out. The price isn't off-putting, so I'l probably end up buying the whole shebang. I hope you'll post the thread you're talking about as well, as I have really enjoyed reading your previous work.

Ok I will bite as I am under the impression that there is such a thing as a set up. You know like when you feint one way to get someone to move then you bam you execute what you originally have planned. So I would like a little more elaboration on what you mean.
A set up is what leads to Ninjitsu.


Ok I'll elaborate. A a set up assumes that action A always leads to reaction B to which you can apply action C.

That's not how Judo works. Action A can leads to reaction B,C,D or Z to which you then obviously can apply action F,G,H or Y.

Lets put that in terms of Judo throws, Ko uchi gari 'sets up' a Seoi nage. This assumes that uke reacts in a way suitable for seoi nage, the reality is that uke could react in a way that is suitable for seoi nage or they could react in a way that's suitable for O uchi gari, Uchi mata, O soto gari, Yoko tomoe nage, Tai otoshi etc...

So if you train a set ups you're essentially training the old Matt Thornton dubbed 'dead patterns'.

Also 'set up' training often means that the first throw is faked or at best half hearted, because there is little to no intention to throw with it. The way you should train is to try and throw for ippon with the first technique and then if that doesn't succeed, then and only then do you think about your next technique with which you will again attempt to throw for ippon. That technique will be dictated by uke's reactions not by your expectation of uke's reaction.

Judoka_uk hit it on the head.

Thank you for taking the time to write it.

As an anecdotal aside, the judoka whose tokui-waza I knew, whose favored grip I knew, and whose strategy I knew, were always the most difficult to fight. Judoka who rely on feints and tricks were the ones I've felt were always easier to handle.

Thank you Judoka_uk that makes perfect sense.

So if you train a set ups you're essentially training the old Matt Thornton dubbed 'dead patterns'.

Also 'set up' training often means that the first throw is faked or at best half hearted, because there is little to no intention to throw with it. The way you should train is to try and throw for ippon with the first technique and then if that doesn't succeed, then and only then do you think about your next technique with which you will again attempt to throw for ippon. That technique will be dictated by uke's reactions not by your expectation of uke's reaction.Yeah, but you should have some idea of what is possible. For example, I like soto-makikomi. But if I don't get it, uke is often pulling back, so switching to o-soto-gari with the makikomi grip often ends it. I know that because I can execute either throw and in randori I have worked that out.