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Matt W.
2/13/2007 1:25pm,
Wasn't quite sure where to put this, but since I met some BS members, I figured here would do...

I just spent three weeks in Burien WA (outside of Seattle) going to the academt for CCO’s (I will start a thread on DT’s in the Armory forum for more on my experiences there). Since I had to be away from the family, and kill lots of time, I decided to do some serious hardcore training while I was there. “Ryno” (a bullshido member) put me in touch with the instructor at his club. So, long story short I ended up training there for the three weeks and thought I’d write up a quick review.

In short, I loved it there. The instructor, Aaron Fields, is a Judo BB, holds some kind of rank or certification in Sambo, and had a teaching cert in a trad JJJ (the exact ryu escapes me at the moment). The club met in a large basement, but had a sprung floor and “Olympic quality” judo mats. The atmosphere was very relaxed, with a minimum of ritual. All the students I met were knowledgeable and friendly. There was beer in the ‘fridge for after, and they threw some tunes on when we were rolling.

It was a very newaza heavy style of judo. In fact, the name “kosen” judo was thrown around a couple times, though I’m not sure if they were actually claiming that lineage or not. Training was about 2 hours long. We’d start with some warm-ups. Typical grappling stuff, like what I’d seen in wrestling and BJJ. Then we did Ukemi (falling). Which was something I hadn’t done in wrestling and BJJ. I actually found it pretty helpful. After that, it would depend. Some nights, it was straight newaza. We’d start drilling a technique, or rolling for position. We’d work some escapes, some subs, etc. And then we’d roll for subs. Other nights, we’d do a bit of stand-up first. Grip fighting, learning and practicing throws, randori with no ground work, and/or randori all the way to sub/pin. But either way, we always spent at least the last half of the class on newaza. My last night there, we even took the jackets off and did a little no-gi. I ended up attending 8 times over the three weeks (they had classes three nights a week that I was able to make, and I made it all but once, which I missed because I was hung over *g*).

I definitely would recommend this dojo. Though my previous grappling was limited, I do have some experience, and I found the grappling there to be a very tight and technical game. I learned a TON in just the three weeks I was there. I also had the chance to meet and roll with bullshido members Ryno and Oscar Goldman (they’re legit), and met Abe Frohman. Which was cool.

Here’s a link to the schools website: http://seattle-jujutsu.org

Ryno
2/14/2007 5:46pm,
Thanks, Matt. It was good having you in for practice. Hopefully next time we meet, I won't be so fat and slow due to knee injuries and a new baby. Thanks for the props, as a relative noob to grappling, I'm happy that I represented well.

As far as Kosen Judo goes, this is a reference to old-school Judo rules which were much more loose, and emphasized a lot more ground fighting. This is how we usually train, and tend to avoid the more restrictive modern Olympic style rules, although some of the guys from the club due compete in both Judo and BJJ tourneys. Under this rule set, the JJJ, Russian style Judo, sombo and mongolian wrestling can really come into play.

Oh, and the Jujutsu is Yabe Ryu, which was a Meiji era style.

Matt W.
2/15/2007 1:42pm,
Hey Ryno, it was cool to meet you, and thanks for turning me onto that club. It was a great experience. Hopefully I will be able to hook up with Vince out here and add "Judo Noob" to my style profile. Speaking of that, do you have Aaron's email? Shoot me a PM if you do. Actually, if you have Vince's email that'd be great too.

Oscar Goldman
2/15/2007 10:32pm,
Good times. I'm sorry I couldn't make it down more while you were here, I'm nursing this groin pull so am keeping it pretty mellow. It's getting good, but I tweaked it a bit last week again. Need to stay healthy right now, you know why...
It was great to meet you and train with you, please visit when you're in town. Hope your classes went well and work is good.
You missed Ryno knocking me out with an Uchi Mata last Sunday. I actually only went out for a split second, but I still had the "got knocked out" headache for a couple days. I don't know WTF I did, but I did no ukemi on that fall.

Later...

Ryno
2/20/2007 12:29pm,
Sorry about that, Erik. I pretty much massacred the spot job on that one.

knuckle dragger
2/20/2007 12:39pm,
Sounds like a great club.

Matt W.
2/20/2007 3:53pm,
Man, getting thrown really takes it out of you. The newaza is more tiring, but the throwing just left me aching all over. Too bad I missed the KO, though! Heh.

Oscar Goldman
2/26/2007 7:45pm,
Sorry about that, Erik. I pretty much massacred the spot job on that one.

No worries. I think I didn't do any ukemi cuz I was worrying about my groin pull.

Matt W.
2/27/2007 10:50am,
Heh. I thought it was a "master's division" thing.

Oscar Goldman
2/27/2007 11:13am,
Heh. I thought it was a "master's division" thing.

Heh, I love breaking out that excuse. It means "I'm not very good, but I'm older than you so I don't feel so bad." I'm super rusty after that last injury, just not feeling it. It's coming back slowly though. I've been feeling like you did Matt when you came in fresh.

Aaron Fields
4/17/2007 11:44am,
Just to be clear,

We are not a Kosen club, as Kosen judo is judo, {there is no such thing as different styles of judo.) Kosen judo is just played with another rule set and a focus based around those rules. That being said we do focus around the Kosen rule set with regards to Judo. {Over the years I have had some contact with the dojo in Japan who still practice Kosen rule judo, in addition we had a guy from one of the University involved with Kosen practice with us on and off for a year.}

Due to my jujutsu and the way I learned judo, we are considered "ne-waza heavy." I prefer to describe in this way; we are as focused on ground and we are on standing.

Sombo does not have a legitimate rank structure outside of the ranks given to all Soviet sportsmen of any sort. I started sombo while living in Mongolia. During both of my stays I practiced judo and sombo with their national team players.

Regards,
Aaron Fields
Seattle Jujutsu Club, Hatake Dojo
Sea-Town Sombo

www.seattle-jujutsu.org

Matt W.
4/17/2007 12:16pm,
Hey Aaron, thanks for posting. Hope you didn't mind the write-up.

You finish up your FD training yet?

Aaron Fields
4/17/2007 12:23pm,
Matt,

Nope don't mind the write up a bit, I am glad you enjoyed your practice time with us. I know you and Vinny have talked I hope that gets going soon. Also, remember anytime you are in Seattle your welcome to practice with us.

As to the FD, yes back to a normal schedule and got shifted to one of the best houses in the city. So life is back to normal, thank goodness.

Talk to you soon,

Aaron

Matt W.
4/17/2007 12:27pm,
We finally got a place (local Judo club, we have to become members then we can use their mats) and are just waiting to get days/times set. I'm stoked.

noige
8/30/2008 8:23pm,
I can vouch for these guys as well. I was only able to go five times before work became too much for me to keep going (sadly enough).

Aaron is a cool dude. My first night there I puked because the exercise was new to me and I was a noob.

There is a short girl there (not lori) that was impossible for me to get out of the turtle position.

Also, the tunes were great. Very laid back, very fun.

Place is filled with good times.