Hey guys,

I live in Westborough, MA. Can anyone suggest a legitimate nearby dojo/gym where I could start learning Judo? Location is very important to me, the closer the better, and I'd prefer to stay out of the big cities (specifically, Boston) due to the driving as well as the crime.

I'm new to the art and really have no idea where to look. I want to get into a soft art like Judo mostly because I work in the trades and would prefer to not get any of my bones broken (thus putting me out of work).

Help!

Hey there, you could try this site
http://www.worcesterjudo.com/
or this one
http://www.boston.us.emb-japan.go.jp/eng/Culture_Education/martial_arts/judo_ma.htm

I want to get into a soft art like Judo mostly because I work in the trades and would prefer to not get any of my bones broken (thus putting me out of work).

Help!
Judo is anything but soft. It's a contact sport, and like any other contact sport, you will get hurt. Mostly in minor ways, but the possibility of something more serious is always there.

Where did you get the idea that it is soft? Is this from the "Gentle Way" thing?

Hey there, you could try this site
http://www.worcesterjudo.com/
or this one
http://www.boston.us.emb-japan.go.jp/eng/Culture_Education/martial_arts/judo_ma.htm

Thanks, I'll check those places out.


Judo is anything but soft. It's a contact sport, and like any other contact sport, you will get hurt. Mostly in minor ways, but the possibility of something more serious is always there.

Where did you get the idea that it is soft? Is this from the "Gentle Way" thing?

I don't mind getting scraped up or bruised, I get that all the time in my line of work anyways. It's getting taken out of commission and not being able to work that I'm afraid of.

And I mean soft as compared to hard arts like Kyokushin which generally involved striking and direct impact instead of redirecting force. Judo is considered a soft art since it doesn't involve direct attacks (punches and kicks, basically). Not that you can't get hurt doing it. Should I really need to explain this?

Not that you can't get hurt doing it. Should I really need to explain this?
Yes please. You described it as soft and you presumably have no experience in it, so it appeared to me that you had a false image of what Judo is.
It's a sport where you grapple at full resistance with people and try to throw them, with power and control, to the mat while they try to do it to you. Not to mention chokes and armlocks.
I see what you mean, in that people aren't throwing punches and kicks at your head, but it's plenty rough.

I practice Muay Thai too, and I get hurt, bruised and banged up more often at Judo. I've had countless minor sprains and bruises, a dodgy shoulder and a couple of sprained knees. I've very occasionally seen much nastier stuff happen too.
I'm not trying to put you off! Just trying to bring the reality of it to your attention.

NorthWest: I was merely referring to Judo in the following context (wiki article for convenience):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_and_soft_(martial_arts)

Sorry for any misunderstandings. Do you have any experience with Kyokushin Karate vs. Judo? These have basically been the two styles I've been deciding between. If they are both basically on the same level of how much you can get hurt if you aren't careful, then I'd probably stick to KK (personal preference. I was looking into Judo as an alternative MA which was still viable in a real life fight, but that I thought I wouldn't get too severely hurt in to put me out of business with my job).

Given your circumstances and your concern about having to take time off work, you should really think seriously about going to Judo. Go watch clubs, talk to instructors.
I know I'm painting a blacker picture of it that it truly is, but I've introduced about 3 or 4 people to Judo over the years, and out of them one had seriously dislocated his shoulder within about 3 months of starting, and the other badly sprained his ankle in his second class.

It is possible to practice Judo and not get hurt. Depends on the club, the instructors, you and your partners attitudes. Your randori doesn't need to, and probably shouldn't be, balls to the wall, 100% effort shiai style all the time, but that seems to be the way clubs in this country practice. Certainly any clubs I've visited.

Don't let me put you off. If you are interested, go and visit some local clubs and see how they do things. Speak to some coaches about your injury concerns and see what they say.
If you do decide to take it up, a lot of injury can be prevented by how you practice - practice your breakfalls a lot, relax and leave your ego at the door. When caught in a throw, don't fight it, relax and breakfall out of it. That way you can stand back up and keep practicing, rather than having to go to A&E with a broken collar bone or popped knee.

Good luck whatever you do. Having said all this, I do hope you take it up and find it as fulfilling and enjoyable as I do.