My First Judo Tournament

**rsobrien** · Posted On: 4/30/2012 11:24pm

I have been training Yudo (Judo) in South Korea while teaching here for the past two years. This is my first time competing here. I didn't do as well as I would have like but it was still fun. I would appreciate any tips or advice from anyone about anything I should be working on.

This is my first match. Something I wasn't really prepared for was just how stiff people would be in comparison to randori. There was never a real moment where I felt like I was gonna get off a good throw. I never felt good kuzushi. Also, the choke I secured at 1:30 was locked in. I knew I was gonna get stood up fast but give me a break. If I had 10 more seconds he would have had to tap or pass out. Lame.

This is my second match. This kid would go on to win the division. I was surprised how strong he was but I felt I could still beat him. I was in the mood to sub somebody this day. I kinda tried a a sacrifice throw/guard pull and got an ok armbar sweep. But goddamn it, we were stood up. I always apply my submission attempts slowly and steadily. His arm was secured and I just needed a couple of more seconds. Later he gets a yuko for the komachi gi (I don't know the japanese name for the throw) around 0:53. I get a kata ha jime (single wing choke). Same fucking thing, I get stood up. I just needed 10 more seconds and I would have had this guy. I need to work faster on my matwork.

This is my third match in the absolute division. I was outweighed and severely outclassed. This guys goes to Yongin University (as a judo major) and competes internationally. He did not like me dancing around at all. His gi also felt like chainmail. I could not get a good grip on it. This was a fun match. The absolute division was just a playground for all of the University Judo students who all seemed to know each other. This was my funnest match.

I need to learn more throws and also make my mat work faster. Much faster. Any other advice or criticisms are really appreciated. I started doing Judo so I could come back to America and use it for BJJ but now, I just want to get good at judo.

**judojeff** · Posted On: 5/01/2012 11:13am

First here is a link that has the japanese names for the throws as well as animations or drawings for reference

http://judoinfo.com/new/techniques/t...of-the-kodokan

From watching the vids it seems that you sacrifice your posture a lot, try standing a bit straighter and not dropping into what to me looked more like a wrestling stance then a judo one.

Also learning more throws may not be the answer, assuming that you are introduced to throws at the rate I was then you should know more then enough. I would focus instead on taking some throws that you really like and work on technique, entrances, and possible combos.

Example being I like to uchimata, so to compliment this I also work on Ko/O uchigari as well as sasae tsurikomi ashi to combo into uchimata and tai otoshi as well as Ko/O uchigari to combo out of uchimata.

If you really like the ground aspect of judo then just remember that the ref is against you and time is not your friend. Just focus on continually making progress and not getting stuck in a position.

Also I have only been training for about as long as you so hopefully some one with more experience can come by and drop some knowledge.

**Hedgehogey** · Posted On: 5/01/2012 7:32pm

How do you get a gig like that?

**NeilG** · Posted On: 5/02/2012 8:54am

Had a quick glance at the 2nd vid, nice job into the jujigatame. These days, at least locally, the direction we are getting is to let the newaza continue more than before. However if I am looking at a position and thinking "nope, not happening" I will stand them up. That may have been the case as I note the ref was in good position and watching closely to see if you had a chance of progress.

**rsobrien** · Posted On: 5/02/2012 11:16pm

I really do need to work on combinations and setups. I can uchikomi a throw a million times, but its so much harder to throw someone against their will. I am really just starting to get to the point where I can actually throw someone for an ippon in randori. People in my gym love uchimata/harai and I had been working on countering that with a ushiro goshi/ogoshi combo. I couldn't feel one opportunity for it though. I was looking for seionage/kouchi gari, but still nothing. I need to train more.

Anyone with a 4 year degree, and a passport from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ, Ireland, or South Africa can teach English in South Korea. I have been teaching kindergarten for two years. Its a decent job, but I want to get out of it fast.

The guy getting subbed shouldn't be given a free pass. He should have to at least work for an escape. Not just hold tight. Oh well. My coaches were telling me I need to really do my chokes and armbars as fast and as hard as I can in a tournament. It's a very different philosophy from BJJ.

**BKR** · Posted On: 5/07/2012 4:59am

Originally Posted by rsobrien

I really do need to work on combinations and setups. I can uchikomi a throw a million times, but its so much harder to throw someone against their will. I am really just starting to get to the point where I can actually throw someone for an ippon in randori. People in my gym love uchimata/harai and I had been working on countering that with a ushiro goshi/ogoshi combo. I couldn't feel one opportunity for it though. I was looking for seionage/kouchi gari, but still nothing. I need to train more.

Anyone with a 4 year degree, and a passport from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ, Ireland, or South Africa can teach English in South Korea. I have been teaching kindergarten for two years. Its a decent job, but I want to get out of it fast.

The guy getting subbed shouldn't be given a free pass. He should have to at least work for an escape. Not just hold tight. Oh well. My coaches were telling me I need to really do my chokes and armbars as fast and as hard as I can in a tournament. It's a very different philosophy from BJJ.

Your posture sucks. Not sure why you bend over in that wide stance and wave your arms around so much. Try to look more like the last guy you fought posture wise.

Why not? Often trying to escape results in getting armbarred or pinned. Work on a transition to a pin from your juji gatame, and don't be so focused on getting a submission. Unless you want to be very frustrated about ne waza in Judo shiai.

You won't be getting much more success at throwing in shiai until you correct your posture issues. You will get tossed a lot in randori until you figure out how to move better, but eventually you will "get it". Learn to block/dodge throws by tai sabaki and using your hips.

The last guy you fought was very charitible to you. It looked like he didn't want to bury you so just danced around with you.