Judo

In my last post I asserted that junokata is not an abstract, aesthetic, demonstration thing intended for aging judo masters.  Rather, it was deliberately designed by Kano as practical randori education for relative beginners.  At least, that's what Kano says/implies in his memoirs. . Of course, your next question to me should be, "Well, what are all those amazing randori lessons hidden in Junokata?" Short answer -  I don't know for sure.  I can't lie to you and claim to have gleaned...Read Full Story

When judo was young, back in the 1880's, the randori practice and concept was what made it unique and special.  The ancient jujitsu schools from which judo was derived were predominantly kata arts.  They had limited or no concept of randori.  Because of Kano implementing this randori idea in judo, judoka were able to gain a ton of practical experience and dominate the competitions between Kodokan and the older traditional kata-based jujitsu schools. . As the Kodokan grew, there came a...Read Full Story

Judo Techniques & Tactics (Martial Arts Series) If you are looking to master the fundamentals of the art of judo, Judo Techniques & Tactics will provide you with everything you need to begin. Written by three-time Olympian and world champion Jimmy Pedro, this book provides you with a solid background of the sport and the essential maneuvers for success. Judo Techniques & Tactics offers complete and easy-to-understand coverage of judo. Whether you're a beginner or a more advanced student...Read Full Story

Randori plays such a central role in judo and in aikido, that I thought I'd spend some time this month writing about this practice, how to "do randori" better, and how to get more out of it. First, what is randori? The Japanese word, randori , means something to the effect of "laying hold of chaos" or "taking freedom." There are basically two classical modes of practice for Japanese jujitsu - kata and randori.  Kata is an exploration and demonstration of the form of a thing...Read Full Story

Mike Swain Ne-Waza Judo Groundfighting Mike Swains NeWaza DVDs are the most advanced Judo instructional videos ever produced. Whether you're a judo player, Jiu-Jitsu practitioner or a serious ground fighter, you can now learn effective ground fighting and submission skills from this amazing DVD series. The main focus of this instructional series is ground grappling, ground control and submissions. This series was recently professionally re-mastered for DVD by World Martial Arts LTD. This...Read Full Story

JUDO 2 – SHIME-WAZA (Choking Techniques) & KANSETSU-WAZA (Armlock Techniques) – Teaches 105 strategies from: Kata-juji-jime, Nami-juji-jime, Gyaku-juji-jime, Hadaka-jime, Okuri-eri-jime, Kataha-jime, Katate-jime, Ryote-jime, Sode-guruma-jime, Tsukkomi-jime, Jigoku-jime, Sankaku-jime, Ude-garami, Ude-hishigi collection (juji, ude, hiza, waki, hara, ashi, te, sankaku) – 45min. —— Whereas thought of by many martial artists to be a sport, Judo is a really efficient ground combating martial art...Read Full Story

Rating: (out of 1 reviews) Mike Swain’s Basic Judo & Basic Grappling [VHS] Immerse yourself in the art and sport of judo like never before in Mastering Judo . Gain a rich understanding of the philosophy, history, and practices that distinguish judo from other martial arts. Become more proficient in the techniques, tactics, and training necessary to rise through the ranks. Mastering Judo will add to your appreciation of the principles that distinguish the art in formal...Read Full Story

Mike Swains NeWaza DVDs are the most advanced Judo instructional videos ever produced. Whether you’re a judo player, Jiu-Jitsu practitioner or a serious ground fighter, you can now learn effective ground fighting and submission skills from this amazing DVD series. The main focus of this instructional series is ground grappling, ground control and submissions. This series was recently professionally re-mastered for DVD by World Martial Arts LTD. This is the same company that produced Mario...Read Full Story

Shinobi – Hidden Techniques (Vol. 3) Hunted. Kagerou and Aoi have managed to escape the powerful clutches of Shuuzan and his men as well as the vengeful rage of Jinsei – the Shinobi Murderer. But, their troubles are far from over. If Kagerou and Aoi are to have any hopes of survival, they must get out of Iga. But between themselves and the border stands a barrier of both friends and enemies – neither of which can they trust. Rating: (out of reviews) List Price: $ 19.98 Price...Read Full Story

[ Somehow I got out of order on my ukecentric nagenokata posts - this is the second one that I thought had published a couple of weeks ago . ] . In teaching my children nagenokata I am placing the primary emphasis on ukemi and the role of uke, with tori's role being that of a spotter. . The second tewaza (hand technique) of nagenokata is seoinage done from a vertical overhead strike.  Tori deflects the blow, turns in, and executes seoinage. . In our uke-centric nagenokata...Read Full Story