Kumikata: Start first with the grip
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I was working with one of the classes in our Dojo on teaching the Tai Otoshi. Things seemed to be going pretty well. Everyone was getting better and better at the move.
But then I would ask a couple of students at a time to come forward and do some light Randori, working for their Tai Otoshi. I was surprised how many of the students would approach each other wit their hands down, and then calmly reach up to grab the Gi.
At that point we stopped, and I had a someone come forward. I grabbed him with a very dominant grip, and asked him if he felt it was likely he was going to throw me. The obvious answer was, “no.” I then had him grab me with a good grip, and asked again. The obvious answer being, “yes.”
We spent the rest of the class working on getting a good grip on our opponent, and breaking dominant grips they might get on us.
I know that this blog is syndicated in multiple places. Some of them non-Judo sites, such as Utah Martial Arts. So some of you might be reading this, and wondering how applicable in it is for non-Gi, non-Judo applications. The answer is: Very.
Long before I did Judo I wrestled. In wrestling it is very common to see the two opponents “lock up.” I loved the lockup. Transition into it was a great time to hit a duck-under or a fireman,s carry (Kata Garuma in Judo.) If you were good at it you could also use the lockup to force your opponent around and create the opening you wanted.
We see this mirrored as well in the Muay Thai clinch. A good clinch is the first step to vicious knee attacks. In MMA we see opponents pushing eachother against the cage and going for their “underhooks.” This allows for hip-throws, keeps a person from dropping for a double-leg, and many more advantages.
Back to Judo specifically however: I cannot stress enough how important it is to protect yourself from being “outgripped” as your approach your oppoenent. Keep your hands in, protect the collar. Fight for and gain good Kumikata and you are not only far more likely to hit your throws, but less likely to be thrown.
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