Archive for the ‘Judo’ Category

1 Mar 2010

Grappling, Judo, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • Great Jiujitsu Seminar at Hidden Valley

    This Article comes from Utah Judo
    To see the full original article click here

    Weekend before last, my son, Ty (15, tell and skinny) competed in his first Jiu Jitsu tournament.

    He really, really got into it.  Particularly the no-gi portion.

    As a follow up to that, we had a really great seminar this weekend with several other schools.  We do Judo and Jiu Jitsu at our school.  We had another Jiu Jitsu school join us (thanks Robert Scoca!), as well as some Hapkido guys (great to see you Ty!)  We even had a guy who teaches catch wrestling (sorry, I forgot the name… but I definitely want to learn more about it.)  It was a great experience to train with other people, of other styles, and from other schools.  I can’t wait for more combined seminars in the future.

    One of the things that really stood out to me were some of the differences.  I have often noticed that in any class, if you have more than one instructor, you will start to see some stylistic differences.  You might even have one correcting what another just showed you to to.  It’s just the nature of martial arts I think.

    Whenever you work with new people there will be certain things you nod your head and think, “ya… just like I do it now,”  some things that you may find yourself internally disagreeing with, and some things that make you say, “Holy crap!  That’s cool!”  Just go into it expecting that, and don’t get too hung up on any discrepancies.  Realize that every one’s style is a little different, and respect all of the people who are working to share their knowledge and experience.

    Thanks to all who contributed to make this seminar possible.  It was really great.

    To comment on this post, please visit the original article click here

    1 Mar 2010

    Grappling, Judo, Karate, Kenpo, MMA, Martial Arts, jujitsu

  • Posted by Steve Spencer

    • Reno MMA, Karate, and Martial Arts at the Lions Den

    I spent all of last week in Reno, Nevada on business.  One of the things I was really looking forward to on this trip was a chance to meet, and train with a living legend: Ken Shamrock.

    I spent 3 hours at the Lion’s Den in Reno Tuesday night.  The first things that I noticed wit the gym were that it’s very clean, well lit, and comfortable.  There are adults and kids there, and it’s an open, welcoming atmosphere.  I know that a lot of MMA training centers, and even just fitness facilities in general, can create an atmosphere where you feel a little out of place when you walk in.  Almost like you’re intruding on some one’s private club.  Not so here.  The workers were very friendly, and made sure I felt welcome and knew what classes were being taught.

    That leads me to my next impression.  The breadth of opportunities of things to learn was really impressive compared to most places.  Not only did I get the chance to train some grappling with one of the best on the planet (more on that in a minute), but there were classes on Kenpo Karate, Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, MMA, and even Judo.

    My first class of the night was “Leg Locks and Grappling” taught by Ken Shamrock.  Okay, so I think it’s important here to cut through the hype, and tell you what I was afraid of, and what I really found:  I have never met Ken before this experience.  I ahve seen him on The Ultimate Fighter.  I have watched him fight in the cage for years.  But what would he really be like?  Let’s don’t kid ourselves, the UFC generally does a pretty good job of using The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) to paint one person as the “good guy”, and the other as the “bad guy”.  Sometimes it is almost like reading a comic book.  In the season with Ken, they painted him pretty poorly.

    So what would I find?  Would he be difficult to deal with?  Would he be too intense for non-professionals, screaming at me to not be such a “girly man?”  I wasn’t sure.  But I was curious to find out.

    What I found was really neat.  I have never done leg locks before, so my technique was really terrible.  But Ken came around, and was very kind, very patient.  He had me move aside for a moment, and showed me how to do the move.  Not only did Ken show a level of skill that anyone who needs to improve their game could benefit from, but a level of patience and caring that would make me open to sending my kids to his classes.  I was very impressed, and pleasantly surprised.

    After my Grappling class, I watched the boxing class for a bit before starting my Kenpo.

    Some of the guys were preparing for some upcoming fights, so they were working in the cage on a combination of boxing and takedowns.  Ken was watching from outside the cage, calling in advice and encouragement.

    Watching Ken was another opportunity to really see what made this guy tick.  He was so patient, and eager to help.  As the fighters would move in the cage, Ken would subconsciously move as well; he feet moving, his body twisting slightly in empathy for what the fighters should be doing.  It reminded me of the scene in The Incredibles, when Hellen is feeding the baby, and moving her mouth as well.  It showed how intently Ken was thinking about, and wanting to help this guys.

    I finished of the night with a bit of Kenpo, and some no-Gi Judo.  By that point I was pretty much ready to crash.

    Can’t wait for my next trip out to Reno, and the Lion’s Den though.  Thanks Ken, and crew (especially you Heather!) for lettign me come train with you!

    10 Feb 2010

    Grappling, Judo, Karate, MMA, Martial Arts, Muay Thai, jujitsu

  • Posted by Steve Spencer

    • Judo in MMA Thought of the day: The Cage

    Judo ThrowAs many of you probably already know, I train in, and really enjoy Judo.  I am also a true lover of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA.)

    When it comes to MMA, it really is all about “what works.”  To hell wit the right way, or what a style is based on.  You gotta do what it takes to walk out of that cage the winner.  This is why we have seen so many styles start to really “blend” into a style that is MMA, all its own.

    Today, I would say that a good MMA fighter is either a good boxer and/or a good Muay Thai fighter (some might point to Lyoto Machida and throw Karate in here, but I think that one example does not make a pattern.)  Additionally, they have to be good at Jiu Jitsu or eventually they will be tapping.

    Now, we have seen a lot of MMA fighters then add wrestling to the mix.  I think that’s a good idea.  Wrestling is explosive and powerful.  It’s a great way to get someone to the ground.

    But Judo has had a bit more of a challenge in the sport.  Don’t get me wrong, there are great examples of strong Judo players in the game, including Karo, and even Fedor.  But take a look at Karo’s last several fights.  You really don’t see any Judo throws in there… just a lot of double-leg shots, just like everybody else.

    I had to do some soul searching on this one… Is Judo really just not up to it?  That led me to a couple of thoughts:

    1- The Cage.

    I think that the cage itself is a real inhibitor to the ability for Judo to function well.  If someone can just lean back against the cage, and spread their legs, then many of the throws that make Judo so strong are artificially crippled by the stability that the cage gives a person.  “So what?” you might say.  Well, this may be less relevant if you only intend to fight in a cage, but it does make me feel a bit better as far as Judo’s ability to be useful outside the cage in a self defense situation.

    2- One trick Pony.

    Even if the double leg is more effective in a cage 9 times out of 10, if it’s all you’ve got you better either be Olympic caliber, and have cardio that never stops, or you are going to get shut down.  I can’t believe how many MMA fights I watch where a guy shoots for a double leg… then again, and again, and again.  Not only is it ineffective, but you’re setting yourself up for a D’Arce, Gator roll into an Anaconda, a Guillotine, or any number of other nasty submissions.

    Work your wrestling.  Nail that double leg… get awesome at it.  But dangit, get some other arrows in your quiver.  There are few this as satisfying as sprawling when someone shoots, then grabbing the guy and suplexing him.  Ashi waza, or foot technique is when you see two guys locked up, and one of them seemingly just taps the other guy’s foot… but it’s enough.  Down they go.  It’s this ability to take the game where you want it in a variety of ways, to always keep the person guessing, and to play your own game your own way that Judo can help fill in.

    Anyway… my two cents worth for today :)

    20 Jan 2010

    Grappling, Judo, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • Knowing what actually Works

    This Article comes from Utah Judo
    To see the full original article click here

    UtahJudoJuJitsuClassI have to tell you, the last few classes over at Hidden Vally Judo / Jiu Jitsu have been some of the best I’ve had.

    I took some time over the weekend to really reflect on why that is.  The answer that came to me is this: To really know, and be good at a martial arts is actually different than being a true, experienced and seasoned competitor who knows what actually works.

    A person can know all of the correct ways to do throws, and be absolutely text-book in their execution.  But that will only take you so far.  It’s the experience of how to set up a throw, and some subtle nuances and variations of the throws that the instructor has had good success with that become the real gold.

    Just this last week Dr. Chen showed us how to turn a cross-collar Osoto Gari into a Swain-like arm attack that puts amazing pressing on the arm, and really breaks the Kazishi of the defender much easier.  Mike showed me a beautiful setup for what is essentially a wrestling-like “duck under” into a Tani Otoshi, as well as how to leverage a leg grab to setup up an Osoto Gari or Makikomi.  All of these came from “What has worked really well for me,” rather then “The way this move should be done is.”

    Whatever your martial art, don’t just find someone who is a certified instructor, or who just happens to be a black belt.  Ask some questions about their experience.  What have they really done with the art they are teaching?

    To comment on this post, please visit the original article click here

    8 Jan 2010

    Grappling, Judo, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • Rigidity is Not Strength

    This Article comes from Utah Judo
    To see the full original article click here

    MattressLast night in class we had a few students who are either brand new, or haven’t been with us long.  I love working wit new students… It’s amazing how much more it sometimes makes you think when you teach something, rather than just do something.

    I have found a fairly consistent patten wit new students, and concepts they struggle with.  These are: energy conservation (or “bursting”), and rigidity vs. fluid.

    I recently posted another article on Energy conservation and cardio in grappling (Judo, Jujitsu, etc) and MMA, so I won’t be covering that topic again here.  What I do want to discuss however, is the concept of fluidity vs. rigidity.

    You can tell a new Judo student right away.  When the lock up on the feet they are so stiff and tense.  They all seem to have an inherent logic in their brain that tells them that if they are more tense, they are more prepared, and as a result better defended and more ready to attack.  They often carry this same tension when they are on the ground as well, but I think the aspects relating to the ground game are better covered int he “bursting” article, so I’ll just focus on the feet here.

    One of the analogies that I often use to help students understand the difference of rigid and stiff compared to fluid is the one of the mattress.  Most of us have, at one time or another, had to move a mattress set up stairs.  When doing so, It is far easier to move a box-spring than it is a big, floppy mattress.  Why is this?

    Well primarily it is because the box spring is rigid.  When you push it, you are pretty sure exactly where it is going to go, and how far.  You know exactly how much force it will take to tip it one way or the other.  This is because the box spring is consistent.  It does not flex or remain fluid in order to absorb and of your force or pressure.

    A big mattress on the other hand is a pain in the butt.  It never seems to do what you think it will.  You push, expecting a specific result, and it bends and sways under the pressure, absorbing some of it, and not being tipped and moved as easily as you would hope.

    By having a good solid grip, but remaining loose and fluid, able to react to an opponents pressures, and “give” when needed as well as being able to surprise an opponent with a sudden burst of offense, rather than telegraphing our every intention through or rigidness we can be better Judokas.

    Next time you randori, or work you Uchikmois, relax your body.  Be ready, be strong, have a good grip, but don’t be rigid.  Be fluid.  Be a mattress.

    To comment on this post, please visit the original article click here

    15 Dec 2009

    Grappling, Judo, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • That which is weak shall become strong

    This Article comes from Utah Judo
    To see the full original article click here

    Utah Martial Arts Hell_Sign

    I have to tell you, that class over at Hidden Valley was amazing on Saturday.

    We started out by pairing up, and working on some light randori.  But “light” can quickly become amazingly taxing.  Mike really kept on us.  Once we would stand up, he kept pushing the pace, pushing us to grab back onto some one an keep going.  To improve our endurance, and equally important: to teach us to perform when we are tired.

    As we worked, I commented to Mike that I was struggling a little with fighting out of bottom position in a side control.  I have a good strong bridge, but just was a little out of practice.  Mike gave me exactly what I needed: An off-ramp to hell.  He grabbed someone, and had them take side control on me.  Once I fought free, he would throw a new, fresh person at me, and have them take side control.

    This really pushed me, and gave me exactly what I needed, in addition to teaching me more by interacting with so many different people and body types.

    So the morale for this story?

    Be willing to, an even eager to embrace your weakness and make it strong.  Whatever it is you are challenged with, push it to the utmost limits.  Don’t just “work with it a little.”  Work with your sparring partners to have them push you beyond your limits and your comfort zone.  Into fatigue and beyond.  This is when you really improve.  This is the true gain.

    Thanks Mike!

    To comment on this post, please visit the original article click here

    19 Nov 2009

    Grappling, Judo, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • Bursting

    This Article comes from Utah Judo
    To see the full original article click here

    HeartbeatWhen I first started into Judo and Jiu Jitsu a few years ago I was pretty aggressive.  I came from a wrestling background, and was used to shooting fast and hard, and bridging like hell to roll a person over.

    The problem that I ran into was: stamina.  Once I was on the ground, I would bridge, and bridge, and bridge.  I have a really solid bridge, and a good chunk of the time I can flip a guy.  But the problem was that if I failed to flip him, I was ready to tap within about 15 seconds because I simply couldn’t breathe.

    I had similar problems on my feet.  My arms were rigid… pulling, pushing, attacking.

    Those people who were helping to train my kept pounding into my head one simple phrase: RELAX.

    Now when I am on the ground, I conserve my energy.  I slowly, deliberately work for better hand and body position.  Then, at just the right time I BURST.  I explode with energy and power, hopefully catching my opponent before they can react.  Then I relax, work for position, control balance, breathe, an then BURST again.

    I find this allows me to ground fight much longer than many beginners that I work with.

    The same is true on the feet.  Have a solid grip, pay attention to your kazushi, but don’t be rigid.  don’t be stiff.  Be refilling your energy reserves, not draining them.  Then BURST.  Explode into your attack.

    I have found that this is a really difficult thing to teach people.  I think much of it is because we all are trained to want to win.  To fight.  To never give up.  Our brain fools us into thinking that relaxing a little means to be passive or submissive.

    Let me be clear: being relaxed does not imply being passive nor submissive.  It means running at a controlled energy level.  Your hands and body should still be working for position.  But you should ask yourself: Are my energy reserves refilling right now, or depleting?

    If you’re new to Judo or Jiujitsu, just try this.  Relax.  Breathe.  Then BURST into your attack.

    To comment on this post, please visit the original article click here

    21 Oct 2009

    Grappling, Judo, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • Acceptance: Taking the Opening

    This Article comes from Utah Judo
    To see the full original article click here

    Open DoorsWhen speaking about Judo or Jujitsu you may have heard phrases like:

    “The Gentle Way”

    “The way of acceptance”

    Or similar.  But what the heck does that really mean?  Anyone who’s felt a good arm bar, choke or Ipon knows that it feels anything but “gentle”.

    We talked more about this in class at Hidden Valley last night, and I think I am starting to get it.

    Let me start by drawing a contrast:  I originally came from a  wrestling background.  Wrestling is explosive.  It is powerful.  When I stand-out I intend to just wrench myself from the grasp of my opponent.  When a good double leg gets shot in wrestling or in MMA (watch St. Pierre… he’s a master at this), it is all about power… you lift the “victim” of the ground.  Sure, there are setups.  You push some one’s head down to get them to pop it up.  But by and large its about strength, speed, balance, and explosiveness.

    Now, while many of those same traits are also powerful, and effective in Judo and Jujitsu, if you rely on them only, I think you miss the spirit of what these arts are.  What is the “gentle” or “accepting” art?  It means capitalizing on opportunities.  It means staying fluid, so you can react to a variety of things, and your fluidity and motion will also create needs for your opponent to attempt things.  Your goal is to train yourself to see the doorway in the brick wall… to see where you opponent is going, or even better: close your eyes.  Learn to FEEL where your opponent is going.  Feel the opening.  Feel the doorway and capitalize on the opening.

    Being “gentle” or “accepting” doesn’t mean being passive or mild.  It simply means not trying to plow through the wall, because you know that if you keep tapping and circling it a door will open for a brief moment.  It’s that moment that is the heart of of the art.

    To comment on this post, please visit the original article click here

    19 Oct 2009

    Grappling, Judo, MMA

  • Posted by Steve Spencer

    • Champion Grappling Challenge XIII

    2009 Western-Regional No-Time-Limit Grappling Championship

    DATE
    Saturday, November 14, 2009
    Weigh-in 8:00am • Start at 10:00am

    LOCATION
    Utah Valley University Activity Center
    800 West University Parkway, Orem, Utah

    INFORMATION
    No-Points & No-Time-Limit Rules apply to all divisions except Junior Divisions 1-5
    Gi and No-Gi Divisions
    Girls age 13-17 may compete in the Junior Division or in the Women’s Division.
    Though all divisions are single elimination, all competitors are guaranteed at least two matches per division except in the absolute division; consolation matches will have a 5-minute time limit.
    Divisions will be combined, canceled or changed as necessary to provide the best competition possible.
    Competitors must wear a shirt and shorts for weigh-in, NO STRIPPING DOWN. Weigh-in will determine what division you will actually compete in.

    FEES
    $50 Adults, $40 Junior: Early Registration (ends Saturday, October 31, 2009)
    $60 Adults, $50 Junior: On-time Registration (ends Thursday, November 12, 2009)
    $70 Adults, $50 Junior: Late Registration (at the door)
    $20 Each Additional Division
    $10 for Spectators, kids 12 and under $5 (children 3 and under are free)

    For more info, or to register, go to the Champion Submission Challenge website.

    9 Sep 2009

    Grappling, Judo, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • The ‘Art’ in the Martial Art of Judo

    This Article comes from Utah Judo
    To see the full original article click here

    Chinese CalligraphyI’ve got some news to break to you: Judo is hard.

    But so are most things that require finesse.

    I bring this topic up because I have watched many people who start Judo get frustrated because they don’t see immediate results.  I also struggled my first nine months or so in Judo, because I didn’t feel I was improving.

    This is something that someone who really wants to learn Judo will have to be prepared for.  Many martial arts are not this way… which is not to say that they are not hard, or are any less of an “art form”, but just that you may not feel quite as incompetent initially.

    Let’s take karate as an example.  I can take a person, and within a few hours get them good enough with a couple of punches, and a front snap kick, that if I put gloves on them, and spar for a few minutes they actually feel good about themselves.  Sure, a Karate master will still beat the hell out of them, but they feel fairly competent.  Add to this the fact that many karate schools advance people in belt every three months, and you have a feel-good road to fast advancement for the micro-wave and fast food culture we live in.

    Even in Jujitsu: A master of jujitsu will tap out a novice every few seconds.  But, put a person who has only had a few classes up against someone who has a year or so of experience, and although they will still likely lose most of the time, and may not be any good at submitting the opponent, they will still be able to hold the person down fairly well (assuming the have good balance), and can grab hold of things and squeeeeze.. which, although not always effective, at least gives the illusion of control.  They feel that they’re actually accomplishing something.

    Judo can be frustratingly different.  So many of the moves look easy.  But when a novice grabs someone and tries to do them, it just isn’t right.  It takes a lot fo time to help them understand the nuances of WHY it’s not right, and to begin to improve their technique, but in the meantime they can feel that it’s wrong.

    Judo isn’t a brawl.  It’s an art.  Now, that may seem all Judo high-and-mighty of me… but don’t get me wrong.  I’m not saying Judo is the end all, be all of martial arts… There’s a rock to Judo’s scissors in any number of positions (Jujitsu is mean as hell on the ground… Muay Thai is mean as hell on the feet, etc.)  But if you DO want to master the throws of Judo, you must be willing to accept that it’s an art and you’re gonna really have to work at it.  Starting with the Kumikata (the grip), and then focusing on the subtle nuances of Kazushi, you’ll begin your path like a kid… stumbling and bumbling at first.  But if you stick with it, the skills you learn are well worth the wait.

    Just go into it realizing that when Leonardo da Vinci painted the Sistine Chapel it wasn’t a paint by numbers.  This is gonna take some time :)

    To comment on this post, please visit the original article click here

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