Does judo work in Fights?

Question

I am a good boxer and fight well in the streets, but i never grapple. I just started training judo and wanted to know how long it would take for me to pick up on the skills where it would help me against a grappler in a street fight

Answer 1

I began my Kodokan Judo training here in Boston in 1968 as a method of self-defense.  Unfortunately I've had to defend myself in street fights using Judo several times in the past 40 years and yes Judo does work in fights.

Remember that when throwing a fool with Judo in a street fight, you make sure he lands in a heap.  You wiggle the throw so he lands on his head, or you go into the air with him and use him as a pillow as you crash down on top of him with your full weight and your elbow in his adams apple.  Then you roll off him taking your thumb out of his eye and walk away leaving him in a pile.

Combat Judo or Jiu-jitsu (especially Aikido or Hakko Ryu jiu-jitsu) demands that you break something AS you are throwing him so he is busted before he hits the sidewalk.

Most of the bullys in my neighborhood in Boston were boxers.  For some reason the kids who were egoists gravitated to one of three boxing gyms in my neighborhood and they were further pumped up with ego as part of their boxing training further turning them into bigger and more active bullies.

But boxers are not wrestlers and once you get ahold of a boxer, they're very vunerable, especially on the sidewalk.  Boxers don't know what to do when they're all tied up in knots on a snowy, icy, or rainy nasty sidewalk were all my street fights took place.  Boxers are so cocky they don't know how to rebound when they're getting beat with a throw, wrist-lock, or leg lock while standing or on the ground.

Don't ever hold a boxer in a head lock for more than a second or else he'll beat your kidneys to mush.  Give a boxer a good crunching headlock while quickly transitioning into something else.  Boxers have weak necks and weak skinny legs (but good upper body development) so quickly size up your opponent and attack his weaknesses.

Answer 2

how many street fights have you been in where the guy staight threw blows at you.

many times untrained fighters will try to rush you and tackle or tangle you in order to stop the punches from flying at him.

if one does this then this is where your judo will come in, as you can toss them when they try this.

I think more people who do train are trained as strikers than grapplers, but more untrained people try to grapple.

of course if your only experience is boxing and you happen to run into a judoka, bjj, sambo, etc. guy on the "street" (in a bar more likely) you will be in real trouble.

judo will definately help you as it gives you a whole new range.

ask yourself how long it took you to be a good boxer and how long it took you to become that way and train against other good boxers.  should be the same with judo.

you could use it almost immediately, but will have less experience and training and not be able to take on as good fighters/grapplers with it. but sticking with it, with time and practice you will be able to deal with better fighters.

Answer 3

Yes it does, it teaches you effective throws, and ground/standing grappling.

How long it would take is up to you, and how much training you do, randori will definitely help you.

Answer 4

Yes, Judo definitely works in real fights. Any martial art, where you practice against fully resisting opponents will help you. Judo is one such martial art.

It will give you some offensive tools from the clinch, which can bring your opponents to the ground in devastating fashion. Furthmore, most Judo clubs have a fair amount of groundwork, so you should have a pretty good idea of what to do if you end up down there. Also, you will become very familiar with fighting while clothed -- a likely scenario, since few of us live in nudist colonies.

To you, as a boxer, Judo will probably serve you most as a means of defending against takedowns. Or, should you find yourself in a situation where you need to restrain somebody, but it would be inappropriate to punch his face in, you could use a pin or choke to pacify him.

As for MartialArtsGuy, wtf are you talking about? While it certainly is possibly for a pure striker to defeat a pure grappler, situations where that happens is VERY much in the minority. If you disagree, please show us some emperical evidence (vids) that support your claim.

But either way, somebody armed with both striking and grappling skill is much better off than somebody with only one.

Answer 5

You'll need three things. Skill, dedication, and patience.

Answer 6

I would rather know judo then jui jistu in a street fight. think about it what am i gonna do put you in my guard and have you slam me on cement or throw your ***

Answer 7

wait about a year and u should start seeing it but 4 years to start being bad *** but if anything u got a well rounded base once u get Judo down it is one of the best base art in my point of view.... have u seen the throws karl parysian(you tube him) does on the ufc and thats without clothes now imagine with clothes how u can throw someone on cement none the less that would cause serious injury

Answer 8

YOU don't NEED Judo----and I mean you, directly, personally, judging from what you've said.   What you've said actually dovetails with what I have seen, meaning that in real fights, strikers/boxers/karate/taekwondo people end up beating people who grapple by staying out of grappling range and beating on the opponent.  Dude, I didn't grapple, either, or at least, not beyond a rudementary level.  

BUT

Judo will help you.  You will learn throws.  And you will learn some things to do if you have to deal with violence yet do not want to hit a person.  So yes, Judo works in fights.  I've used it in fights.  A good hip throw can end a fight pretty quickly.  So can Osoto Gari.  

Please don't just get a green belt and stop.  Keep going.

Please be glad that you already have competent hand technique.  There are people who have been in martial arts for years and still have poor hand technique.  

Hopefully I can say to you:  welcome to Judo!