I'm new to judo? help?

Question

I'm new to Judo. I've been doing it for just about 1.5 months now, maybe 2 max. I was wondering how long it would take for me to be able to land serious throws we learn in class.

I usually do decently on the ground because i'm athletic and know some basics, but sometimes the more experienced players can pin me or throw an armbar and it frustrates me.

About how long, in your opinion, until I become capable of putting moves into the rondori (sp) with a natural flow?

i feel like i should be better than I am after 2 months, but some of it still seems so hard! even practicing the footwork is hard!

Answer 1

Landing throws in randori is a combination of things

it's not just about being able to do the technique well, it's also about being able to spot the right time to attempt the throw

As a beginner, you're really still just learning the techniques even when your partner is standing there, it can be a challenge

even once you get the technique correct, you sill face the challenge of recognizing the openings which would allow you to apply the technique; and even if you do see an opening, often it's gone before you have a chance to do anything; for me, all too often when I see an opening in my opponant, I pause to think, then I'm the one who ends up on the mat

you could also take the backwards approach; that is, think of the positions you tend to find yourself in in randori, then try to explore throws which can be used from that position

finally, start working on combinations; above a certain level your opponants will generally have a good enough defense to counter single attacks, so most people work on combinations which take advantage of the anticipated defensive reaction by their opponant; for example, if you try to throw seio-nage, the person may defend by leaning backwards; anticipating this, you may attempt a seio-nage, and as your opponent leans backwards to defend, use that movement to set up a backwards throw like o soto gari (of course, first you have to get really good at both those throws individually)

also keep in mind you've only been doing randori for less than 2 months, whereas most of the higher students have been doing it much longer; any time one person has been doing something longer than another, they will be better

i've been doing judo for several years, and I have a brown belt, and am still frustrated during randori at my difficulties throwing people

my sensei just continues to insist that it's just a process which takes time, and can't be rushed

So I just train my techniques, then during randori, just try to not think too hard about "doing throws" and just play the game; and every once in a while, it all comes together and a throw comes

like many things, including most martial arts, the key is to try not to compare yourself too much to others; it may sound cliche, but you're really competing against yourself

when I first started, I rolled a lot with my teacher, and so I used to get my butt handed to me every day, but I tried to remind myself that I  didn't have to beat him, I would just try to do better than I did last time (like maybe last 30 seconds before he got a holddown, instead of 10)

so he always "won", but I could measure myself that I was improving

by the way, if you're a beginner, no one should be putting armbars on you

Answer 2

This is a pretty opened ended question and books can be written on the subject, and in fact, they have.

A good tip, however, is to take the time in the beginning to learn how to predict your opponent's movements by their twitches and angles, and resist the temptation to meet force with force.

What works in Judo is the concept of Kazushi. I still have problems with this because of my initial instinct to fight force with force.

When your opponent pushes, you pull. When they pull, you push. Part of becoming a successful Judo player is deception. You feint a push, and pull just as they begin to push back....BUT, they know you are feinting, so you then feint a feint and so on.

In short, resist temptations to use force against force, learn the concept of kazushi, and begin to learn how to deceive your classmates!

Answer 3

Never taken it myself, but personally if I had to take it, I would emphasize drilling and kata work over randori.  Drilling and Kata work I would do for 4 days a week, and only on the last day (day number 5, I'm assuming you train for a work week) would I do randori.  I'm sorry but, I'm one of those "form" people.  Instinct is good but, sooner or later you get older and weaker, and efficiency is all you've got.  I'm not old yet, but one day I will be.  That is why form, perfection, is everything to me.

Here is a tip from when I wrestled in 7th grade; I had a huge problem, in that virtually all my oponents were 8th graders who had been wrestling since kindergarten, and I was only 12.  As you can imagine they moped the floor with me.  I proudly say I was never pinned; always lost on points.  Wait no; I was pinned once, just once, by a native american wrestler.  His older brother went on to become state champ I believe...

I was able to beat a dude who, later in his wrestling career became a college wrestler, and who was an 8th grader, and yeah, had been doing it since kindergarten.  He was on a winning streak too so nobody thought I would win.  What did I do different a couple of nights prior?

The coach, disgusted with the team's loosing streak, made each of us do a shark pit against the entire team.  Even the little guys had to wrestle the big guys.  The next day after that, I asked some 8th graders if they wanted to shark pit, so we did.  So, I wrestled 5 dudes, one after the other and of course by the end of the 5th round of that I couldn't move.  Tourney time came though, I manhandled my opponent.

First and only time I won; should have done the shark pit more often I think.

Case in point, since Judo and catch wrestling are similar, why don't you try the same thing?  Tell your Judo instructor of your problem, that you want to improve quickly and as a favor do a Judo shark pit.  Here is how a shark pit works;

You need at least 6 people, but they work best if its a total of 8.  One dude stands in the circle, the other dudes stand in line.  First dude goes, the two of you tussle, win or lose, whatever the outcome, with no chance given to you to even breathe, whatever position you were left in, next dude jumps in.

Word of warning though its a brutal form of exercise, however if you can stomach it, the rewards are surreal.  At the end of practice, have at least 5 other dudes render the favor, to make it fair, have each one have a turn in the circle as the "victim" of the "sharks."  That is why its called a shark pit; one dude is the "meat" while the other ones are the "sharks."  If all of you take turns as shark meat, pushing your limits like that may help sharpen your skills some.

You may not be able to beat anybody in practice but you go into a tourney fresh for a match, if you do shark pits frequently, at the end of every week, or twice per week while emphasizing form h**l you may even do Judo with as much polish and speed as those Japanese lightweights.  Japan almost always takes home gold in Judo; 2 medals or 6, they always take gold.  In fact watching Japanese Judoka at the olympics is a boring affair, so boring, I'm actually pleased that Brazilian guy Tiago won his weight division.  I get sick of seeing the Japanese flag all the time.

Still, in your position, if I was serious about winning tourney matches;

1)  Tell your coach you wanna emphasize polishing your form, running each move at least for 10 reps each, for fairness making sure your partner throws or submits you 10 times.  I hear, and know from limited experience that in grappling, to know a move well  you have to do it as well as be on the receiving end of it just as often.  So, each technique, both newaza and atemi waza, at least 10 times, both partners.

2)  Practice all Katas you know at least 10 times each.

3)  At the end of practice roughly twice a weak, I don't care how painful it is (provided its muscle soreness, not an injury), shark pit, making sure each dude takes turns as the "meat."

good luck.

Answer 4

well. ive been doing judo now for about 7 months and i can sympathize with you.  to answer your question there is no real set time to say when you can start doing moves with natural flow.  a lot of things can have an effect on your throws.  first off, what rank are the people that you randori with.  i just recently (two months ago) was promoted to yonkyu (blue belt). around that time we had a guy get promoted to shodan (1st degree black). i did a lot of randori with this guy and at times we really went at it.  my moves felt natural and sometimes i could catch him off guard and throw an ippon.  (this didnt happen often LOL).  But then again i would go randori with the guy in our club who has done judo for 40 yrs and i would feel like my moves were slow and not effective.

another thing that could have an effect on your throws is your opponents physical size.  if he's short he'll be hard to shoulder throw , if he's tall you may have some trouble with a couple of the hip throws and foot techniques.  

now for groundwork i have the same trouble as you.  i feel comfortable on the ground but some of the more experienced players can beat me with pins, arm bars, and chokes.  the biggest tip i can give you is PATIENCE.  now i come close to beating some of the more experienced players on the mat( they still end up winning by choke and armbar usually) by just being patient and taking time to get better.  the reality is that these guys should beat you and by beating now your actually getting better.  you'll notice it if a new player joins your club.  you will beat the c**p out them.

i hope i answered your question. let me know if you want any more advice.  just remember to be patient.  GOOD LUCK

Answer 5

Relax, you are new it will get better. Plus you shouldn't be doing arm bars or getting put in arm bars. That is reserved for brown and black belts. Choke and pins are good for beginners. Over time you will develop better timing. You will learn when and how to make your attacks or counters. You will realize that there are tournament techniques as well as practice techniques.The better you get at relaxing and doing the techniques correctly the better results you will have in competitions. If you are practicing against higher ranks you will find that it will be very easy against people your own rank and size.

I was small and my instructor would always make me workout with much larger guys. This made it easy for me in tournaments. I became so much stronger and quicker than guys in my group. But They stop letting me fight guy my age and rank. They always made me fight a couple classes up. But that was easy too.As a blue belt i started fighting senior division and they allowed me to fight black belts.

I guess that one guy that said you should concentrate on katas don't know that katas are rare in Judo. It is only for black belt and demonstrations. A judo kata is a two person kata. Usually showing some very basic self defense techniques with a thrown included in it.

Answer 6

well to really learn a technique you have to do it 10 000 times.