What are the best tactics against strong men who stiff-arm in Judo tournaments?

Question

This is a purely Judo contest question (or Jujitsu with gi). This has nothing to do with self-defense.

What are the best tactics to use on guys who are stronger than you and have more stamina and are allowed to get away with stiff armming? Assume that the referee will not call penalties on them, so you're stuck with the stiff-armming, and that you will have a hard time breaking the grip.

Also, if you're feeling generous, I'd appreciate any tactics that big guys can use in Judo against smaller guys and guys who are black belts.

Thanks.

Answer 1

this is one of those yin/yang things, if a man puts up one arm strong, than he is weak somewhere else, this is the nature of things.

If he puts up a right stiff arm, then he is weak on the left side and vice versa.  Maybe this will help, but you have to listen to his body, feel where he is strong and where he is vulnerable.

Answer 2

For the stiff armers, set your weight on their arms, stay centered and use your weight to drag them around the mat.  Footwork and body positioning are the key here.  Push, pull, grind, make them work the whole match.  If you're going to work, they have to work.  And watch opportunities to sweep the feet and legs, and to duck under their arm and go for the back if you can break their grip.

Also, don't lock up with them so easy.  Keep your distance and look for takedowns like the double leg.  Anything that doesn't involve grabbing the gi.

For smaller guys, watch them shooting low.  Keep your knees bent and your hips low and get ready to sprawl or to block attempts against the legs.  Staying low and being fast are the keys here.

For guys who are black belts... well, keep training.  A good judo black belt is tough, at least in judo.

Good luck!

Answer 3

If the ref isn't calling stiff-arming penalty, you may be able to get away with elbow rakes.  When you are moving inside his grip for underhooks try driving your elbow into his forearm (inside the elbow, not near the hand) like a strike.  As long as it looks like you are going for a grab the ref may not call it as an illegal blow, but it will still bend the stiff arm.  Drill it at the gym to make it look smooth.  And work on your stamina - there's no substitute for cardio if you can't end a fight fast.  The guy who is fresher late in the bout wins.  Period.

For the big guy thing - we've got a 245 lb monster in our gym - barely any fat and he can bench  twice his weight.  He actually trains like a small guy - he trains for technique rather than brute force.  He will roll with other students with his eyes closed, drill submission escapes, etc. as much as he trains to attack and submit.  A smart big guy is dangerous!  But most of the bigger guys are used to relying on pure strength to overcome technique.  In my opinion reliance on only strength is a weakness.

The way I spar/roll with the bigger guys is move, move, move.   Keep them off balance and force them to base so they can't attack.  If they are on top keep working my butterfly guard so they have to re-adjust constantly - I scramble like a madman, too.   Constant movement wears these guys out quick.  I have great cardio, and if I stay sharp on the ground I can usually outlast the bodybuilder types and catch them when they get tired.  I'm not that good technically (yet) but I make them work like crazy and it pays off for me.

Bottom line - road work bro!  Get out and run a few days a week.  You'll be shocked at how fast your cardio improves - WAY faster than your grappling skills - and how much it helps your game.

Answer 4

use angles. if he is stif arming you move to the side and hit him with a bar arm takedown

Answer 5

My three favorite techniques (tokui waza) for stiff arming:

1.  Tsurikomi Goshi (Lifting pulling hip)

http://www.judoinfo.com/images/animation...

2.  Tomoe Nage (Circle throw)

http://www.judoinfo.com/images/animation...

3.  Sode Tsurikomi Goshi (sleeve lifting pulling hip)

http://www.judoinfo.com/images/animation...

Also, keep your Kumi Kata simple.  Don't go crazy having a grip-fight when the object of Judo is to throw with control and force.  Me, I've grown lazy (and wise) with age, I allow my stiff-arming opponent to take any grip he wants, and I undermine it.

Yet you might want to research the Gokyo No Waza and find a technique more to your liking against stiff arming opponents.

http://www.judoinfo.com/gokyo1.htm

And remember your Judo fundamentals:

I.  Maximum efficiency with minimum effort.

II. Kazushi (balance) over strength.

III. Ju (gentleness using technique).

In Judo NEVER match strength for strength or stiff arm with stiff arm.  Use 'technique' (Ju) against a stiff arm and go over it; under it, or around it.  Make the stiff arm work to your opponent's disadvantage.