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For a lot of beginners to Judo, they want to just get straight to the action. While this is understandable, because who doesn’t just want to throw people around and get that super satisfying smack on the ground.  However when they get to...

The O Goshi is one of the most popular throws in Judo, partly because it’s one of the 40 original throws and it's also one of the coolest looking techniques. However, because it’s so popular everyone wants to use it. This means that...

The Four Elements of a Judo ThrowIn order to become proficient at a sport like judo, it’s not enough to embed the techniques into muscle memory, it’s also crucial to understand the concepts behind the throws. There are four elements to a judo...

Learning judo techniques in isolation can be fine when a judoka is just starting out, but overtime as the students become more involved in randori sessions and perhaps have the hopes of competing one day, it's important to begin building connections between moves...

Have you heard the old adage, "The best defense is a good offense?"  Have you ever thought about what it means and how it can be applied to your judo training?  In the video below, multiple time Olympian and Coach of judokas like...

  Whether you are doing Judo or Jiu-Jitsu, having a strong defense from the turtle is an absolute necessity. Regardless if you are defending a strong throw attempt or avoiding a guard pass the turtle is a great temporary option to transition to...

  American Judo Great Jimmy Pedro states that “many people think that gripping is defensive Judo”. A simple change in perspective can make a big change in how you approach one of the most important aspects of Judo, grip fighting. If you can...

  It’s hard to over-stress how important grip fighting is. As a beginner it's possible to become infatuated with bodies flying through the air without paying enough respect to how the throw was established. Getting a strong usable grip on your opponent is a foundational...

  When observing Judo much of the focus takes place at the tail end of the action. People want to see the big throws and high flying techniques, but none of that is possible without the essential grip battle that takes place before....

  One of the most iconic techniques in combat sports is the Juji-Gatame. It’s one of those techniques that perfectly exemplifies the concept of using your entire body effectively and efficiently to achieve the submission. The Juji-Gatame can come in multiple varieties as...

  Grippin’ Ain’t Easy Obtaining Optimal grips in ANY grappling sport is one of the KEY factors in success at all levels. If you dominate the grips you dominate the game. That said, it can be pretty difficult to get a good grip...

We are incredibly fortunate to live in an age where information is so easily, widely, and readily available. We have access not only to many current teachers around the world thanks to platforms like Judo Fanatics and BJJ Fanatics, but also through the...

As we progress in the grappling arts we must make a mental and practical transition from thinking about the application of single techniques to a strategic chaining together of techniques in order to succeed against increasingly more skillful and tough opponents. This is...

It might sound obvious but it’s easy to overlook the fact that different grips need different breaks applied against them to free us.  Kumi kata, or grip fighting, is a unique phase of combat that has a winner and a loser. We can...

We’re going to look at a topic that’s often vague, confusing and full of myths. Mental toughness. What is mental toughness? We often think that mental toughness is simply enduring physical discomfort.  The more physical discomfort we can endure the more mentally tough...

Seoi Nage (meaning shoulder throw in English) is one of the core forty throws in Jigoro Kano’s Gokyo of Kodokan Judo. It’s a part of the Dai Ikkyo (first group) of techniques that all Judoka learn and therefore is a staple of Judo’s...

There is a sequence in any grappling art which goes 1) Gripping 2) Breaking balance 3) Application of technique. Without gripping there can be no breaking of balance and no application of technique. Gripping, known as Kumi Kata in Judo, is something Judo...

As the name suggests foundations are the building blocks of any endeavour we undertake. Without foundations only either minimal or highly erratic progress can be made, if any at all. If we think of the foundations to learning a musical instrument we first...

  No grips, no Judo! A good understanding of grips is so important that every athlete who’s trained under the legendary Jimmy Pedro -- including Kayla Harrison, Travis Stevens, and others -- use and emphasize it. Kayla Harrison and others will talk about...