Most people grapple with their dominant hand forward. Wrestling, Judo, and Jiu-Jitsu people tend to lead with their dominant hand and dominant foot. This is contrary to many striking sports where the non-dominant hand is leading leaving your rear hand is laying...

  Starting anything can be difficult. Starting a sport where the goal is to toss your opponent like a bag of laundry, or occasionally strangle them is an even more difficult proposition! However with a little slight adjustment in perspective people can start...

  Buckle up for this one, it’s going to get bumpy…. Grip fighting is a gritty business. Grappling produces some of the craziest grips in existence. Judo is a prime example of this. In a sport where so much hinges on being able...

  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...

The Drop Seoi Nage is one of the most fun throws to learn, and execute. Being able to turn and drop on a dime, while having your opponent fly effortlessly over top of you is a feeling few will truly feel. Thankfully for...

  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...

Don’t Worry... We aren’t going to get real long winded and tell you that today is the day to get your life in order. If anything it’s time to get your Judo tactics in order! What we will be discussing is how setting...

  Unless You Can Counter! Being out of position is something you don’t want to get used to,but sadly it’s inevitable. The reality of training is, you are going to get put into bad positions. Learning how to survive these tough ordeals should...

  When running into a stout defense your Offense can feel like hitting a wall. While there are probably numerous reasons why this may be occurring, often times there are ways that you can adjust a technique on the fly. When first learning...

  As a beginner, Judo can be quite overwhelming. It’s easy to see why between the footwork, the grip fighting, and the launching humans through the air. Sure maybe you could launch your 10 year old nephew, but what about someone your size?...

  Becoming accustomed to the Gi is very natural when you practice Judo. It is an important tool in executing many techniques that we all have come to love. That said, many of our favorites can be adapted to a No-Gi situation.  You...

  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....

  Judo is all about action vs reaction. The sooner that this concept is absorbed the more success you will see with your technique. When first trying to throw someone you may look at it like simply launching a technique at someone. BUT...

  In Self-Defense scenarios, simple is best. Let’s be honest any athlete training consistently in martial arts isn’t going to pick a fight with you on the street. So the need for an extravagant attack strategy against an untrained assailant, swinging haymakers probably...

  The key to any successful foot sweep is clean decisive technique. The Kouchi Gari is a prime example of this. Many of the greatest Judo players were well equipped with The Kouchi Gari and it is something to add to your arsenal...

  The Classic Debate….. Isn’t going to happen here! This is not a debate on style vs style. Here we will focus on the scenario that you, an experienced Judo player, are entering into a Jiu-Jitsu format of sparring or competition. Whether you...

As They Say....Grippin' Ain't Easy! Grip Fighting can determine whether or not you get tossed into oblivion. As a beginner in Judo you can expect to be exploited heavily if you do not start to understand grip fighting. BUT like most things being...

  The ability to switch strategies on the fly is a great attribute to possess. If you are only focused on throwing your opponent you may miss opportunities to land submissions. Being able to flip that switch to go from throwing to attacking...

  If you feel like you are being dominated in training understand that you are not alone. If you have the urge to get better despite your own shortcomings you are on the right path. We all have our limitations and acknowledging them...