Image : http://www.flickr.com

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu players and competitors are continually seeking new and innovative ways to improve their BJJ skills and techniques. A huge library of BJJ skills, BJJ instructional DVDs and books, and online resources are now available. However, supplementing your BJJ training regime with a visit to your local Judo club represents a very simple, affordable, and many would say, cutting edge way to improve your BJJ performance.

Judo clubs are typically cheaper to attend than Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu clubs, typically upto half the price. They are often more readily available outside of major cities and many of the members may have been practicing Judo for several years. Judo classes can be more physically demanding for BJJ players at first due to the different, but related, demands on the body such as more intense gripping, conditioning of the body for stand-up skills, physical co-ordination required in the stand-up position, shorter-time rounds during groundwork, and the greater overall time period spent in standing sparring (randori). BJJ players tend to lack throwing and takedown skills and have less intensity in these areas due to the typical focus on groundwork. The attitude also tends (although is not always) to be more aggressive in Judo than BJJ, whether sparring in standing or groundwork.

All of these factors can help to develop more rounded BJJ players. However, the true purpose of this article is to try and assist BJJ players in their first sessions of Judo.

Firstly, I recommend that you always contact the Judo coach responsible. Explain that you would really like to learn Judo, find out costs, club rules, and obviously times and dates. Be modest about the extent of your training in martial arts and emphasise your willingness to learn. Show an interest in the club concerned in order to break down the natural barriers of human nature within a combat-based environment.

Secondly, stick to the etiquette of the club. Some Judo clubs can place great importance on such matters, personally I can’t stand outdated attitudes, bowing (it doesn’t show respect but that’s for another article!), the term “sensei”, etc, but focus upon your goal of improving and go along with it. Check your attitude at the door (I’ve learnt the hard way!) to minimise the chance of being unwelcome and having an entire club wishing to break you during randori.

Thirdly, don’t go all out in groundwork. Any BJJ player has a huge advantage here (you generally only do groundwork in BJJ) and a good blue belt should be able to hold their own with dan grades. However, you are here to learn so during groundwork, practice the areas where judoka’s are relatively well versed. I always practice north-south defence, head and arm escapes, and turtle bottom positions and return to these positions if I escape.

Fourthly, during stand-up sessions be a sponge. Many BJJ players, especially those relatively new to the sport will forget that many judoka’s at their local club have many years and often a decade or so of experience. In any other context, having this level of expertise on the mat would be considered a fantastic opportunity and should be viewed as such. Outside of Brazil and maybe the US, few BJJ clubs would have this level of experience around the mat, regardless of whether this is Judo or BJJ.

Fifthly, don’t get discouraged if you are repeatedly thrown. In fact expect it and if you have the choice of more than one judo club, check them all out. In big cities, you will often find a number of highly competitive clubs and its really a privilidge to get thrown around effortlessly. In time, you will begin to compete and this will give a huge advantage in BJJ competition.

Finally, as Dave Camarillo says in his brilliant Guerilla Jiu-Jitsu book, leave your “BJJ glasses at the door”. As a Judoka, I will never use seionage as I am simply too tall and the hand position does not favour me either. That said, I will always work such throws when asked and focus upon my footwork (balance, co-ordination and speed), my hip placement (getting low), rotation, etc. As you progress, you can then develop your own style further.

If you have any feedback, comments, or questions, be sure to let me know at http://www.judobjj.com

Glyn Powditch

Copyright 2007 Glyn Powditch
http://www.karltanswell.co.uk
http://www.judobjj.com