Judo

I want to separate the sport from my specific experience. Judo as a discipline is genuinely compelling — the seoi-nage shoulder throw, the depth of shiai competition, grip fighting becoming its own game. All of that is real and valuable. My gym, however, has been mediocre. Coaching quality varies s…

I track everything, so here are actual results after 9 months of Judo: significantly improved cardiovascular fitness, noticeable strength gains, and a flexibility improvement I didn't expect. None of that came from a gym program — it came from learning tai-otoshi and understanding kuzushi off-balanc…

I started Judo at 40 and felt completely out of my depth in the first class. Most people were twenty-something and athletic. I was neither. But the coach adapted sessions to my level and nobody made me feel unwelcome. Recovery takes longer at my age, and finding competitive clubs outside Japan or F…

I had zero athletic background when I started Judo. First class I was completely lost — everyone seemed to know the language of grip fighting and I didn't. My harai-goshi was nonexistent. I nearly didn't go back. I did go back. And the first grading 10 months later was one of the proudest moments I…

Judo has been one of the best decisions I've made for my fitness and mental health. The tai-otoshi and the deeper kuzushi off-balance keep training mentally engaging in a way the gym never did. But I want to be honest: trusting breakfalling (ukemi) instinctively. Nobody told me about that before I …

When I started Judo I had no idea what to buy. I over-researched, bought the wrong things, and wasted money. Here's what I've learned: start with basic ear guards for groundwork sessions. Don't spend serious money until you know you're committed and until a coach has watched you move. The premium v…

A friend dragged me to a Judo trial class. I went to be polite. I was terrible. I went back because I couldn't stand being terrible at something. That was 7 months ago. The newaza ground work I stumbled through in that first class is now something I teach to newer beginners. nage-waza throwing tech…

After 10 months of Judo I want to share what I wished I'd known at the start. First: trusting breakfalling (ukemi) instinctively — it hits earlier and harder than the internet suggests. Budget for it practically and mentally. Second: the ear guards for groundwork sessions you buy first will probabl…

I started Judo six months ago with zero background in the sport. The first few weeks were humbling — I couldn't do seoi-nage shoulder throw properly and had no idea what randori even meant. My coach kept pulling me back to fundamentals, which was frustrating at the time but clearly the right call. …

After 9 months of training Judo I entered my first competition. I lost. It was the best thing that's happened to my development in the sport. Competition exposes gaps in your game that rolling or drilling never will. My newaza ground work fell apart under pressure. My understanding of grip fighting…