I'm more confused than any other emotion really. I'm not expressing myself very well I guess and i could very easily be misreading something.
I can dig it. I spent about 5 years trying to learn chen taiji via video back and forth, putting great weight into folks comments, assuming they knew WTF they were on about. I then did what you did (posted video) and got torn a new one. I said "ok, show me yours". Lo and behold...theirs was by and large shit....and the guys that had the goods, had the good in text as well.
Regarding your videos, I might be shown a move like that one week and practice it but next week is something different. The only thing taught consistently and repeatedly is foot techniques and that is what I''ve been told to do in randori.
Ok, so you're in a bit of a jam.
Judo is a weird sport in that we do it together, but alone. There's a lot of stuff that you have to puzzle out yourself. Ideally, your sensei can help guide you...but you still have to use your brain (and your time) wisely.
Eg:
One of the dumb things I see is people just blasting out uchikomi for speed. Yes, improving your footwork speed is ONE of the things uchikomi can be used for...but it's not the only thing. For example -
For many years, I had a footsweep I would do (a sort of kouchi) that I could mindless blast out for reps. Then, one day, I met a judoka who did the same footsweep....but much, much better. I slowed my uchikomi right down and then realised I had been doing this footsweep wrong for about 5 years. Not ineffective...just sub-optimal. I was able to realise this because 1) I felt the other guy doing it 2) I could compare 3) I had enough judo sense to know why mine was wrong.
This is why it's useful to have a sensei tell you "no, you're dropping your arm here" or "not, step more this way", "yes, good". You need some of that initial positive / negative feedback to figure out the feeling of things. Initially, none of us have good judo sense...so we need experienced people to constrain the scenario in order to produce the right actions
If you're saying I'm not being taught essential things at my gym and i will have to spend time looking at videos and more or less teaching myself from them that is gonna be hard.
I don't know what your goals are (judo? Bjj?). As I see it, there are two ways to resolve your issue
1) Find another club that has good curriculum / instruction.
In tachiwaza, at my club, all turning throws for beginners kick off the prototype turning throw (ogoshi). Next comes uki-goshi, tsuri-goshi and koshi-guruma. Once you can do these throws well (because they teach you a tremendous amount about turning, pulling, foot placement, timing etc), you are taught things like uchimata, harai-goshi, hanegoshi, ippon seoinage.
The reason we teach this way is that each throw serves as a primer for the next in the series. Competence in the next throw is built on the foundation of the previous one.
You need to find someone who has a system. 'Technique of the week' stuff is the slow road. Note that a blackbelt doesn't equal a good coach or instructor.
2) If you can't find another club to train it: you can do as you say (self coach). This is difficult in the beginning for the reason you identified (you don't know who to listen to) - and also because you don't yet know what's important.
If you elect to self coach, I would suggest working SOLELY on the throws that are most often repeated at your club (footsweep - deashi? hiza? Sasae? Which?). This way, you will get practice AND feedback (because presumably your sensei like these throws / think they're important).
Set yourself the goal of focusing on ONE throw for the next 3-6 months. Just one. Do whatever other stuff they suggest...but put your effort into that throw/footsweep like it owes you money at every possible moment. Doing uchikomi? Do that footsweep. Doing crashmat? That footsweep. Randori - yep, that footsweep.
While you're doing this...do the following
- Read/watch video. A lot. If it's footsweeps, then the masterclass series of books on Ashiwaza may be of use. If you're a video guy (I am), the www.superstarjudo.com.
- Think. Learn about the nuances, entries etc for throws. http://thedifficultway.blogspot.com.au/ has information you MUST read through, videos you MUST watch and things you MUST think about (if you're not learning them elsewhere)
- Post video. Ask SPECIFIC questions on THAT throw. You can post here or on r/judo and good people will help you.
- Actually try those suggestions that people give. Then post video again.
- Watch the following video. This is from a BJC/BJA coaching process. This is a good way to teach throws...but it is also a good way to learn throws. Therefore, copy this pattern in your own studies (solo exercises, static uchikomi, moving uchikomi etc).
- Once you start to develop a sense for this throw....Devour EVERYTHING you can find on that footsweep. You're blessed to live in the age of broadband video...so you can watch a lot of different stuff. I have something like 1000 bookmarked vids in my YT channel (protip: download them and save them...because videos get removed all the time / disappear)
This is your job for the next 3-6 months. I'm not kidding: I spent the 3 months focusing on JUST taiotoshi. I spent 6 months focusing on JUST koshi-guruma. Both of these while allowing other stuff to wash over me ("yeah that's cool...say...what can that teach my about my koshi?)
Meanwhile, keep your mat fitness up with newaza, ukemi etc.
Your last option is to simply give in and focus on BJJ and forget about judo. Not saying this to depress you but sometimes no judo is better than bad judo. Bad habits are hard to undo.
Hope this helps, if even a little. I've been in your situation more than once when trying to learn something. The preferred option is always to find competent coach...but if you have to self coach, it can be done.
