Thinking of starting Judo

[LordarshynBJJ]

Hey guys, I've been thinking of starting to cross train a bit in Judo.

I have a few questions.

First, I have an old worn out, partially blue tinted (from washing with my gi) white belt, with my last name sewn into it in gold writing.

Is anyone going to give a fuck? I have heard Judo can be more strict than BJJ when it comes to uniforms, so I was just wondering.

Also, What are some basics I could focus on before going in? I can't start right away, so I figure i would like to have a little bit of a grasp on it before I go in. So does anyone have any good videos/tips for beginners? And I mean absolute basics like stepping in and out drills to work on the absolute basics. I'll leave more technical things like learning throws up to the instructors. I also know that no matter what I do in my own time I will still get tooled when I go in there, but i feel that if I start to get some of the basics down I will be more able to learn things when I actually get to go.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Protegejoe296]

First, on the belt, the dojo will supply you with a new belt. And, yes, Japanese-style dojos can be a little stricter than BJJ schools, though it does depend on the dojo. Also, work on falls and rolls if you want to before you go in. In most judo dojos, you wont even start throws before the senseis feel you can fall properly. I'm sure you have the basics of falling down, just giving you the info. Best of luck to you.

 

[wmike9902**]

basically just start on break falling and rolls. and if you get get a resistance band to do a few fit ins with you will be in good shape

 

[Nickynoneck]

BREAK FALLS and look up kazushi your gonna need that if you want to pull off big throws .

I asume ur bjj class has shown you throws ?

Funny iam the opposite i just started bjj and iam froma judo background .

So far i have to learn to SLOW down .

 

[pittfrog]

Judo guys train both standing (tachi waza) and ground (ne waza). You'll definitely get tooled from standing, on the ground you'll do very well.

Rather than focus on any advice anyone gives you here, practice what the teacher at your club tells you.

For me at least, the body motions of Judo were much harder to pick up than the basics of BJJ(maybe I just suck, I dunno). After a year of regular Judo training, I'm only now getting to the point where I feel like my throwing is getting decent enough that I can integrate it back into my BJJ game. Cross-training in judo is not going to be like going to a BJJ seminar, where after a few sessions you will have something useful to integrate into your game.

 

[JudokaBJJ]

BREAK FALLS and look up kazushi your gonna need that if you want to pull off big throws .

I asume ur bjj class has shown you throws ?

Funny iam the opposite i just started bjj and iam froma judo background .

So far i have to learn to SLOW down .

Thats funny that you said that have to learn to slow down. I'm the same way. I came from a judo background. I do work better when I do the moves more quickly then slowly.

 

[georgejjr]

Unless you're training in a very traditional dojo, no one will care about your gi as long as it's not too tight (ie if its too tight people can't get a grip). If you fight in a tournament its going to have to be either white or blue, though I'd try judo for a few months to make sure you like it before I went out and bought a legal gi. If its a good club you'll find it complements your BJJ very nicely, your standup will improve immensely. Cross training is the way to go (ask Roger Gracie).

The basics you'll learn at the club, if its any good. If its not, find a different club.

 

[LordarshynBJJ]

Unless you're training in a very traditional dojo, no one will care about your gi as long as it's not too tight (ie if its too tight people can't get a grip). If you fight in a tournament its going to have to be either white or blue, though I'd try judo for a few months to make sure you like it before I went out and bought a legal gi. If its a good club you'll find it complements your BJJ very nicely, your standup will improve immensely. Cross training is the way to go (ask Roger Gracie).

The basics you'll learn at the club, if its any good. If its not, find a different club.

I already have an unpatched, white single weave Judo gi.

 

[Mohawk79]

Best piece of advice I can give is the advice Dave Camarillo said in his book. Leave your JJ training at the door. It can be really hard, but it will benefit you because you won't progress much if you don't. And be ready to get tossed around like a rag doll for a while.

 

[KzoJudo]

Most places, unless they are traditional, won't care about the gi. Just remember relax and tuck you chin when you fall. Pulling guard = bad. It is all the same principles just the focus is different.

 

[georgejjr]

I already have an unpatched, white single weave Judo gi.

My bad, I somehow read that your gi was off color, not your belt. No one will care about the belt either in most dojo's. We've got a kid who wears a red belt (some style of TKD rank) and no one says boo, despite the fact that red means 9th or 10th degree black belt in judo.

 

[Balto]

Best piece of advice I can give is the advice Dave Camarillo said in his book. Leave your JJ training at the door. It can be really hard, but it will benefit you because you won't progress much if you don't. And be ready to get tossed around like a rag doll for a while.

I never really understood the reasoning behind advice like this.

You should definitely keep an open mind when training another art. But you should never leave your previous training at the door. That is just a terrible waste of hard earned skill.

Judo is not entirely about throwing. Ippon is not just a big throw; it's also a pin or a submission. They all win the match the same way in the end. There are some judoka who are known for having great groundwork. There is nothing wrong with using what you have already to build from.

Of course, you don't simply want to stagnate with your current skill set. You want to improve and learn new things. After all, why else would you be training in the first place?

But don't learn the new stuff by forgetting your old stuff. Instead, integrate the new stuff into your existing skill set. If you have good groundwork, focus on the throws that flow smoothly into pins and submissions.

The point of the cross training should be so that you learn to flow back and forth between the groundwork and the throwing seamlessly. Use one to complement the other so that you are well rounded and will have a large advantage in either judo or BJJ. Whatever you do, don't separate the two completely and end up with one dimensional BJJ and one dimensional judo.

 

[The Colonel]

Use one to complement the other so that you are well rounded and will have a large advantage in either judo or BJJ. Whatever you do, don't separate the two completely and end up with one dimensional BJJ and one dimensional judo.

Unite the clans!
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[IChinaManI]

I never say this cause I think it's gay, but ^QFT!

 

[Thrawn33]

I never really understood the reasoning behind advice like this.

You should definitely keep an open mind when training another art. But you should never leave your previous training at the door. That is just a terrible waste of hard earned skill.

Judo is not entirely about throwing. Ippon is not just a big throw; it's also a pin or a submission. They all win the match the same way in the end. There are some judoka who are known for having great groundwork. There is nothing wrong with using what you have already to build from.

Of course, you don't simply want to stagnate with your current skill set. You want to improve and learn new things. After all, why else would you be training in the first place?

But don't learn the new stuff by forgetting your old stuff. Instead, integrate the new stuff into your existing skill set. If you have good groundwork, focus on the throws that flow smoothly into pins and submissions.

The point of the cross training should be so that you learn to flow back and forth between the groundwork and the throwing seamlessly. Use one to complement the other so that you are well rounded and will have a large advantage in either judo or BJJ. Whatever you do, don't separate the two completely and end up with one dimensional BJJ and one dimensional judo.

The one issue I have with some BJJers that come to the club is that all they want to do is ne-waza, and they get pissed when they don't get to show off their ground skills. They don't last long.

There's absoluly nothing wrong with using your BJJ to compliment your ne-waza but remember: you're there to learn Judo not practice BJJ.

 

[knoxpk]

Since you are coming from BJJ you are probably used to learning techniques then sparring at the end of class.

Like others have said, many Judo clubs wont let you spar until they know you can take a fall.

 

[pittfrog]

The one issue I have with some BJJers that come to the club is that all they want to do is ne-waza, and they get pissed when they don't get to show off their ground skills. They don't last long.

There's absoluly nothing wrong with using your BJJ to compliment your ne-waza but remember: you're there to learn Judo not practice BJJ.

Huh, I don't mind doing ne-waza at Judo, but honestly I'd prefer all tachi-waza. I get my fill of groundwork in BJJ, and take Judo for the throws (and goodness knows my throwing needs work). Whatever we do is fine though. I'll say this for Judo matwork: it's made my control from the top about 50x better. When you have to pin someone for 25 seconds, you learn to use your weight much more effectively.

 

[Deleted member 3729]

The pins and turtle attacks of Judo can add to any BJJers game.

 

[mvan3030]

My bjj school just merged with a judo school... and it has been great cross training with those guys...

 

[Nickynoneck]

My bjj school just merged with a judo school... and it has been great cross training with those guys...

Your very lucky to have that where you live iw ould kill for a juod/bjj club there so similar and create a perfect blend.