Judo adventures 2.52

[yuuago]

Attending: Me, Ed, V-sensei. T-sensei instructing.

This was an extra class just for the hell of it. V-sensei wanted T-sensei's help with tactics/technique for competition, so since the dojo was going to be open anyway, people in the adult class were invited to come if they felt like it.

Typically 3x per week is too much for me, but if there are rest days in between, then that works pretty well. T-sensei is planning to do the extra Saturday class on alternating weeks (so, next time would be July 06) as long as he has the time.

I brought up with T-sensei some issues I've been having - mainly that I feel like I don't know the material well enough. He said that a large part of upgrading isn't knowing the material; it's about coming to class consistently and having a positive attitude about it. So, there is that.

Anyway. This class, we focused on grip and technique/tactics. If you can get your opponent's hand off your lapel (their right hand, gripping your left lapel), and push it down and toward the right (their left), it gives you a great advantage. It puts you in a position to get in really close, and it's hard for them to escape from you without giving you a lot of openings to do something. This also isn't used much in competition, so if you pull it out, your opponent will be surprised. This is partly why V-sensei wanted to go over it; he wants to use it as a tactical move in competition.

So, we worked on that, with various throws.

We also worked on a new throw, one I've never encountered before. It's kind of weird. And incorporates the grip from above. Procedure: get into the position, with your grip on their sleeve, bringing it down to your right/their left. Step in close on your right side. Get close enough that you can step behind them. Release your left-hand grip, and grab their belt; also step behind their left foot with your left foot - kind of like you're doing a really weird tai-otoshi from a different angle. And then sit down. This will bring them down and complete the throw.

It's a very weird throw, and I don't even remember the name of it. And you do have to go down in order to complete it - it's kind of like a makikomi, you need to go down with them in order to execute it. But even though it's weird, it's pretty neat, and the specific grip gives you a good opening for it. Also, since everything about this from the grip to the throw is unusual, it could be quite a surprise in sparring if you can pull it off.

Next week is no judo. There's grading on Thursday, though, so I will go to that. :V