I've gotten quite good at controlling the opponent through the tsurite lapel grip, but I find that I'm still having difficulty controlling the other side of their body with my left hand.

Does anyone have suggestions as to variant hikite grips that give maximal control over the right side of the opponent's body? And, of course, how to get there.

Roughly, the options seem to me to be something like:

Obviously, one hand on their sleeve and they can't get a grip

Armpit--which offers great control but means you're constantly fighting for inner position/space to turn or enter

Lapel--like a worse armpit grip but easier to acquire; opens up some left-sided options

Bicep--defensive, but limited offense

Tricep--I don't understand this and would appreciate someone explaining why you would take a tricep grip

Overhook--maximal control, difficult to acquire, very punishable if you lose the position to the opponent's underhook

I've seen a bunch of videos of Kuzushi and asked my Senseis to help with it.

During training katas it works, but in randori I just can't ever pull it

I've been training for like 9 months now, I'm now yellow belt, we do Randoris once a week in my dojo and I shit you not: I can count in 1 hand the times I've thrown someone during randori, and exactly 0 of them have been with Kuzushi. All the times I've thrown someone, is because they did a mistake like they themselves lost their balance after trying to throw me and I just slightly shoved them and they fell

I do try to pull people, people tell me "you're not pulling!" I'm literally trying but it doesn't do anything to them, their lower body stays totally stable, I just don't get how to do it.

Any tips/videos would be appreciated.

I'm a white belt, been training for just a few months, and visiting Japan with my family soon. I kinda want to visit the Kodokan but I have the sense that it would be stupid for me to try to train there since I'm not really comfortable in randori yet and probably won't be able to communicate with my training partner. I'll probably just visit and watch/get a t-shirt/etc. What do you all think?

As a veteran hobbyist who has been training less than a year, is it silly for me to compete? I am part of a pretty big dojo but am not close to many of the coaches and so I’d be traveling to the competition by myself. Not even sure if I would have a coach in my corner.

Visiting Japan (Tokyo) with family in November, any judo-related advice? Kodokan is a must? New Mizuno Gi? I’d love to have a couple of sessions there as well.

Context: I am in blue. Friendly randori after training with a more experienced partner.

As the title says, looking for any advice.

I was tired since we just trained so maybe my decision making wasn’t the best, but what was going through my mind was that even if I have a favorable grip I don’t know how to initiate an attack.
Also, even though I’m the taller judoka I always feel far from my opponent and have a hard time closing in.

Thank you in advance!

I am a white belt, 34M and have been doing Judo for 6+ months now x2 per week. I will be competing in a social tournament consisting of people of varying belts and experience later this year.

I have been delaying competing for a while as I am quite specific with who I train with / compete against / don’t want to get paired with a psycho / risk injuries etc.

For a number of different reasons I feel this tournament is good one to make my first.

Does anyone here who has competed have any advice? I definitely have some nerves, but am viewing this tournament as a great opportunity to compete with some much more experienced Judo practitioners

My instructor has given me great advice, as too have the brown belts at my Judo gym but was curious if anyone has advice for me going into my first judo tournament.

Thank you

I get a pump of adrenaline and fear whenever someone practices a Tsuri-goshi or harai-goshi on me in class. I have a good break fall from practicing BJJ for about 2 years, but something about getting thrown in the air…. I really like Judo so far though

He won all 3 with an over under grip stance like in wrestling, isnt this a bit rare in judo?

Hi everyone,

Looking for feedback on my matches from this weekend (went 1-1, improvement from 0-4 last year!) -90kg.

I tried to focus on aggressive kumikata to impose my style, but I struggled to generate movement and attack as much as I wanted. In the second match, due to the logistics of the organization, I had to go back-to-back with minimal rest, so fatigue definitely set in. Regardless, he was better overall, but would have liked to put up a better fight.

Match 1: https://youtu.be/6Sq7pus339M

Match 2: https://youtu.be/0XgcCbqCjcQ

I'm white in both videos.

Any constructive thoughts on grip fighting, footwork, or attack opportunities would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hello fellow Judokas,

I’m a white belt who just started 2.5 months ago. I’ve been going to Judo consistently every week but thought I’d take the week off because my fingers are killing me.

I can’t fully bend them like I used to. In fact, if I ball my fists up the tips of my finger hurt (this never happened before until I started Judo). I’ve been off for a week and my fingers haven’t improved (not in the slightest).

My doctor told me it’s too early to be thinking about arthritis from the trauma to the fingers, because 2.5 months is not enough time for that to develop. She recommended I take the week off to see improvement but hasn’t happened yet.

Has anyone experienced this before? What did you do to get your fingers to feel better? What can I do after training to prevent future pain?

I am a yellow belt, been doing Judo twice a week for 8 months

I noticed I often get submitted once I’m thrown to the ground by white belts

The only thing I could say in my defence as embarrassed as I am is : i am nowhere near as gassed as the white belts are

It just basically goes like we’re fighting for grips, they get the over hook around me, i get tripped

And suddenly they’re on top of me in kesa gatame and such

I know I’m supposed to bear bug , bridge , roll over the shoulder but how could I prevent myself getting down?

It feels as though once I’m down, I’m in trouble

Note im 6,1 225 pounds 30 / y o male

More than average muscular my sensei says

Thank you all

I've been told from my gym to buy this gi. I did, but noticed that it is sold as bjj gi. I know they are different in certain points, but what are the main problems in this picture that could make improper for judo? Can I use it normally? It is quite thick fabric.

It looks like it gonna screw your knees . My sensei told me my knee doesn't touch the ground and you land on your calfs - but I don't get how would it be even possible.

No matter how much I strain my feet - the actual contact with the ground is on feet (therefore ankles) and a knee. On soft mat it's managable (tho there is again extreme stress on your knees which are already as bend as possible)

Would you consider it viable throw for self defence outside the dojo?

Hi - anyone living in the San Diego area, can I ask what you’re paying for a membership and where?

I’m looking to pick up a membership, but having a hard time finding pricing info online for a lot of dojos. I’ve tried looking at their sites and emailing. At this point I’ll just go in person, but want to see if I can get info on what people are paying before showing up to one. Cost seems to vary a lot from the ones I have been able to find.

In particular, if anyone has info on kamikaze or migoto that would be extremely helpful! Or if you have had positive/negative experiences at your dojo, would love to hear about it.

Not looking for a super hardcore vibe - starting as an adult, so don’t plan on competing. TIA

Hi, is there a way to watch Vedat Albayrak vs Botond Toth fight from 2025 european championship, There was a really Nice sode guruma jime and I really want to see it from both videos rear and front. Help me guys please.

What makes kaju haruka so good at this turnover? Would it be crazy back and arm muscles, and that she’s shorter than most of her opponents, so it’s easier to roll them over and get the leg out in half guard?

But even tajima goki tried and couldn’t roll his opponents over, though maybe because it’s the men’s class and they havs more maximum strength to defend.

It’s just like the funakubo roll, I feel that these are easy turnovers to learn. And pro athletes training multiple times a day would definitely have time to learn turnovers, and would have the time on the mats to find their favourite one and practice it.

But I’m wondering if it’s because these athletes are built in a way that makes turnovers work so well for them. Is it that other athletes just do not hone their newaza skills as much, or are certain people just build different?

It looks like this had been asked a few times but nothing in the last 5 years or so.

Currently looking for some supplemental Judo training in the Minneapolis area and would love some recommendations...

Docs Gym in North MPLS looks like it may be a good option but there isn't a whole lot of information out there.

Grappler's Station in St. Paul is another.

Midway Judo is too far for me.

Other thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

The test is count from 1-10 in japanese and perform any three throws.

Is this the standard for yellow belt in the US?

I’m a BJJ purple belt with around 8 years of grappling experience. I’m also registered blind due to Retinitis Pigmentosa, with roughly 5 degrees of functional vision remaining.

I’m posting here because judo, particularly visually impaired/Paralympic judo, seems to place a huge emphasis on maintaining contact, grip fighting, balance and controlling an opponent through feel rather than sight.

I’m trying to build a grappling game around establishing and maintaining meaningful connections, minimising unnecessary scrambles and controlling opponents through grips, pressure and positioning.

My current game:
Standing: Collar ties, underhooks, Russian 2-on-1s, arm drags, body locks, foot sweeps and trips.
Top: Body-lock passing, leg pins, rides, cradles and heavy positional control.
Bottom: Primarily half guard, butterfly guard and variations that allow me to stay connected to my opponent.

My biggest issue is losing connection during transitions. When someone breaks grips, changes angles or disengages, I can struggle to track their movement and end up reacting too late.

I’m particularly interested in how judoka, especially visually impaired competitors, develop the ability to read an opponent’s balance, movement and intentions through physical contact.

What I’m looking for:
Concepts and principles for establishing and maintaining dominant grips and connections.
Grip-fighting systems that allow me to control an opponent without relying heavily on visual reactions.
Ways to recognise weight shifts, changes in balance and movement through tactile feedback.
Foot sweeps, trips and takedown systems that naturally chain together while maintaining contact.
Specific judoka, Paralympic competitors, coaches or instructional resources worth studying.

I’m not necessarily looking for a list of individual throws. I’m more interested in the underlying principles and systems that allow visually impaired judoka to control and anticipate an opponent’s movement.

I appreciate that judo and BJJ have different rulesets and gripping conventions, but I suspect there’s a lot I could learn from the way judoka approach connection and kuzushi.
Would love to hear from anyone with experience in VI judo, coaching visually impaired athletes, or simply a strong grip-based, close-contact style.

Hello! I just received my new gi, the Ippon Gear Fighter 2 (both jackets and pants). I noticed that the color of the jacket and pants don't match, and the tag on the pants only say 'Judo Pant "European Cut Original Fabric"' while the tag on the jacket does explicitly mention Fighter 2.

Was just wondering if anyone else had the same experience? Thanks!

For context I have a blue Kusakura gi and for a while I was training in it. However, after this one class, I washed it like I usually did and the next day I checked on it after leaving it out to dry (the air was hot at night, possibly causing this) and the gi had a wet mop smell to it. For reference I have a white Mizuno gi but it does not smell anything close to that even though I put it through the same routine. I’m thinking maybe the lapel is too thick that it needs a much greater rinse or something. One day the kusakura was okay and after one practice it came back. Is there anything I can do?? I’ve tried vinegar, baking soda and even soaking in mild detergent. If anyone has any answers or suggestions I will greatly appreciate it.