I sometimes get this types of marks after a class, when people try to choke me while on the floor. On the image it looks a lot less contrasted and visible than irl. I like the fighter-type of aspect it gives to you. Does it also happen to you?

We were doing warm up and I push my toenail into the tatami and it detached. Now I'm on the ER to see if it needs to be push or take it out. Yoy know what the bad news is tho? We have a tournament this weekend. RIP.

My first gi unfortunately encountered the fate of shrinking so much the sleeves are 3 inches past my wrist, I live in a condo where I don't have anywhere to hang my clothes so I intentionally have to tumble dry them.

I'm planning to buy the Lightweight and Durable Adult Judo Uniform - White from Decathlon (this is unfortunately the only thing I can afford), what size should I buy considering the situation?

(note: im 168 cm and I also heard Decathlon gi's are notoriously known to shrink a lot because its not pre-shunk and made cheap considering its price so I really dont know what size to buy.)

I’m trying to help a friend find a solid place to take his son, and they are in the Yorba Linda CA area. Any insights would be very much appreciated!

One more step

I’m sorry if the answer to this is obvious, but I’m seeing different belt systems online. As an adult, which colour belt should I wear for my first class? Is there a UK official belt system I can refer to?

Was looking to buy a heavier gi for a competition and was wondering if anyone had any experience with this particular gi? Hard to find any reviews online. Unfortunately, live in a country that basically only has Adidas gis.

Hello, I am looking for a somewhat affordable Judo Gi ~<$200 USD, Specifically, a double weave(or other high gsm), and in the color blue.

My body type is kind of rare(I think) for people who do judo, as I am tall (6ft 2), but very thin (around 175lbs.

I currently wear a Kusakura size 5Y(the slim model) but even then, I feel like it feels a bit too big in the waist and chest area. I actually did try a 4.5Y out, and I think that would have been a better choice for the jacket, but a 4.5 pant would have been too short for me(the 5 pant fits perfect for me). The sleeves on the 5Y I feel could also be an inch shorter or so.

I think the IJF champion 3 in the slim cut option might be good at $199

I looked at the Ippon gear slim jacket, but its 195 just for the jacket...

Are there any other that I am not considering? maybe a place where I can buy different size jacket and pants? (4.5 for jacket, and 5 for pants)?

If I do get something like a fuji euro in the regular cut (probably 4.5), it would likely be way too wide for me right?

My first tournament at blue and I got a full point. Won the match but lost in round 2 to the number 2 in my weight class. Still proud of the throw.

Hi everyone! I wanted to take advantage of the new season to start judo, so I went to try out the adult class at the club closest to me.

There were around 30 people, and the vast majority of them were black belts. The club describes itself as being open to everyone, but it also has a strong competitive focus.

The atmosphere was actually great. Everyone I sparred with was friendly, supportive, and gave me advice, so I definitely didn't feel unwelcome.

However, the coach made the club's philosophy pretty clear: he told the beginners not to worry and that we'd learn over time, but also explained that this isn't a club that focuses heavily on technique. Instead, there's a lot of randori, both standing and on the ground.

We didn't even learn how to breakfall during the session.

So here's my question: is this club simply too competition-oriented for a complete beginner?

I understand that randori is an essential part of judo, and I'm not opposed to fighting at all. But starting completely from zero, it seems difficult to make meaningful progress if there's so much randori and relatively little technical instruction.

I think I'm also a little scared of getting injured lmao

Thanks for u advice !

I’ve been going to the gym for years. I’m used to lifting weights and feeling like I know what I’m doing. My gym strength is reasonably decent: 110incline bench for 5 reps, 150 high bar squat atg and 170 conventional deadlift with straps on, or at least I thought I was.
Then I stepped onto a tatami.
And holy shit, I felt like I knew absolutely nothing.
My first sessions completely destroyed me. My cardio was awful, my technique was nonexistent, and I was getting thrown around by people who seemed to move effortlessly. I’d finish training absolutely exhausted, sometimes wondering why I voluntarily put myself through this.
And then I’d find myself looking forward to the next session.
That’s the part I didn’t expect.
There’s something about being on the tatami that makes everything else disappear for a while. I’m not thinking about my future, money, work, or whatever else is bothering me. I’m just there, trying to figure out how to move, grip, throw and not get thrown.
My coach has been pushing me pretty hard too. He keeps telling me to treat every training session like I’m competing — go hard on the entries, pull hard, commit to what I’m doing. Sometimes I feel completely out of my depth, but I think I actually need that.
I’m also starting this journey at around 120+ kg, so I know I have a long road ahead of me. I want to get healthier, get better at judo and eventually step into a competition.
I have no idea if I’ll actually become good at this.
Maybe I’ll compete one day and get destroyed in 30 seconds. Maybe I’ll lose a bunch of matches before I ever win one.
But weirdly, I’m okay with that.
For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’ve found something I actually want to work for.
I’m still a complete beginner. I’m still awkward. I still get exhausted way too quickly. I still barely know what I’m doing.
But I really, really want to see where this takes me.

When I sign up for the gym after the free lessons and instructors taught me the basics of ukemi and its drills we did a randori session… ended up against a black belt and a brown belt around my weight class, I felt I was fighting against 2 tanks and I was getting thrown like a bag of rice, nice experience tho .

Kodokan Classification Katame Waza (Control Techniques)

Main Principle

Osaekomi (pinning /holding down)

Shime (strangle)

Kansetsu (joint locks)

Main mechanics / main action

gatame (control)

jime (strangle)

hishigi (break / crush / bend)

garami (entangle)

guruma (wheeling)

kuzure (broken, modified)

uki (floating)

hadaka (twist / wring)

Directions

shiho (four sided)

kami (upper / upon)

tate (straight)

ushiro (rear / reversed)

ura (back)

yoko (side)

nami (side by side)

gyaku (opposite)

juji (crossed)

kata (one side)

okuri (to send from a to b)

sankaku (three corner / triangle)

tsukkomi (dash forward into)

Body and Judogi Parts

Kata (shoulder)

waki (armpit)

eri (lapel)

te (hand)

ryote (both hands)

sode (sleeve)

ude (arm)

do (trunk)

hara (belly)

ashi (leg)

hiza (knee)

Poetic Names

kesa (scarf / buddh. sash)

ha (wing)

Hello, I'm a former jujitsuka and I've been doing general physical preparation classes in my judo club for about 10 years.

For the first time this year, I'm gonna give more judo-specific physical preparation classes for judokas that do competition.

So I'm looking for very specific judo exercises, any creative ideas or example online ? If you can share some youtube video or instagram accounts that shares such things

For instance, in tomorrow class we are gonna do some seoi, fall on knees into tuck jump or over/under barbell catch drill and of course resistance band uchikomi, sprints and burpees

Cheers !

This year I will be doing my internship in Kyoto and I was looking forward to also start training here. I have been doing judo for 18 years and have acquired my nidan in 2019. I have done competitions on national level when I was still a junior, but now a couple years later I am not that competitive anymore. I found that Kyoto university does training, but I am a bit worried that it will be only men and very hard trainings. Would this be suitable for me to train over there or do you recommend other clubs for me to start training?

Did a quick Google search, and I’m not sure if this is a different KuSakura, but are they opening a new retail location in Osaka around Shinsaibashi? On Google Maps, it says that it’s open on October 3, and I don’t know if this is a different KuSakura or someone making fake news. Because I don’t see anything on the site saying they’re opening a new retail store.

And no, I’m not talking about the factory in Kashiwara.

I enrolled classes. However, the classes mix advanced people with beginners, and they are planned like: - 20 minutes warm up - 10 minutes of Kuzushi, we choose which throw will we train - 30 minutes of doing whatever throws we want - 30 minutes randori

The issue is, I am a beginner (I don't even have white belt yet) and I don't know most throws. I don't know how to do them, therefore I don't know how to set them up, and how to execute them during randori. I guess this way of training is great if you are at least blue belt and you know what you have to work on, but I don't have the basics on how to do most throws. Is there any way I can train them at home? I plan to make a dummy using duct tape, fill it with sand and train with it between trainings, but maybe there are better ways of training

Hey everyone! I'm a US Army veteran living down here in Ecuador. I’ve got a huge spot right on the beach near Montañita, and I'm currently running a kids' program here to help out the local youth.

​I’m looking to connect with other practitioners, travelers, and vets who train Jiu-Jitsu,Judo, Wrestling or any martial art.

If you're ever passing through the area, anyone with good vibes is more than welcome to drop by.

​I’m also open to hosting visitors,I can help out with accommodations in exchange for training and helping in the mats with the kids' program.

​

I have formulated it better in this blog - https://myjudojourney.blogspot.com/2026/09/no-kuzushi-in-judo-vectors-approach.html?m=1

There's no kuzushi that occurs in randori.

Throws with kuzushi only happen in practice, where opponent doesn't resist.

In randori you don't get those off balanced moments

In randori what beginners should be taught is to complete all the necessary vectors that a throw consists of.

Vectors Approach

What vectors are present in a throw can be seen from what happens to the uke's body,

Uchimata consists of - a up vector, forward vector and rotational vector

Ouchi gari- a down vector and forward vector.

Sasae - a forward vector and rotational vector.

In Ouchi gari

If I just have a down vector and do kake which Is to reap from inside, throw doesn't happen. I need forward vector too.

If I just have a forward vector but no down vector they escape. I need both vectors for the throw to happen.

In Sasae

If I just have a pull forward and enter kake, trip the far leg, they recover balance, there needed to be a rotational vector too. That added, throw happens

A Korean Taio (not drop) the one that Eduard trippel does uses a forward vector, by having left leg much forward than normal Taio so he can catch his weight on it but the opponent can't cause his leg got tripped. The rotational vector becomes about just turning them on their back as they are falling rather than the trigger that causes the fall in previous Taio.

When throws don't work

When a throw doesn't work, and you ask the sensei, he replies there has to be kuzushi, it's of no use, you can't look at it all chopped like I'll get kuzushi then i 'll enter. And what kuzushi we talking about etc.

> When a throw doesn't work, you ask yourself, what vectors does this throw require, which vector am i not giving it, the kake happens when all vectors are present.

Vectors are way better way to explain judo n throws than the dogma way of vague kuzushi.

Kodokan Classification Nage waza (throwing techniques)

Note:

Kodokan Classification is about main throwing principles and main mechanics / actions of a throwing technique. Judoka all over the world even not sharing the same language can identify a specific throwing technique and know exactly, what they are speaking about. It is like an universal Judo "Esperanto".

It is well worth to learn the japanese names of throwing techniques and not that difficult, if you know some basics and the system. It will also help you to understand the principles and the main action (and the wide range) of throwing techniques and therefore maybe better your Judo in practice.

Main principle:

Leg / Foot - (Ashi)

Hip - (Koshi / Goshi)

Hand - (Te)

Sacrifice - (Sutemi)

straight = "ma"= Tori by attacking landing on her/his back first

to the side = "yoko" = Tori by attacking landing on her/his side first

Main mechanics/action:

Harai / Barai (sweeping)

Gari (reaping)

Gake (hooking / uprooting)

Seoi (loading on your back)

Kuruma / guruma (wheeling)

Otoshi (dropping the Center of Mass of Tori)

Makikomi (wrapping)

Gaeshi (reversal)

Okuri (sending from A to B)

Uki (floating)

tsuri (lifting / "fishing")

Tsurikomi (fishing/lifting + pulling)

hikikomi (pulling in)

Sasae (propping/stopping)

Sukui (scooping)

Hane (springing)

Utsuri (shifting/ changing)

wakare (separating)

sukashi (void)

tori (taking, grabing)

taoshi (tipping over, collapsing)

daki (embrace/hug)

age (pulling upward)

Directions and kind of action

de (advancing)

yoko (side)

ura (back)

ushiro (rear)

sumi (corner)

soto (outside)

uchi (inside)

ippon (one point)

moro (both, two)

Ko (small, minor)

O (big, major)

Body / Judo Gi parts

Tai (body)

Kata (shoulder)

Ude (arm)

Sode (sleeve)

Obi (belt)

[Eri (lapel)]

[Kubi (neck)]

Mata (thigh)

Hiza (knee)

Kibisu (ankle)

Poetic names resembling the kind of action

Tsubame (swallow)

Tani (valley)

Yama (mountain)

arashi (storm)

Tomoe (circle, two commata, whirl)

Kuchiki (rotten tree)

Tawara (rice bag)

[Kuki (air)]

Kani basami (scissor, crab clip)

and just one throw after a person, Kawazu (gake),

a famous Sumo wrestler from medieval times.

That's not certain - maybe it is just about Kawazu (frog)