Wrestling is hard work, really hard work.
I would suggest Judo to anyone who is serious about martial arts.
Depending on who you practice with the classes can vary in difficulty, but in all three Judo “schools” I have attended it was, as you put it, very informal.
The best training technique for someone learning Judo is to take a partner, and throw him/her five times with each of the group 1 throws(De-ashi-harai, Hiza-guruma, Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi, Uki-goshi, Osoto-gari, O-goshi, Ouchi-gari, Seoi-nage) and then have him/her throw you five times with each of the group 1 throws.
Take turns throwing eachother in the above fashion for five minutes straight. Trust me five minutes will seem like a lifetime even if you’ve been training for a while.
Nota Bene: Do not train this way until you have the group 1 throws down, and you can fall/land properly. I cannot stress this enough, do not harm yourself by trying to jump the gun and try somthing you’re not ready for. First suggest this to your trainer, if he gives the okay have him supervise.
The most important thing about Judo is to have fun. Even if you’re competing, it should be an enjoyable experience.
[QUOTE=naja;889404]I was wondering if us shorter guys would have an advantage at all.
Well, not that being hauled to the ground is an advantage but you know what I mean. I think. 
[/QUOTE]
It depends on your center of gravity, my coach(College Judo Club) is fairly tall(6’2 and about 175lbs) but he has the best balance out of anyone I have ever faced.
I’m in the short stocky range, 5’8 190lbs, but until I unlearned my Long Fist sparring style, I was thrown left, right, and down the middle.
[QUOTE=jera;890968]It depends on your center of gravity, my coach(College Judo Club) is fairly tall(6’2 and about 175lbs) but he has the best balance out of anyone I have ever faced.
I’m in the short stocky range, 5’8 190lbs, but until I unlearned my Long Fist sparring style, I was thrown left, right, and down the middle.[/QUOTE]
That is fairly common, most striking systems teach rooting and balance based on strikes not grappling and that is enough to get you thrown over and over again.
[QUOTE=jera;890967]I would suggest Judo to anyone who is serious about martial arts.
Depending on who you practice with the classes can vary in difficulty, but in all three Judo “schools” I have attended it was, as you put it, very informal.
The best training technique for someone learning Judo is to take a partner, and throw him/her five times with each of the group 1 throws(De-ashi-harai, Hiza-guruma, Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi, Uki-goshi, Osoto-gari, O-goshi, Ouchi-gari, Seoi-nage) and then have him/her throw you five times with each of the group 1 throws.
Take turns throwing eachother in the above fashion for five minutes straight. Trust me five minutes will seem like a lifetime even if you’ve been training for a while.
Nota Bene: Do not train this way until you have the group 1 throws down, and you can fall/land properly. I cannot stress this enough, do not harm yourself by trying to jump the gun and try somthing you’re not ready for. First suggest this to your trainer, if he gives the okay have him supervise.
The most important thing about Judo is to have fun. Even if you’re competing, it should be an enjoyable experience.[/QUOTE]
Good suggestion, another one that I have always been a fan of is doing one throw and drilling the crap out of it, a whole class or training session based on 2 throw.
You learn how to get it from every conceivable angle and how to defend against it.
I tell people the best combination is changquan and either judo and jujitsu because ou can see application(s) in the former if you actually do the latter because you actually interact with the opponent and get thrown so you develop strategies to make yourself stronger and have real world experience.
[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;890983]Good suggestion, another one that I have always been a fan of is doing one throw and drilling the crap out of it, a whole class or training session based on 2 throw.
You learn how to get it from every conceivable angle and how to defend against it.[/QUOTE]
At my kwoon, when we are drilling throws and/or ground, our sifu will generally pick about three variations on the same technique… and we’ll just drill the hell out of them.
Well, I canceled my Kung Fu class. I think just doing the judo is going to be plenty right now. Getting to actually drill techniques on resisting partners makes a ton of difference…
geez, going from a striking art to a grappling one is harder than one would think. My balance is wrong, my coordination is wrong, pretty much everything is wrong. I’m very hesitant to turn my back to uke when attempting a throw…
You guys that have mentioned you do judo as well, did you go through through this weird transitional period as well?
[QUOTE=naja;894727]geez, going from a striking art to a grappling one is harder than one would think. My balance is wrong, my coordination is wrong, pretty much everything is wrong. I’m very hesitant to turn my back to uke when attempting a throw…
You guys that have mentioned you do judo as well, did you go through through this weird transitional period as well?[/QUOTE]
When I stared Judo I was doing Boxing at the same time ( and place) and doing Karate too.
Never had that problem.
I know a boxer that took judo with me and he had a bit of trouble with the different footwork, but that’s because he moved too much.
I did a bit of mcdojo karate and kempo when I was a little kid but my real introduction to martial arts was wrestling and judo. That predated my boxing… my timing and balance issues have tended to be the opposite.
well, I’m having a hard time with it. Who knows, maybe after another month it’ll work itself out.
[QUOTE=naja;894987]well, I’m having a hard time with it. Who knows, maybe after another month it’ll work itself out.[/QUOTE]
I can understand the coordination part, but the balance…well, its a tad tricky, but its easy to catch on, what systems did you do before Judo?
You know what activity my martial arts training kind of screwed up?
Bowling.
I’m so used to directing my arms towards the center line that I find my bowling balls tend to slice crazily to the sides.
[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;894988]I can understand the coordination part, but the balance…well, its a tad tricky, but its easy to catch on, what systems did you do before Judo?[/QUOTE]
shaolin-do baby. No wonder I’ll all screwed up huh?
I’m debating on skipping judo tonight. The class is free so I’m not out any $$, but I hate to miss class. My knee is telling me I should skip class tonight. I’m thinking I should listen to it and try to schedule an MRI soon.
I got my green belt just before returning to Beijing one month ago to contuinue my Shuai Jiao training. I love judo it is a great art. It is practical and they have very sceintific methods of training. And it really is not that different from kung fu. It is like a very practical form of kung fu.
As a beginner you will train with black belts who will let you trow them in sparring. Gradualy they will offer more resitence. This method really teaches you usable skill.
[QUOTE=naja;895049]shaolin-do baby. No wonder I’ll all screwed up huh?
I’m debating on skipping judo tonight. The class is free so I’m not out any $$, but I hate to miss class. My knee is telling me I should skip class tonight. I’m thinking I should listen to it and try to schedule an MRI soon.[/QUOTE]
Ah, shaolin-do.
No need to say more.
Judo
So, I did a search and did not see a thread titled Judo, or one looking dedicated to Judo.
I plan to be taking up judo pretty soon here, and I always look for more information sources and places to share and learn from, so I figured I would make a judo thread that I can post in as my journey progresses.
Also, I know there are several guys here into Judo.
I will be starting Judo here. A friend of mine trains there and is pretty pleased. Its traditional, which is what I am looking for. (what you guys think?)
I’ll update here later with my experiences and how what I am doing is so rad 
Im looking at having to wait for about a month or so, so I’m going to cheat and find standard solo judo drills and start practicing. Im picturing falling down a lot in my apartment and ****ing off my neighbors. 
[QUOTE=Lucas;902826]So, I did a search and did not see a thread titled Judo, or one looking dedicated to Judo.
I plan to be taking up judo pretty soon here, and I always look for more information sources and places to share and learn from, so I figured I would make a judo thread that I can post in as my journey progresses.
Also, I know there are several guys here into Judo.
I will be starting Judo here. A friend of mine trains there and is pretty pleased. Its traditional, which is what I am looking for. (what you guys think?)
I’ll update here later with my experiences and how what I am doing is so rad [/QUOTE]
hehe, that’s what I did. Two threads
here and here
Two of my favorite judo sites are judoforum.com and judoinfo.com
I haven’t come across any solo judo drills, other than shrimping and working with bands. I wouldn’t want to practice breakfalls without a mat…
Looks like the real deal to me… You have an 89 yr old Sensei teaching on a regular basis and something must be right! I would like to check the place out myself. I still intend to go to Gregory Fong’s Kwoon… when the road from Salem to Portland clears up! But Obukan looks like it would be a cool place and I would love to meet Onchi Sensei