This is the Judo blog of Lance Wicks. In this blog I cover mainly Judo and related topics. My Personal blog is over at LanceWicks.com where I cover more geeky topics. Please do leave comments on what you read or use the Contact Me form to send me an email with your thoughts and ideas.
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JudoCoach.com Blog by Lance Wicks
Hi all,
so this week I did less coaching than last week and more observing both at Alresford Judo Club and at the HMS Collingwood Judo Club.
Monday night is Alresford Judo Club (Sun Hill Junior School, Sun Lane, Alresford). This week Mr. Ray Whitfield (the main coach for many years at the club) did most of the teaching, especially in the younger childrens class.
It is always good to watch someone else coach and see how the same set of students react to a different person. I learnt alot by watching Ray's experience shine. He knows the kids really well and they know him. I took more of the older age group class, but Ray and I worked on the same core ideas.
The classes developed on last weeks area of focus, O Soto.
The main tool we used was working in four directions, using O Soto (done on the same side). The idea being to allow the kids to learn that doing a throw whilst moving in different directions requires adjustment to the throw.
With the older kids, whilst I was coaching them, Ray identified that their rhythm moving sideways was not strong. So we spent some time trying to develop rhythm, using the Uke's elbow a bit like a pendulum.
The other thing that I loved about Monday was learning a new game/exercise. Ray did this GREAT "The Force" game, like in Star Wars. Basically he stood at the end of a crash mat and each child would walk up to him (often twirling imaginary light sabers). Once they got to him he would point/wave his hand and the kid would fall backwards (from the force you see).
I thought it was a great exercise for helping kids get comfortable falling backwards (Ukemi).
On Wednesday, I was at the HMS Collingwood Judo Club near Fareham. Due to some double booking of the Dojo at the SARC, we were sharing the tatami with the JuJitsu club. Their Sensei suggested rather than a normal session we deliver a "Mini-seminar" of Judo and JuJitsu.
This was quite rewarding, as exploring "traditional Jujitsu" and Judo at the same time shows us alot about Judo I think.
The main comment I would make is that Judo is the natural evolution of Jujitsu when influenced by practical application under pressure.
We of course don't do the strikes and wrist locks, but I think this is more than made up for by the fact that the techniques we do are all tested in competition. Unlike Jujitsu, our techniques are able to be practised and perfected with resistance and near 100% effort. We don't need to "pull our punches".
Good examples of this were apparent in the session, where for example Taio toshi was shown by the Jujitsu Sensei, preceeded by a block to a strike and several strikes. The throw itself would never have worked on a Judo mat. I will be generous and say that they don't need to have as effective a throw as the Uke has already been struck several times before the throw is made.
HOWEVER...
I am not 100% convinced this theory holds water. For example, one of the strikes they used was a strike to the side/rear of the head/neck. This I was informed would make the throw work as the person would be "out of it". But as a Judoka Ihave lost count of the times I have been clubbed around the side/back of the head by someone taking an "over the top" grip. Yet, I managed to defend myself from throws... at least most of the time.
Perhaps a "real" strike would be harder than the "strike" of someone taking the over the top grip.
Another example was their version of Juji gatame. It showed the lack of real testing against a resisting opponent. Things we did in out version were not done as they'd never had to do it on a person who was using every muscle to prevent their arm being locked like we do in Judo week in, week out.
Their initial version was not too bad, just loose and lacking in some of the key points most Judoka would apply. Their second variation was, from a Judo perspective, completely un-usable. Basically they did the lock with one leg over the chest and the other leg near the head bent (think a traditional Judo Juji Gatame with the legs the wrong way around).
The reasoning behind this was they were kicking the person in the head prior to application of the throw. But, having never kicked someone in the head they did the Juji Gatame from a position where Uke's body was not moved and all that really happened was Uke tucked their chin in, or head on Tori's leg.
As Judo people we know that Uke would simply sit up and be between your legs. But the Jujitsuka never having tested their techniques in competition simply don't know how people defend.
This is not me saying that Judo is better than Jujitsu, it is me saying that Judo is the evolution of Jujitsu. That Judo has shed strikes and such and focused on a smaller set of techniques and raised the level far beyond where Jujitsu does them today.
Because Judo is done with serious resistance and we can practise near and at 100% our level of refinement and ability to actually apply techniques is simply beyond what they are able to do. They simply can't strike at 100%, they don't have the opportunity to develop the application of their techniques.
I suspect that everything the Jujitsu sensei said about the effectiveness of his techniques was true... once. When they were developed, when they were done in the heat of battle. In rougher times.
Perhaps in Kano's time this was already apparent back when the legendary contest between Judo and Jujitsu to teach the Tokyo Ploice took place or so the story goes. perhaps even then, Kano's selection of techniques coupled the development of things like Randori were what made the difference??
It was good to explore "our roots" and I have to say I think I walked away with a Jujitsu technique we should be able to apply in kumi kata.
I also learned a fun new warmup.
It was all in all a great experience and I hope that the Jujitsuka and Judoka alike learned from the night.
Lance
so this week I did less coaching than last week and more observing both at Alresford Judo Club and at the HMS Collingwood Judo Club.
Monday night is Alresford Judo Club (Sun Hill Junior School, Sun Lane, Alresford). This week Mr. Ray Whitfield (the main coach for many years at the club) did most of the teaching, especially in the younger childrens class.
It is always good to watch someone else coach and see how the same set of students react to a different person. I learnt alot by watching Ray's experience shine. He knows the kids really well and they know him. I took more of the older age group class, but Ray and I worked on the same core ideas.
The classes developed on last weeks area of focus, O Soto.
The main tool we used was working in four directions, using O Soto (done on the same side). The idea being to allow the kids to learn that doing a throw whilst moving in different directions requires adjustment to the throw.
With the older kids, whilst I was coaching them, Ray identified that their rhythm moving sideways was not strong. So we spent some time trying to develop rhythm, using the Uke's elbow a bit like a pendulum.
The other thing that I loved about Monday was learning a new game/exercise. Ray did this GREAT "The Force" game, like in Star Wars. Basically he stood at the end of a crash mat and each child would walk up to him (often twirling imaginary light sabers). Once they got to him he would point/wave his hand and the kid would fall backwards (from the force you see).
I thought it was a great exercise for helping kids get comfortable falling backwards (Ukemi).
On Wednesday, I was at the HMS Collingwood Judo Club near Fareham. Due to some double booking of the Dojo at the SARC, we were sharing the tatami with the JuJitsu club. Their Sensei suggested rather than a normal session we deliver a "Mini-seminar" of Judo and JuJitsu.
This was quite rewarding, as exploring "traditional Jujitsu" and Judo at the same time shows us alot about Judo I think.
The main comment I would make is that Judo is the natural evolution of Jujitsu when influenced by practical application under pressure.
We of course don't do the strikes and wrist locks, but I think this is more than made up for by the fact that the techniques we do are all tested in competition. Unlike Jujitsu, our techniques are able to be practised and perfected with resistance and near 100% effort. We don't need to "pull our punches".
Good examples of this were apparent in the session, where for example Taio toshi was shown by the Jujitsu Sensei, preceeded by a block to a strike and several strikes. The throw itself would never have worked on a Judo mat. I will be generous and say that they don't need to have as effective a throw as the Uke has already been struck several times before the throw is made.
HOWEVER...
I am not 100% convinced this theory holds water. For example, one of the strikes they used was a strike to the side/rear of the head/neck. This I was informed would make the throw work as the person would be "out of it". But as a Judoka Ihave lost count of the times I have been clubbed around the side/back of the head by someone taking an "over the top" grip. Yet, I managed to defend myself from throws... at least most of the time.
Perhaps a "real" strike would be harder than the "strike" of someone taking the over the top grip.
Another example was their version of Juji gatame. It showed the lack of real testing against a resisting opponent. Things we did in out version were not done as they'd never had to do it on a person who was using every muscle to prevent their arm being locked like we do in Judo week in, week out.
Their initial version was not too bad, just loose and lacking in some of the key points most Judoka would apply. Their second variation was, from a Judo perspective, completely un-usable. Basically they did the lock with one leg over the chest and the other leg near the head bent (think a traditional Judo Juji Gatame with the legs the wrong way around).
The reasoning behind this was they were kicking the person in the head prior to application of the throw. But, having never kicked someone in the head they did the Juji Gatame from a position where Uke's body was not moved and all that really happened was Uke tucked their chin in, or head on Tori's leg.
As Judo people we know that Uke would simply sit up and be between your legs. But the Jujitsuka never having tested their techniques in competition simply don't know how people defend.
This is not me saying that Judo is better than Jujitsu, it is me saying that Judo is the evolution of Jujitsu. That Judo has shed strikes and such and focused on a smaller set of techniques and raised the level far beyond where Jujitsu does them today.
Because Judo is done with serious resistance and we can practise near and at 100% our level of refinement and ability to actually apply techniques is simply beyond what they are able to do. They simply can't strike at 100%, they don't have the opportunity to develop the application of their techniques.
I suspect that everything the Jujitsu sensei said about the effectiveness of his techniques was true... once. When they were developed, when they were done in the heat of battle. In rougher times.
Perhaps in Kano's time this was already apparent back when the legendary contest between Judo and Jujitsu to teach the Tokyo Ploice took place or so the story goes. perhaps even then, Kano's selection of techniques coupled the development of things like Randori were what made the difference??
It was good to explore "our roots" and I have to say I think I walked away with a Jujitsu technique we should be able to apply in kumi kata.
I also learned a fun new warmup.
It was all in all a great experience and I hope that the Jujitsuka and Judoka alike learned from the night.
Lance
Hi all,
well in an attempt at some reflective practice I want to post a little about what happened in the sessions I took this week.
In the adult session at HMS Collingwood, we are working on a more sport oriented style of session (and coaching style). We are trying to work via playing rather than via learning technique.
By this I mean, I encourage more play of the game of Judo. I.e. Randori like practice, more larning by doing rather than by talk.
We started after the warm-up with ne-waza randori. Short repetitions, quickly rotating around the players on the mat. This was followed by drilling a basic ne-waza maneuver.
The technique we used is where your opponent is on all fours, you grab their wrist (threading your arm under their armpit between body and arm). You then rotate/spin around uke's head 270+ degrees, which allows you to bring the opponents elbow up.
After this we did this from a weak Ippon Seoi Nage attack as a transition from uke's attack. Once we got the hang of this exercise, we upped the realism and put a bit of movement and energy into the seoi and the application of the maneuver.
After this we returned to the floor and took the maneuver to the next stage, either turning uke over into a hold, or into a shime or kansetsu waza depending on the situation and of course peoples preference.
Next, we switched back upstairs and worked on finding the "sweet spot" in our Ippon Seoi Nage. By this I mean the ideal body position for you versus your partner. Which is different for each of us. I think everyone found the "sweet spot" and got the idea that in our training we want to identify the "sweet spot" and over time we will zero in on that place.
We then worked on our throw with movement as the precursor to the attack. First trying it lightly with traditional front, back (action, reaction) movement. But also exploring sideways and movement in other directions.
Then into Randori.
This is quite different to the kids sessions I took earlier in the week at Alresford Judo Club.
In that session, I was looking for a more "martial" aspect to the Judo classes. With both sessions I basically worked the same waza, O Soto Gari / O Soto Otoshi.
In the Junior session we played some games around the idea of playing with balance. Sumo whilst crouched and a game where each child holds one leg of the other. We also did an exercise where tori hooks on the O Soto Gari, both kids hop 3 times (Uke backwards), then tori throws/rolls uke over.
I also had them do very traditional uchi komi of O soto gari, rotating down the rows so that everyone did 5 uchi komi on each other person.
With the older kids, again it was only O Soto Gari.
What I was doing was trying to establish a little more "traditional" feel than adult session I took at the Navy.
It has been an interesting week of coaching, next week at Alresford Judo Club, Sensei Ray Whitfield will take the sessions (change is good, but consistency and comfortable style is really important too). I am looking forwarding to understanding the culture and style of the club and feeling out how I need to adapt.
The HMS Collingwood Judo Club will hopefully have some new players, attracted by the "freshers fair" held this week. Also, hopefully after a couple of weeks of training, the word is spreading to the other players hiding in the wood work that the club is back and the training is happening every Wednesday evening.
Looking forward to it.
well in an attempt at some reflective practice I want to post a little about what happened in the sessions I took this week.
In the adult session at HMS Collingwood, we are working on a more sport oriented style of session (and coaching style). We are trying to work via playing rather than via learning technique.
By this I mean, I encourage more play of the game of Judo. I.e. Randori like practice, more larning by doing rather than by talk.
We started after the warm-up with ne-waza randori. Short repetitions, quickly rotating around the players on the mat. This was followed by drilling a basic ne-waza maneuver.
The technique we used is where your opponent is on all fours, you grab their wrist (threading your arm under their armpit between body and arm). You then rotate/spin around uke's head 270+ degrees, which allows you to bring the opponents elbow up.
After this we did this from a weak Ippon Seoi Nage attack as a transition from uke's attack. Once we got the hang of this exercise, we upped the realism and put a bit of movement and energy into the seoi and the application of the maneuver.
After this we returned to the floor and took the maneuver to the next stage, either turning uke over into a hold, or into a shime or kansetsu waza depending on the situation and of course peoples preference.
Next, we switched back upstairs and worked on finding the "sweet spot" in our Ippon Seoi Nage. By this I mean the ideal body position for you versus your partner. Which is different for each of us. I think everyone found the "sweet spot" and got the idea that in our training we want to identify the "sweet spot" and over time we will zero in on that place.
We then worked on our throw with movement as the precursor to the attack. First trying it lightly with traditional front, back (action, reaction) movement. But also exploring sideways and movement in other directions.
Then into Randori.
This is quite different to the kids sessions I took earlier in the week at Alresford Judo Club.
In that session, I was looking for a more "martial" aspect to the Judo classes. With both sessions I basically worked the same waza, O Soto Gari / O Soto Otoshi.
In the Junior session we played some games around the idea of playing with balance. Sumo whilst crouched and a game where each child holds one leg of the other. We also did an exercise where tori hooks on the O Soto Gari, both kids hop 3 times (Uke backwards), then tori throws/rolls uke over.
I also had them do very traditional uchi komi of O soto gari, rotating down the rows so that everyone did 5 uchi komi on each other person.
With the older kids, again it was only O Soto Gari.
What I was doing was trying to establish a little more "traditional" feel than adult session I took at the Navy.
It has been an interesting week of coaching, next week at Alresford Judo Club, Sensei Ray Whitfield will take the sessions (change is good, but consistency and comfortable style is really important too). I am looking forwarding to understanding the culture and style of the club and feeling out how I need to adapt.
The HMS Collingwood Judo Club will hopefully have some new players, attracted by the "freshers fair" held this week. Also, hopefully after a couple of weeks of training, the word is spreading to the other players hiding in the wood work that the club is back and the training is happening every Wednesday evening.
Looking forward to it.
So the last time I wrote I was in the USA, having the most amazing time at the clinic for the OKCDT grand opening.
When I got back home, I was a coach with nobody to coach anymore. This was because I was not coaching regularly anywhere. But that has all changed!
Last week I coached no where, zero clubs. This week I coach at two!
I have started coaching at HMS Collingwood Judo CLub for the RN Navy Judo. Which is all adults. I am also going to be coaching at the Alresford Judo Club, where I shall be helping Mr. Ray Whitfield with his club of Juniors.
I am looking forward to both clubs for different reasons.
The Navy Judo is great as it is adults and I hope to take a very "sport" approach. Lots of competing and playing of the game of Judo. Less emphasis on Judo as an artform etc.
With Alresford, the emphasis is very different as it's a kids class. So I hope to bring some silliness and also a lot more education about the way of life that is Judo. Dojo etiquette, life skills, etc.
I'm looking forward to it immensely!
Something else I am looking forward to, for very different reasons, is the newly launched EJU level 4 and 5 course at Anglian Ruskin University. The course leader is Darren (Bob) Challis who owns the awesome CoachingJudo.com website.
The course is obviously very similar to the course that ran at University of Bath, but I think will be even better with the changes Dr. Mike and Bob are putting in. It builds on the positives and negatives from the original venue within TeamBath.
It is absolutely the highest level of coach education in the UK (and beyond), so visit the site and if you coach Judo, you need to email Bob and see if you can get on the course.
Till next time,
Lance
When I got back home, I was a coach with nobody to coach anymore. This was because I was not coaching regularly anywhere. But that has all changed!
Last week I coached no where, zero clubs. This week I coach at two!
I have started coaching at HMS Collingwood Judo CLub for the RN Navy Judo. Which is all adults. I am also going to be coaching at the Alresford Judo Club, where I shall be helping Mr. Ray Whitfield with his club of Juniors.
I am looking forward to both clubs for different reasons.
The Navy Judo is great as it is adults and I hope to take a very "sport" approach. Lots of competing and playing of the game of Judo. Less emphasis on Judo as an artform etc.
With Alresford, the emphasis is very different as it's a kids class. So I hope to bring some silliness and also a lot more education about the way of life that is Judo. Dojo etiquette, life skills, etc.
I'm looking forward to it immensely!
Something else I am looking forward to, for very different reasons, is the newly launched EJU level 4 and 5 course at Anglian Ruskin University. The course leader is Darren (Bob) Challis who owns the awesome CoachingJudo.com website.
The course is obviously very similar to the course that ran at University of Bath, but I think will be even better with the changes Dr. Mike and Bob are putting in. It builds on the positives and negatives from the original venue within TeamBath.
It is absolutely the highest level of coach education in the UK (and beyond), so visit the site and if you coach Judo, you need to email Bob and see if you can get on the course.
Till next time,
Lance
Hi everyone,
whilst here in the USA I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to work with both Juniors and Seniors at OKCDT in Oklahoma City, USA ( http://www.okcdt.com ).
Below is a video of me working with the kids, if you have watched the clip I posted yesterday of me working with the adults, you will hopefully see that this is the exact same content.
What I tried to do was make it applicable to the juniors whilst retaining the core fundamental principles I was hoping to express. You be the judge.
The video below is also available at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3857386 .
Once again, it was a pleasure and an honour to be invited to Oklahoma to celebrate the opening of OKCDT's amazing new Dojo. The chance to share some ideas with the kids and adults was a real privilege. The OKCDT members are amazingly welcoming and kind!
I will definitely be back!!
Lance
whilst here in the USA I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to work with both Juniors and Seniors at OKCDT in Oklahoma City, USA ( http://www.okcdt.com ).
Below is a video of me working with the kids, if you have watched the clip I posted yesterday of me working with the adults, you will hopefully see that this is the exact same content.
What I tried to do was make it applicable to the juniors whilst retaining the core fundamental principles I was hoping to express. You be the judge.
The video below is also available at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3857386 .
Once again, it was a pleasure and an honour to be invited to Oklahoma to celebrate the opening of OKCDT's amazing new Dojo. The chance to share some ideas with the kids and adults was a real privilege. The OKCDT members are amazingly welcoming and kind!
I will definitely be back!!
Lance
Hi everyone,
I am writing this at the Dojo in Oklahoma City of www.okcdt.com where I am participating in the Grand Opening of the new dojo. The Dojo is great and looks amazing and has a great energy about it, both when full to bursting and when with few people on the mat.
Below is a recording of the free clinic held last night as part of the celebration of the new dojo, it's available also at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3841066.
Lance
I am writing this at the Dojo in Oklahoma City of www.okcdt.com where I am participating in the Grand Opening of the new dojo. The Dojo is great and looks amazing and has a great energy about it, both when full to bursting and when with few people on the mat.
Below is a recording of the free clinic held last night as part of the celebration of the new dojo, it's available also at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3841066.
Lance
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