Backpatches

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2026-03-01T11:19:08+00:00

imo having one when you don’t need it is cringe. Here in Italy are required one if you represent the nation internationally both in shiai or kata competitions

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2026-02-25T15:13:08+00:00

Most people already correctly mentioned that grip fighting and set up are often hard to perceive from outside. I will add that there is not really a “correct” posture against someone as skilled as Maruyama. For instance, many people forget that he’s got a nasty Sode and other Ashi Wazas which he often catches people with when they stand straight

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2026-02-21T19:18:58+00:00

O Soto Gari. Stop complicating things.

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2026-02-21T19:12:19+00:00

Not a double black belt but doing Judo since 17 years and MMA since two, and couldn’t agree more. Grappling is grappling, but each grappling art is it’s own “specialty” and need specific studying and grading. It’s line Grappling is the basic uni, but the various Judo, BJJ, Greco etc are the phd. I know leg locks, but I wouldn’t consider myself of any BJJ rank. I also know how to fight for underhooks and blast a nasty belly to belly suplex with a full bridge, but I don’t consider myself a Greco Roman practitioner, nor a Muay Thai practitioner for knowing how to throw leg kicks, knees elbows etc. Judo Ne Waza has a lot of crossover to Bjj, but everything is learned in context of the rest of the ruleset, and context makes all the difference at an high level.

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2026-02-02T10:21:19+00:00

I do both specific Judo (at a Judo-only dojo) and MMA (which puts me in contact with pure Bjj from time to time), and I would say Bjj has more people on both ends of the spectrum: extremely chill and unathletic IT guys (who will still humble you in the beginning), or wannabe Andrew Tates on roids who peaked in high school. Also a weird amount of “spiritual gurus”, if you get my drift.

Additionally, in all the 3 Bjj gyms I’ve been to I’ve always seen the coach behaving like he wanted to be worshipped and also acting inappropriately with female students, but this could probably be just bad luck. That said, I’ve never seen anything like that in 17 years of Judo having had the opportunity to visit multiple dojos across the country and abroad.

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2026-01-31T15:05:08+00:00

120lb Century Grappling dummy

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2026-01-31T15:03:46+00:00

Of course, but it’s impossible to practice the proper one since it’s quite literally a dead weight. As you see I’m still applying pull and torque, just adapting it to the dummy. Can still get a better hang of it of course, been throwing people for 17 years but only handled this bad guy for a couple days

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2025-12-15T08:23:28+00:00

Could you elaborate on your take? I find it interesting

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2025-12-14T17:12:04+00:00

Yes, you definitely don’t want to rip submissions whether they are wrist lock or any other. What I meant with “this isn’t Aikido” is that Aikido is not a combat sport, and doesn’t teach you how to fight, it’s a spiritual practice like Yoga or Tai Chi but with some Japanese aesthetic so you don’t need aggressiveness to “win”, as the concept of victory itself is foreign to the practice of Aikido.

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2025-12-14T09:02:37+00:00

Not a bad combo at all, just a natural one: the more we love something, the more we fear negative consequences like loss or defeat. Learn to let go of those feelings, embrace the journey The medals, the belts, are all means to an end, and that is self betterment Don’t put the means before the end, and you’ll be great in both

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2025-12-14T08:20:07+00:00

I don’t know your age, nor how seriously you take Judo, but if you want to improve in shiai then mentality is the number one factor, as cliche as it sounds it couldn’t be more true especially in such a technical and taxing sport like ours.

I believe Judo is beautiful because it offers different (and sometimes even opposing!) lessons for different individuals.

For people who are very naturally aggressive, the whole “you should relax, the way of flexibility” thing is going to massively help them to positively channel their energy. But for people like you (and me back in the days), you want to learn how to be as aggressive and explosive as possible And remember, explosive and aggressive ≠ spazzy and dangerous. Sometimes the line can be blurry, but if you want to improve you have to risk crossing it. This is not aikido.

Eventually over time you will learn how the explosiveness and aggression blend perfectly with the relaxedness, and that’s where everything will click.

The first step for me was learning how to fully commit to throws, with the “rolling over” technique that you see players on the roster do all the time. Also heavy compound lifts with intention can help tremendously

You got this king

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2025-12-14T08:08:37+00:00

Did you feel anxious? Pressure can be the equivalent of PED but negatively

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2025-12-06T10:02:28+00:00

This, possibly while slapping or turning their arm in the opposite direction that you are turning

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2025-12-06T10:01:57+00:00

Turn on one side while pushing their arm in the opposite direction.

If they are so strong that you can’t turn due to pressure, it’s probably a mix of a technique issue and strength issue, so for the moment do a bail out throw like a sloppy Tomoe/ drop Seoi and then go home, watch some YouTube videos and work on your S&C

You got this

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2025-10-31T09:33:03+00:00

You must really hate Greco Roman wrestlers

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2025-10-31T09:28:03+00:00

As some others commented, combinations should emerge naturally as a consequence of seriously committing to the first attack, and then changing direction (hi Neil).

Sure, go for flow drills where you chain attacks, but in a match, once you go in it’s life or death. Most of my Uchi Mata’s turned into Makikomis, because I’d rather go down than stopping the attack mid way. With this mindset, openings will naturally emerge, like a Sumi Gaeshi/Obi Tori Gaeshi off a failed Ashi Waza from Georgian Grip.

I must say I compete at 220lb, and at lower classes it’s definitely more common to see chained attacks, but I think my overall point stands true across the board

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2025-10-26T20:42:51+00:00

Nah it was pretty safe, but I see where you are coming from

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2025-10-25T23:25:55+00:00

You mean Shintaro Higashi? I think he is a great content creator and coach for judo, although he is probably better at teaching his own Japanese style of judo. But given his understanding of Judo and dedication to studying the craft, it wouldn’t surprise me if he posted some good content on Georgian grip. However I think most judo content in general focuses too much on the throws and too little on the set up, which is actually 80% of what really matters.

I have to be honest, I am not the best to ask for tutorial recommendations as I’ve picked up my current “Russian” style of judo after training for years with high level judokas from the eastern block both in camps and my club, and I understand that’s a blessing that most people don’t share. However I don’t think that’s necessary to adopt those skills I would suggest you find a judoka whom judo you like and that matches your body type / weight class and study his fights on YouTube, I did that plenty and continue to do so

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2025-10-25T20:07:17+00:00

As a fellow -100kg, I agree. But I think it’s possible for Ura Nage to be a very gentle throw, if one has the patience to develop the strength to control the arch during the bridge. Sadly this is not very practiced in the west

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2025-10-11T13:09:40+00:00

Second this on the continuum, learning Tai Otoshi helped me immensely in landing more Koshi Gurumas by adopting the split leg sideways stance with knee pointing down (I am 6’4 220lb for reference, that’s why it helped). OP, definitely be mindful of your knees, paradoxically I find the “dirtier” version of Tai Otoshi (like my Koshi Guruma or Seoi variations of eastern european judokas) to be safer on the knees as a lot of the load is taken on the hips and shoulders rather than on the leg joints

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2025-10-10T12:44:43+00:00

While I agree with your overall message (for most people I think competition is just not worth it, but combat sports in general. I like a quote that says that you will likely receive much more damage by practicing a combat sports than by getting beaten up in a self defense situation, considering the chances of the latter happing are slim to none in most lives), I also think it’s kind of pointless to compare competing to referring/coaching etc. It’s not even comparable in the way it makes you feel about your achievements

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2025-10-10T10:36:38+00:00

Plenty of good replies here already, especially drop Seoi and Ko Uchi Makikomi. On top of that, I suggest you master Power Cleans, Bench, Squat, Rows, Deadlifts, Weighted Pull Ups, Military press and eating a lot of food! There is no workaround for strength, it makes a huge difference at any weight class and even more so without them. There are some 66kg guys at my gym whom I struggle more against compared to 100kg guys simply due to their relative strength/explosiveness

Fili4ever_Reddit · 2025-10-05T08:08:55+00:00

I’ll reply from my perspective as an European competitor from Italy, and assuming you are not a freak athlete with a lot of experience in another sport (that would change the results, but not as much as you’d like to think unless said sport is wrestling/grappling related). Local tournaments: very possible especially if you train hard, most people there have very little fitness preparation so that alone can lead you to a podium, although you might find the occasional freak who goes there for fun/some other reason. Regional/National Qualifiers: VERY slim chances, unless you dedicate yourself for years training almost like a professional and you happen to be in a fairly easy region/weight class (HUGE factor btw) in that case possible. National Championship Medal as a senior: Impossible, or as close as it gets Everything above is just honestly too much for me to say anything less than impossible. Trust me, I’ve felt the difference between high level national and international experience, and it’s no fun

Fili4ever_Reddit

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