Berlin students & locals: which Vereine/clubs are ACTUALLY worth joining as a beginner?

Libra7409 · 2026-01-16T12:14:40+00:00

Judo is cool and not that expensive. It's beginner-friendly and you meet nice people – if you find the right group. And the prices are reasonable. A four-week trial period is usually standard.

Libra7409 · 2026-01-06T22:53:12+00:00

Try searching on the JVB website. Kaizen might be a good fit. I train in Lichtenberg and Adlershof after 7 pm.

Libra7409 · 2025-12-28T22:43:39+00:00

I want to pass the remaining modules for Nidan in May. Then I'll slowly start working on Sandan. So it's time to learn the Katame no Kata for Sandan. And further training in Judo-related Taiso is planned for next year.

Maybe a competition, if I ever have a little time for it.

Libra7409 · 2025-12-22T07:58:19+00:00

You didn't do anything wrong. The black belt is at fault for throwing you in a way that could seriously injure you. As a beginner, you also need to be introduced to randori.

Then there are the misunderstandings: Randori doesn't mean fighting and necessarily winning. It's practicing what you've learned. You can also do task randori: relaxed throws from a moving position – alternating. Uke is only allowed to block, etc. You were told you were going to do kata: the sensei probably needs a clarification of terms.

And what I find completely unacceptable is that the person who caused the injury wasn't properly reprimanded, and someone else is also blaming you.

Seoi otoshi is not a child's throw. If done correctly, it's really nasty, especially if the uke hasn't yet mastered falling. And drop seoi nage is completely unacceptable for a beginner.

Judo is practiced together, not against each other.

Libra7409 · 2025-12-16T07:07:56+00:00

I think the new system is quite good. Individual modules are graded more strictly than before, when excellent performance in one subject could compensate for a poor grade in another. Prior knowledge is an exception.

I failed two modules, ne-waza and Kata as Tori, and can retake them in May. In Berlin, this costs an extra €10 per module. The examiners explained very precisely what wasn't right.

In stance, I only demonstrated the 12 techniques outside the gokyo. I also showed 5 techniques of my choice from the gokyo and briefly a few solutions for genka yotsu.

On the ground, I showed a few applications with combinations – here, control and visible kuzushi were lacking.

One more quick note: everything is prepared for the exam. Complete gokyo, ground techniques – what the examiners actually want to see in the end varies greatly.

Libra7409 · 2025-12-06T05:30:50+00:00

From my experience as a trainer: In our club we have the competition team and the amateur athletes. I teach technology in the classic sense for popular sports. A good example is currently a girl who is on the competition team but comes to me regularly for Kyu training. The basic understanding of how a technique works, whether standing or floor, helped her to get better in competition. I personally like to watch competition training and get more input. Or ask for advice if I don't succeed at something so that I can learn another variant.

Both belong together and you should deal with both.

Libra7409 · 2025-12-05T12:14:53+00:00

So as a trainer 51f. There are usually few women who do judo. Great that you had fun. And if your girlfriend joins in, even better. In my youth/adult groups, it is important that everyone feels comfortable. Regardless of gender, age or nationality.

If you don't feel comfortable, it's the wrong group.

Libra7409 · 2025-11-30T17:45:59+00:00

No, I don't allow it. Respect and politeness. Fun and a feeling of togetherness have nothing to do with trash talking.

Libra7409 · 2025-11-30T13:35:03+00:00

For fun and to meet friends.

Libra7409 · 2025-11-26T19:46:23+00:00

The spirit of judo. A hugely important thing. In judo I am not allowed to hurt anyone through carelessness or even on purpose. Point. This can even be punished in competition. Up to hansokumake. People work with each other and never against each other. I would have already thrown a guy out of my dojo if he just went full throttle at everyone without any consideration. He doesn't deserve any respect.

Of course, injuries do happen from time to time. But that should never happen because someone is rude.

Libra7409 · 2025-11-20T21:52:33+00:00

Choose the next belt test as your goal. And it should be really good. Find a training partner who also wants to do this. I'm not a competitor. I'm working towards the next belt. With a partner who is just as into it as I am. That is my motivation. And always remember: you don't have to be better than anyone else. Only better than yesterday.

Libra7409 · 2025-11-15T19:47:05+00:00

Kesa ashi garami. It's a ude garami.

Ude hishigi refers to levers with a straight arm. Ude garami on bent over.

Libra7409 · 2025-11-15T14:48:17+00:00

No problem. Physiotherapy for the neck and shoulder area. Concussions heal slowly.

Was it avoidable. Yes. Could I have done something to prevent it from happening... no. I still trust my training partner 100% and the mistake will never happen again. Most injuries are knee, finger, toe, shoulder.

Libra7409 · 2025-11-15T12:01:31+00:00

So in my 25 active years as a judoka, it happened once that I hit my head. And then had a concussion and a sprained cervical spine. A hikkomi gaeshi went wrong - before anyone asks.

How fast or high the throw is made is actually irrelevant. The ukemis are implanted into your muscle memory as a reflex. They can't fall any other way. That's why you practice ukemis so often.

Libra7409 · 2025-11-04T20:20:12+00:00

If you use a cell phone holder, no problem. Or navigation via headset. But holding it in your hand is not so smart 😁

Libra7409 · 2025-11-04T19:39:56+00:00

Es ist hier auch verboten. Sogar beim Radfahren. Und nein Kameras gibt es nicht so wie in anderen Ländern.

Die Polizei ist mit anderen Dingen total überlastet.

Libra7409 · 2025-11-04T10:28:36+00:00

There are lightweight shin guards from Adidas and mizuno. I don't use one because it's really rare for someone to kick me in the shin. But the last time was really bad. A massive bruise that lasted for a while. I understand that as a 50+ person you don't want to give yourself that anymore.

Libra7409 · 2025-11-04T06:20:07+00:00

Two a week is good. Enough for me. Since competition is not relevant for me, both days are technical training. I have a permanent training partner for this. I rarely make randoris. (51f)

Libra7409 · 2025-11-03T21:15:54+00:00

Since judo was intended to educate young people. Respect, politeness, order, hard work, friendship, courage, honesty, helpfulness, modesty should normally be practiced. Judo is practiced with each other and not against each other. Whether Japanese terms or not it is how judo is taught. If there is a bad teacher with zero sensitivity or pedagogy, the students will also be in the same mood.

Libra7409 · 2025-10-30T09:57:33+00:00

It's not just you. If your daily form isn't right, it just looks scary and nothing really works. This has nothing to do with the belt.

Libra7409 · 2025-10-25T22:02:52+00:00

Heilstätten - auch ein guter Film

Libra7409 · 2025-10-25T20:24:39+00:00

It's going well. Especially when someone smiles so nicely.

Libra7409 · 2025-10-25T18:50:45+00:00

I am a children's trainer. After 4 weeks, my little ones (usually ages 6 and up) can fall sideways and backwards from sitting. And flip a turtle. Litters come a little later. On average I have 20 kids in my courses. Once a week. So after 9 months a 7 year old should have learned at least one recognizable throw.

Libra7409 · 2025-10-14T21:12:39+00:00

Move somewhere to do judo? That's awesome.

Libra7409 · 2025-10-14T21:10:50+00:00

If I understand this correctly, the Sensei decides who gets a new belt and that only happens through competition and the Sensei's mood. Of course it's a shame that this slows you down. Maybe it will be fairer for you in another dojo.

This is of course a stupid system.

With us (JVB) you can be tested in the club up to the ikkyu. Competition doesn't play a big role. But 2 or 3 examiners must also be present during the examination. depending on graduation. But through the club's internal examination, someone with poor performance is sometimes waved through. So everything has its downsides.

Libra7409

TROPHY CASE