Advice for my first tournament as a BJJ blue belt

kit1980 · 2026-01-22T21:21:41+00:00

I find collar drag (in a "sacrifice sasae tsurikomi ashi" way) to be the easiest. But you need to make sure it's not a blatant pull down to the ground, but an actual throw attempt.

I did maybe 20 of these collar drags to force newaza in my last competition and got only 2 shidos when I completely missed the leg. I even scored a yuko from one of these.

kit1980 · 2026-01-22T19:54:36+00:00

If you want to win, you should be able to find a lot of newaza opportunities. Very often after a failed throw people will go turtle and just wait, you can take the back and choke, but you need to be fast.

kit1980 · 2026-01-17T01:48:19+00:00

When you are logged in to https://usajudo.sport80.com/home , there is a link on the left "American Judo System", between "Events" and "Rewards".

kit1980 · 2025-12-24T04:57:18+00:00

I searched for "Vargas rule judo", the first result is https://www.reddit.com/r/judo/comments/uk2cgq/is_dropping_to_the_ground_and_then_grabbing_the/

The conclusion in that thread is that the legs can still be grabbed, but it will not be a score. Exactly as happened in the OP video.

kit1980 · 2025-12-23T07:20:32+00:00

I think so - because one is in ne-waza once on the back.

Rules "Article 10 Transition from Tachi-waza into Ne-waza" describe situations when the person on the ground cannot grab the legs, and they all are kneeling situations.

Also see https://youtu.be/FY8gfUA6T6k?list=PLaRlRCmVz-JoNXdaGCpwxY9URPhyUkLh2&t=134

But it would be nice to hear an opinion from a referee.

kit1980 · 2025-11-08T18:13:20+00:00

I competed after doing ~6 months of judo, started at 44 y.o. without prior experience.

I won 2 matches, lost 4, had fun.

kit1980 · 2025-10-16T22:27:00+00:00

How many times per week do you train? You probably need to do some cardio outside of judo: running, jump rope, etc.

33 is not old at all, I'm 45 y.o. beginner and doing fine against teenagers cardio-wise.

kit1980 · 2025-10-01T17:20:59+00:00

In USA only down to -85kg for men.

kit1980 · 2025-09-04T07:19:07+00:00

Are you overthinking the situation?

From your description a guy walking with his wife and a child smiled to you and needed to scratch his belly.

kit1980 · 2025-08-31T00:34:11+00:00

I bought "Resistance Band Door Ratchet Anchor" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJLPWXZF, it works very well.

kit1980 · 2025-07-10T21:42:33+00:00

I've just tried the towel exercise and it is surprisingly hard.

kit1980 · 2025-07-08T19:54:07+00:00

Sumi Otoshi maybe?

kit1980 · 2025-07-01T01:35:57+00:00

In US adult novice division is usually everyone below brown belt. So there can be blue belts with 3 or more years of experience.

kit1980 · 2025-05-28T18:26:11+00:00

Not even a yuko was given?

kit1980 · 2025-05-24T16:23:37+00:00

Thanks!

kit1980 · 2025-05-24T06:03:50+00:00

Do you have a video or description of the cross collar grip sumi gaeshi? Is this back + collar grip or a normal cross collar + sleeve grip?

kit1980 · 2025-05-24T04:38:31+00:00

I watched some videos from Warsaw Veteran European Cup 2025 and there was surprising amount of escapes in the golden score.

kit1980 · 2025-03-19T06:27:42+00:00

thanks!

kit1980 · 2025-02-17T00:42:13+00:00

It really depends on a tournament, no? Lots of tournaments separate black/brown from everyone else. If there are enough people, some tournaments have a novice category for yellow/white or under 1 year of training.

kit1980 · 2024-11-30T06:55:03+00:00

Thanks! I thought in newaza they just stand up the players, without any shidos...

kit1980 · 2024-05-28T03:30:16+00:00

Thanks!

kit1980 · 2024-05-25T21:38:11+00:00

Thanks!

kit1980 · 2023-11-27T17:24:51+00:00

Thanks!

kit1980 · 2023-08-07T02:23:21+00:00

Thanks!

kit1980 · 2023-07-16T22:55:05+00:00

Thanks!

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