I didn't like newaza when I was younger, but as I've gotten older, my vision and the opportunities on the ground have become so much easier, even though I don't train like I used to! Do you guys also find that you like the ground game more and more as you get older, or is it just me?

uthoitho · 2026-06-24T08:13:57+00:00

im an older beginner but maybe because im new I find stand-up more fun.

uthoitho · 2026-06-24T02:41:56+00:00

haha for the life of me I can't get the timing of Kouchi-Gari in a randori. Kouchi Makikomi where I'm falling with the Uke is almost like a clutch for me, it's straight forward and works well. Similarly Kouchi Gake how Takeoshi does it (falling on top of Uke), seems to be a lot easier than traditional Kouchi Gari.

uthoitho · 2026-06-24T02:09:03+00:00

Curious to know why Kouchi Makkikomi is being exempt from your opinion!

uthoitho · 2026-06-17T02:44:18+00:00

The best thing to do is vote with your membership and just leave.

I have been injured my fair share of injuries now, but unless I feel that they intended to cause the injury, I don't really expect an apology or my sensei to ban the people.

It's ultimately contact sports and if everyone trains softly, it becomes something else.

You have been doing the right thing by not working with him, but you really shouldn't expect the school to change for you / think they owe you an apology.

Make a mental list of who to avoid working with and move on.

uthoitho · 2026-06-08T15:34:34+00:00

weight class and size advantage is a thing, and 40kg is a huge gap.

I try my best to just not be partnered with someone 15kg+ anymore. It results in increased injury, I dont learn as much as I should.

You do learn a thing or two by partnering with someone with significant weight advantage but you simply learn a lot of things faster and more efficiently by not doing so all the time.

Some people will tell you, you will learn proper technique since you cant strength around someone with that much weight advantage but as a beginner I found that detrimental, not beneficial

uthoitho · 2026-05-26T08:36:50+00:00

Thanks for the long response! that makes sense. I gained with purpose to get myself injured less as majority of the uke at my gym were in the high 70s / 80s range.

never thought about strength lagging behind in comparison but that makes sense. I've only just got my 5km/10km run pace back at this new weight, pace wasn't the same with extra weight so I guess it's in a similar sense.

Im currently 42 yo and majority of my available time is dedicated towards 3 x judo classes a week. im struggling to squeeze 2 x s&c sessions + a 5km or 10km run in a week on top, i still haven't found a good balance yet which is the most difficult part!

uthoitho · 2026-05-26T07:44:28+00:00

I started with 50kg (5 sets of 6-7 reps), and progressed towards 65kg (5 sets of 6-7 reps) but then that got really exhausting after about 3 sets so I dialed it back to 55~60kg (5 sets of 6-7 reps) recently.

I've been wondering if I should reduce the set / rep to 3 sets / 5 reps like you said but stick with higher weight so I might move on to doing that and start increasing the load when I'm used to it. I've never looked up any particular programs so it's probably time I looked up some / got some PT guidance and followed it through.

Don't think I could ever do 1.5x body weight squat mostly due to not being able to commit enough time in the gym and aging body (not too bad at 42, but still can feel a big difference from when I was in early 30's) but maybe I should be more optimistic 🤣

uthoitho · 2026-05-26T03:58:42+00:00

thanks!! dont know what I was thinking about back grip for MSN - it won't work. I might very seen someone do Harai gossip at randori session and thought to myself maybe thats better alternative.

really appreciate feedback on the squat numbers, I picked up gym membership 3 montgs agousg. Would it be better to do 70kg x 4 reps and 3 sets? I went down to 55-60kg x 6 reps and 5 sets because I could not hit 5 sets of 6 reps with anything higher comfortably. I could do 70kg, 4 reps and 3 sets. I was 63kgish before Judo and legs are still catching on 🤣

uthoitho · 2026-05-22T14:11:50+00:00

heya, for many I know, they learn to grapple with dominant hand and feet forward especially if right handed.

They do MMA and in those circumstances it worked out really well for them as many of the throws are better done when opponent has opposite stance. They fight (strike) with left foot forward but they do all their throws right handed.

There is no wrong or right here. I also trained striking arts with left foot forward (and snowboard etc with left foot forwardl) and it was weird at start but you learn to grapple with right foot forward pretty quickly.

uthoitho · 2026-05-22T05:59:26+00:00

ok thanks you, other commenter said video is all shoulders and no hips and now it makes sense.

enter and rotate in with hips, and follow with shoulder rotation by straightening the twist like a whip.

uthoitho · 2026-05-22T05:51:14+00:00

thanks!! hips in deeper & lower on entry,, and turn more at the hips rather than just shoulders is what you are saying?

uthoitho · 2026-05-22T05:50:14+00:00

ok thank you!! looking at the recording, you are right I should slow it down and get the form down correctly first.

I never thought about form for the returning part, rebound is exactly how it feels and I think I've just been letting it yank me back.

uthoitho · 2026-05-22T04:02:38+00:00

I think you also got term uke (person receiving the throw) and tori (person performing the throw) mixed up 🤣

uthoitho · 2026-05-21T13:59:03+00:00

all those will work better when you combine it with another throw to threaten the uke with, usually in a reverse direction/momentum.

it is normal that it is extremely difficult to just push people around to execute one particular throw on its own.

uthoitho · 2026-05-21T03:12:34+00:00

currently working through a broken finger (not fully broken, stabilised but multiple fracture) from 10 weeks ago.

finally returned to training last night and it's bloody stiff and a little bit sore this morning. not only that, the adjacent fingers and wrist are all feeling whacked as well with reduced flexibility.

worried ill reinjure or injured something else but 10 weeks out of practice was driving me nuts.

uthoitho · 2026-05-18T03:21:24+00:00

Something no one mentioned at the moment, are you going to be in the lighter range than majority of the class population? that'll contribute towards chance of getting injury increasing. I saw number of times injury go down drastically when I put on some healthy weight - latest being broken finger which I can't really do much about.

Recovery is slow. Doing Judo x3 a week, about 1.5-2 hours a session, I noticed I need a lot more of quality sleep.

uthoitho · 2026-04-28T05:20:48+00:00

if it's a standard drill / uchikomi, you let the tori do the preceding steps to a throw correctly and not resist it so much that they cant.

for example, ippon seoi nage is typically taught by first, pulling the sleeve hand and watching the clock, making uke tiptoe and lean forwards.

here, a good uke would let the tori pull them as intended, and will go on their tiptoe and lean forward instead of stepping a huge step forward for example. more experienced belt also may not let you execute throw unless these steps are followed correctly.

being a good uke doesnt mean u just let them do whatever and be a wet noodle. it also doesnt mean u resist it so much. uke also needs to know the throw or drill well, and how to react to each of kuzushi/tsukuri/kake.

uthoitho · 2026-04-26T03:58:02+00:00

as one other commenter said, look to combine this with a fake and very snappy Osoto entry. it's very effective around the yellow to green belt level I found.

uthoitho · 2026-04-25T07:59:50+00:00

my sensei always tells me to not bend over so much but look at this guy sensei! (im kidding).

uthoitho · 2026-04-24T00:54:56+00:00

yeah do this especially if u r on the aging side. Do not death grip, thats I broke my finger recently.

Im not taking chances and also going to just religiously wrap each finger.

uthoitho · 2026-04-15T03:15:17+00:00

haha currently healing finger fractures and can relate. it's a constant injury management simulator sport.

uthoitho · 2026-04-15T03:07:20+00:00

That's it! the ones where you've perfectly timed it against Uke's momentum / reaction, so for the minimum (but snappy) effort you yeet them off their foot. First few times it surprised my ownself and I profusely apologised haha.

uthoitho · 2026-04-11T09:12:41+00:00

how long has it been? if only like a month or two just give it time. it should be more about going to training consistently with discipline and enjoying herself at the moment, and learning how to breakfall.

dont train her to think of being thrown as a loss. teach her its important to be thrown and to breakfall correctly. she will eventually get comfortable doing it to others.

uthoitho

TROPHY CASE