Judo class last night was great… but also a little frustrating.  But I think that is really more about me, and my style than it is the class.  You see, my style is a fairly agressive attempt to overpower my opponent.  I really rely on my agression and size, and most of the time it works pretty well for me.

Last night however, I sparred a bit with Sean, and also with Mike (who wan’t even trying at all.)  Both of these guys are bigger and stronger than me.  My style sucked.  I felt like a gnat crashing against  a rhino.  Basically, Sean spanked me, and Mike just sort of laid there until I wore myself out.

What does this mean?  Well, it means that I need to listen more.  It’s so easy sometimes to hear your instructors tell you to set your moves up better, and to use more finess, but when you are successfully throwing people around it is easy to feel that’s not really so important.  Until Sean kicks your butt.

So my plan?  (don’t tell Sean… I plan to surprise him with some of this)

First off, I need to be willing to not attack constantly… to make my opponent move a little.  This may be the hardest part for me .  Second, I intend to mix it up a little more… specifically, I am going to be working a lot more on throwing my moves “left handed”.  Third, I am going to set my moves up a lot more.  An example of this is that I often jerk my opponent’s lead hand down to make them let go of me.  I am going to try to do this in such a way that they also step forward with that same leg to keep good balance.  My hope is that if I am still hanging onto their arm, that I should be able to grab the leg and push them backward.  This one may or may not work against a big person.

Next?  Fourth is to start using moves that are less about strength.  And example of this is the duck-under, a common wrestling move.  Finally, to throw in something that is less common in Judo.  Specifically I am thinking the fire-man’s carry.  If don right this move can be done witout being stronger than the opponent, by grabbing and then rolling backward.

Will any of this work?  I’ll let you know.  I am really looking for suggestions as well.  What Judo throws have you found to work well against bigger, stronger people?

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