Last night in Judo we worked on two different aspects of the same, key concept in Judo: Staying Mobile.

Mobility on the feet:

It is very difficult to throw someone who doesn’t move, and who doesn’t want to be thrown.  A bad Uke can make for a frustrating session.  If you look at the differences between beginning Judo students, and more advanced students, the most fundamental piece will be rather they are “accepting” or “taking.”

A beginning student will just attempt whatever throw they want.  They will reach out for that Osoto Gari rather the movement and Kazushi for it are right or not.  A more experienced student of Judo will “accept” the movement of their opponent, and utilize it.

This doesn’t mean you need to be passive, and wait.  But it does mean that you need to create movement in order to have movements to accept.  One of the most fundamental ways to do this is: Ashi Waza.

Ashi Waza is, essentially, foot technique.  This is made up of such moves as Ouchi Gari, Kouchi Gari, Deashi Harai, Hiza Guruma, Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi, and similar foot attacks.  As we step around and move with an opponent, Ashi waza opportunities open up everywhere.  Also, Ashi Waza techniques, even when they fail, create openings for other things.  Just as an example, I love to use Ouchi Gari to get an opponent to pull their leg back, setting up an Osoto Makikomi.

When we stay mobile, we create actions and reactions.  This gives us what we need to have motions and Kazushi changes to accept.

But although this sounds good in concept, in practice it is easy to still get so focused on what we want, rather than what is being given to us.

The exercise we worked with to help feel what is being “offered” was this:  Grab a partner, circle each other, and use your Ashi Waza (gently… we don’t want anyone falling yet.)  But do this with your eyes closed.  Don’t look and think about what you see.  Feel the Kazushi, their’s as well as your own.  Stay mobile.  Create movements, and feel the openings in Kazuhsi.

On the ground:

On the ground, it can be tempting at times to fight like a boa.  A boa grabs it’s prey and holds on.  Then it slowly advances… inch by inch.  There is no surprise.   The snake and the victim both know what the intent is.  The snake counts on its strength to do this.

Too often this can happen on the ground.  We get into a position of control.  It might be side control, mount, or whatever we tend to favor.  We then work slowly without giving up anything.  We might work for Americana, Collar choke, or a variety of things.  But we still hold, like that boa.

The problem is that this is very limiting as far as what we learn, or what our opponent learns.  There are few surprises in this methodical combat.

So what we did instead is this:

One person on bottom, the other on top in side control.  The goal is to submit your opponent.  But the key rule to this game is: You cannot hold any position longer than 10 seconds.  If you have someone in your guard, you must work to change position… sweep them, arm bar, something.  From side control you must submit them, or move… maybe north-south or knee in belly.  Keep mobile.  Keep fluid.  Learn and experience new things.  Keep them guessing.

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