3 Ways to Instantly Improve Your Judo

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Matt_D'aquino]Matt D'aquino
You will never be a master at Judo, this is due to the fact that there is always something to learn. There are a few things you can do at Judo that will instantly make you a better Judoka. This first of these to bend your knees. You can never bend your knees enough. Many people say that Judo requires a lot of upper body strength but with no leg power behind your throws you will not have a very strong throw. Performing throws such as Koshi guruma and Seoi nage are great examples of how and why you need powerful legs. Other techniques such as Uchimata and Harai goshi require you to support your own weight as well as your opponents' weight on 1 leg. None of these techniques would ever work if you did not bend your knees. At training when you are performing Uchikomi and you feel like you have 100% got the technique always ask yourself the question, "Are my knees bent low enough?"
The next thing that will instantly improve your Judo is to concentrate on the Hikite (sleeve arm). The sleeve grip is designed to rotate your opponent over onto their back. Without the sleeve grip it is very hard to throw your opponent on their back. This is why it is very important to do a lot of single arm pulling actions in the gym. By having strong rear deltoid and back muscles your sleeve pull will be stronger, resulting in a better Kuzushi and rotation of your opponent. When you are performing Uchikomi and you feel like you have 100% got the technique always ask yourself the question, "Am I pulling the sleeve hard enough?"
Thinking about the principle besides the throw is another great way to get better at Judo. Do you actually understand the principle behind the throw or do you just do the throw because you Sensei told you to? Do you know why you pull the sleeve up instead of down? Do you know why you sweep the foot at a particular angle? Ask these questions each and every training session. Think about how and why a technique actually works opposed to just doing the technique. If you find you cannot perform a particular throw properly have a look at your own technique and cross-reference that with the principle behind the technique. Sometimes once you understand the principle behind the throw you can then understand the throw and perform it correctly. Without knowing the principle it is almost like walking in a dark room with no light on. It doesn't matter what happens you will always run into obstacles.
In the end it comes down to self-reflection and critical analysis. It is easy to say that you know and understand the technique but if you really want to instantly improve you Judo, bend your knees more, pull the sleeve harder and spend time understanding the principle behind the technique.
Author: Matt D'Aquino http://www.workoutsforjudo.com/
Matt is the founder of Beyond Grappling fitness and conditioning. He is a 2008 Beijing Judo Olympian as well as nationally ranked freestyle wrestler and National Champion in Brazilian Jujitsu. Matt has a passion for teaching all aspects of grappling especially the fitness and conditioning aspect. Recently he has been traveling the world aiming to qualify for his second Olympic Games. To learn more about Matt and his fitness and conditioning training visit http://www.workoutsforjudo.com/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?3-Ways-to-Instantly-Improve-Your-Judo&id=6612428] 3 Ways to Instantly Improve Your Judo