Is Judo Dangerous? NO

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

*EDIT...in the video I say "Empirical evidence is poor", but I meant to say: "Anecdotal evidence is a pretty low form of evidence." ...empirical evidence is pretty good so if anyone has any please leave the link in the comments!! Thank you.

[@DiogoSilva-ld7we]

Most of these videos tend to completely ignore the risks associated with training Judo but I feel like your assessment is fair and I agree with your point on the real danger being the incorrect execution of the throw (and lack of continuous emphasis on ukemi). My first sensei was a stickler for correct technique and it was through him that I understood that makikomi throws aren't really all that bad if done correctly, as you don't really fall on top of uke, you fall more to the side and the rotation keeps uke from taking the full brunt of your weight. That being said, it's a hard detail to miss when learning, so most people tend to think it's just slamming yourself on top of uke. The other point I agree with was on Tani Otoshi. Only recently I discovered that people think it's dangerous and some academies ban it, which left me kinda dumbfounded. Then I saw the variation they were discussing, and how Tori sometimes would end up sitting on Uke's while pulling back, which caused the injuries. That is very different from the way I learned, where you don't really go nowhere near the knee. Anyway, just my two cents. Thanks for the video :)

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Thank you for taking the time to leave your two cents! I was very fortunate, and it sounds like you were as well, to have an incredible coach and he would explain any throw from all possible angles, as in tori and uki, possible issues, how to avoid/minimise them and this is something I try to do as a coach. I think it is often overlooked by some coaches and it's a real shame as it means that students only get half the technical knowledge.

[@simonrcarson]

Of course there's an element of danger in judo. It's a combat sport. I started judo a year ago at the age of 63, with bad knees - perfect fodder for injuries, and I have been hurt, although not seriously. However, I agree completely with what's said here. The guys in my club are a lot younger than me - I think I have more than 30 years on most of them. But I train with care, and they are considerate. I have no intention (at the moment!) of competing - too risky (even the 'veterans' category seems to be 35+, which sounds very young to me!) - and I am happy to pick and choose how often and with whom I engage in randori. My instructors know about my age (obviously) and my knees, and I have the maturity and self confidence to pick and choose what I do and don't do. A good instructor, who can take into account one's physical abilities, is key, of course, but it seems to me that judo has something to offer to everyone, and the risks can be minimised in order to enjoy the huge benefits. Added later: I think one of the things that is making judo safer for me, as an older player, is increasing confidence. I used to be terrified of falling, and so of being thrown. This made me tense, and instead of breakfalling, I would resist the fall (not just the throw) and land badly. That's when I've been hurt. As I have become more familiar with the feeling of being thrown, and as I have more breakfalling experience, I am more relaxed about falling and so fall more safely, I think.

[@epramberg]

Taking ukemi is very dangerous. Even though I truly love and value ukemi, your body only has so many falls in it. My back is missing spacers because of the slams that I have taken. Repeated impact affects your spine. I will never be able to grapple again and it breaks my heart. There are risks associated with everything, but there are major risks associated with Judo.

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Thank you for sharing your experience Eric and I am sorry to hear that you are unable to continue grappling because of your injuries. I can see why, based on your experience you would disagree with me. I have been doing Judo for 25 years, so will have done tens of thousands of breakfalls during that time and from my experience disagree with you. This opinion might change in years to come based on if my experience changes. However, for me, as long as I can continue doing Judo I will do, because not doing Judo is a worse evil.

[@seoinage3573]

Thank you greatly Eric for your insight, I have only three years of judo and my body feels like I have aged by about 15 years in the span of merely 3 years. I my first two years of judo I started counting the injuries I don’t count them anymore. The two most major ones being both knees blown and ACL torn and also a neuralgia which is still giving me trouble. It s after I guess a certain amount of falls that it developped, it only took my one extra fall where I had perfectly done my ukemi on yoko guruma that the next day I couldn’t feel my left hand fingers anymore. Was in codein and anti inflammatories for a month until it got better and came back harder after another fall with a perfectly executed ukemi. I love judo and will always do but it’s hard to deny the obvious.

[@ElNiNjA246]

@@seoinage3573 can i ask your age and also belt and also what your academy is like? is it alot of hard sparring etc? am curious as i have just blown my acl in the first 6 months of training which came about from me sparring. wondering how i could minimize injuries in such a fun sport... problem is i think im invincible sometimes maybe and go too hard. would like to heard a response!

[@deustaitan]

Judo is not dangerous, ITS DEADLY!!!

[@godeater6382]

I wrecked both my ankles doing judo for a year. Now I'm doing bjj, but my dojo also teaches a lot of takedowns, so the loss is a little bit minimized. I have to say that I find judo incredibly dangerous, for a reason nobody talks about: S*it training methods. In most Dojos you don't have classes that are 100% drilling. That's what a beginner needs or someone who's injured. Most instructors will even bully students that want to drill only. I also think that a lot of risk could be midigated if more practice happened on one of those big blue soft mattresses. A lot less overuse injuries. But most judo clubs have a "tough guy" mentality and wont take concerns seriously because "kano didn't do that"

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Thank you for sharing your experience and I am sorry to hear that it hasn't been a positive one. The example you have given is not one that I have experienced myself. I have been fortunate to train at good dojo's, with excellent coaches and training methods, including drill only sessions...where in the world have you had this experience? I agree with what you say. As I say in the video, people should do more drilling in training before applying throws to randori. And I would say that the example you have given supports my claim, that people make Judo dangerous...if practiced "incorrectly" Judo can be dangerous, but that's the fault of the coaches, not Judo itself...Judo can be practiced incredibly safely and with reduced "danger".

[@godeater6382]

​@@TheJudoWayofLife in adolfs home :(

[@user-md2fm7ik2z]

Sounds like you were just at a bad club, I never heard of any club like that.

[@devriestown]

I did bjj for 5 years. Trained 8 months of judo before i went to Brazil got my adult yellow belt yes im old 34 😅. I wish i started judo when i was a kid. Kimura is one of my heroes his life story is amazing. And what he done for judo was amazing. I would like to bring up the subject of my judo experience. I found the judo academy i trained at and judo community absolutely AMAZING 👍 I told them what my plans were and im here because i want to get comfortable with my randori . They were absolutely amazing people and help me out tremendously i learned so much and felt super welcome. I helped to show a few things with Ne-waza. Now the reason im taking the time to write you this message is. The difference between judo club's. And bjj club's is a big one. In the sense that i found multiple bjj club's club's standoffish and cult like with kill or be killed mentality. My experience with judo was ae absolutely amazing one . Have you found this at all ???

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Amazing...I have a lot of respect for anyone starting Judo as an adult and congratulations on the grade. Yes, I have experienced this in BJJ gyms, but I have also been to some incredibly open gyms, that have been really friendly and have wanted to train with different gyms and share ideas. And on the flip side, I have been to some closed off Judo clubs that don't like training with other clubs and are very standoffish. I think a lot of it boils down to the type of coach who is running the dojo and what their approach is and not the discipline itself. The coach will dictate what the environment is like within the Dojo and that will be seen with the attitude of the athletes.

[@devriestown]

@@TheJudoWayofLife yes i have been to some good bjj club's as well. I think if you show the judo spirit and don't stay down they respect you very much. As with bjj you keep coming back after getting tapd out they really hurt you😅

[@GoDaveGo]

Yes, as an older, calm white belt in BJJ I’ve had a guy ride me with knee on belly so hard that I threw up after. That was the last in a series of out of control experiences I’ve had with BJJ at many different schools (I travel for work). Now that I’ve switched to judo, I’ve never had a bad experience like that. The idea of control and safety is built into judo-but I have been injured from my own mistakes in randori (eg trying to rotate out of a throw instead of proper ukemi).

[@devriestown]

@@GoDaveGo yeah being older and getting thrown is more hard but you l9to control your brake falls fast lol

[@MrSpasmarod]

David I like your videos but I think there is a risk of being disingenuous here...yes, perhaps judo is not dangerous if both tori and uke execute perfect offensive techniques and ukemi, but the reality is that in randori and competition people are generally carrying out techniques imperfectly with a high degree of speed and power in a dynamic situation and get things wrong. In the same way that football, rugby etc are not dangerous if everyone has perfect technique and commits no fouls, but that isn't how it works in reality. As someone who has trained judo for over ten years in many clubs, I have seen A LOT of people limping and carried off the mat (including myself) after training sessions and contests, often through no fault of their own but just through unlucky positioning and angles. Yes, all sports have an injury risk, but I think there are factors that make judo particularly risky. The reality is that wrapping your body around someone and flinging them at the ground with force while they try and do the same to you is a dangerous activity for both parties. Not that I think the risks should be magnified - they are probably comparable to other martial arts and lower than some other activities - but they are there, and I think it could give the wrong impression, especially to beginners, to say that judo is 'not dangerous'

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and opinion. I do not feel like I am being disingenuous. I know that certain elements of Judo can be dangerous, like the examples you give...randori and competitions...but as I say, these are a personal choice...the individual increases the level of danger they expose themselves to...practicing Judo and doing Judo competitions are two different things. I have had lots of injuries and hobble around...but I have and do practice Judo to the more extreme levels...not everyone has to do full time training and heaps of competitions and training camps...that was my choice...the risk feels worth it and I increased the level of "danger". You actually seem to agree with my point based on your comment about clean throws and good ukemi...this is the message I want to promote...I want people to learn how to do clean Judo, be able to perform correct ukemi to protect themselves and to want to aspire to this. I don't say that Judo is completely free from danger...I say people increase the level of danger, some by choice, sometimes not, either way...I don't think Judo is dangerous, when done correctly.

[@kodiakbear3519]

@MrSpasmarodI 100% agree ! I could not have said it better myself.

[@vasa2681]

Nothing is more dangerous than a white belt practicing his shoulder throws on you.

[@simonpantera]

Do you have the link to the video you're referring to?

[@facts-never-lies3160]

Honestly, beginners make judo dangerous. Master break fall , master techniques, go slow in randori.

[@seoinage3573]

I truly appreciate you brother and I respect you but saying judo is not dangerous and that all activities have a risk, walking in the streets has a risk is ridiculous. You can’t compare walking in the streets or playing volley ball and twisting an ankle, with a sport where the main purpose and way to win is actually what would disqualify or even ban you in other sports. I explain in basketball, soccer or others you touch the opponent you get a yellow or red card... in judo you have to not only touch but also slam somebody else open on the mat, or choke them or joint lock them... and some just don’t tap, or the ref doesn’t see, so some will just go until ref says ippon by then uke has passed out or is dislocated. I have discovered judo late and absolutely fell in love with it so much so that when I started at the age of 33 I ve been training almost everyday and the more you train the higher the chances of injuries no need to state the obvious but from only my tiny little experience of three years judo is not dangerous it is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. Countless are the injuries I have suffered, ankles, knees, torn both LCAs, torn the left knees ACL just recently, elbow, shoulder, neck, muscles tear in my back due to a hip throw with a much heavier opponent who resisted a lot and I had to thrown him and surely the most painful injury I suffered could even do ne waza and was constantly reminded of it for more than two years that injury never really healed the muscle was most likely way too much damaged, I don’t even count all the little fingers, toes and wrists constant damage... Almost every single tournament I’ve been too I saw people leaving with either they knew blown shoulder or neck. How many throws you see uke slammed and spikes on the top of his head, a couple of years ago at the high level a Greek judoka suffered a terrible injury and is now in a wheel chair. How many death are reported heart just in Japan alone? Since it s official birth judo has more than 200 deaths which other sport can compete with that figure?? Ukemi is obviously better than not willing to fall and roll over and risk having ones neck broken. But saying ukemi is not impacting is a none sense. Judo s tear and wear is second to none, not even rugby would be close. Possibly wrestling. The very nature of judo, it’s competition purpose, the ways for you to win, the high amplitude, the fact you could have both hands lock with a throw like sode tsurikomi goshi, and seeing the floor getting closer to your face and you cannot do anything about it, makes it for sure one of the MOST DANGEROUS SPORT EVER, If not the most. The ijf is doing a good job banning the head contact for tori as he throws. Imagine two men body weight on top one s man neck... don’t you think it ll break? And In what’s sport other than judo and wrestling have you got this constant situation? None So really judo is not dangerous It is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS This is all coming from someone who truly loves judo and who’s passionate about it I love JUDO and will always do and will continue practicing as much as I can and try to do it safely People who don’t know deserve to have portrait of judo as close as it could to reality. And those who doubt, just watch or attend a competition and you ll see those very threatening situation almost in each and every competition.

[@seoinage3573]

Not a study as such but just an idea of what happens in judo... and this video only shows a handful of injuries, mostly about knees injury, not broken arms shown as uke posts on the mat, no shoulder I jury shown etc. I remember Akli gyakova getting the forearm bone broken in half while posting on the mat after being thrown... kzbin.info/www/bejne/iInIiYxpo55kptE

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

I appreciate you taking the time to write such an extensive reply and you make some good points. However, I feel as though you miss the main point of my argument and actually support what I say. All of you examples are based around the choices of the individual, thus supporting my argument that people are dangerous, not the Judo. People decide to compete, which increase the chance of potentially getting injured (I am one of those people). People decide to train more than they "should" based on their physical limits, which increase the chance of potentially getting injured (I am one of those people). A person is taught to breakfall when throw, to tap when is a submission...if a person decides to defend or to not tap, then that is the person who is being dangerous, not the Judo. I maintain my position that Judo is not dangerous, but the decisions people make whilst doing Judo is what makes is dangerous.

[@seoinage3573]

@@TheJudoWayofLife I appreciate your answer too and agree with the fact that indeed if you don’t tap then it’s your fault... however one might tap and the ref may not see it, or one might not just have the time to tap given the dynamics of judo, uke ends up fast asleep before he even knows, or with his elbow hurt before he even got a chance to tap. And in that case you can’t even blame tori either for applying those technique. All right here it’s not judo the problem it’s the competition aspect of it, fair enough. What about someone who doesn’t compete and gets hurt in randori, or not even randori, let’s remove the sparring aspect too in that case. Let s assume that person is hurt during nagekomi. Tori applies a perfect technique but uke hurts his shoulder or upper back as he lands and obviously there s no way for him to tap mid air at the speed of free fall or even faster... free fall implies it’s hard to control the landing and even with a correct landing you can still hurt yourself. Whose fault is it then? Not judo again but uke for not being strong enough?? The human body is not meant to take damage or at least not that hard and that often. It’s like saying boxing is not dangerous. When boxers constantly take punches to the face, but if they end up with a broken nose or Alzheimer’s it’s not the sport that’s dangerous it’s uke who can’t take a punch or his nose and brain not strong enough... I hope you see how ridiculous this is... Well it s similar with judo, the human body is not meant to fall repetitively and take all those blasting throws. No matter how well the throw is done and the ukemi performed, breaking fall only cancels a very minor insignificant amount of impact... and all those impacts years after years cause havocs. Moreover, judo has, intrinsically, variables that make is that way, namely: free fall, gravity and randomness; which make it dangerous. Similarly you don’t need to get spiked on your head to suffer concussions, how many perfectly applied blasting osoto Garis can someone take?? I see where this is all going no matter what the argument, we clearly can’t win. What about this? You seem to believe perfectly applied technique and ukemis make judo NOT dangerous. Right, how about you record a video with a judoka your size and weight and have him blast you with a hundred Osoto garis with you performig perfect ukemis? Would be very interesting to see the outcome...

[@kodiakbear3519]

​@@TheJudoWayofLife Dude your are very naive. These guys that you are going back and fourth with on here are literally destroying you with facts and your to stuborn to except it. Example: Crime is up in your neighborhood 75% percent. People are being hurt, robbed, attacked and injured all through your (community). After hearing about all of whats going on in your ( community ) your response to someone wanting to move to your nieghborhood ( join judo) would be, well i havent experienced all of those things and because i havent experienced them i feel my nieghborhood is still a safe and great place to live .That is absolutely ridiculous ! The nerve of you to come on here and flat out lie to us like that. Either your being willfully ignorant or you think we are or both . Either way im flat out offended by it and you should be ashamed of yourself.

[@AliKhalid-c9b]

Is Judo really all that bad? I used to always think it was infinitely better than boxing and the repeated head trauma you could get from boxing, especially with a lot of gyms not giving much of a fuck sometimes to how hard people go during sparring. Always thought that since it's grappling it had to be safer.

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

From personal and anecdotal evidence, I would agree. I have had a couple of head injuries from Judo, but I'm not being repeatedly punched in the head...some people would disagree I'm sure and people do bang their heads when being thrown, but that it why we learn breakfall techniques.

[@bernardoj54]

It's just different kinds of injuries. In boxing if you spar you can be 100% sure you'll get brain damage. In judo, brain damage would only happen in accidents. The dangerous injuries in judo are: spine, knees, ankles... I'm personaly tetrified about spinal cord injuries

[@trappist1webb658]

not to a judoka, but to the other guy, hahahahaha. like ur channel!!!

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Thank you 🥋💪

[@argoshikan]

Judo isn’t dangerous: looks at my toes and fingers

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Mine are mangled as well...but that's not Judo's fault...it's mine for pushing the level at which I practice Judo and for grip fighting. I could have just learnt and practiced Judo at a lower tempo and my fingers and toes would most likely have remained the same shape and pointed in the same direction (but wheres the fun in that)!

[@seoinage3573]

Not a study as such but just an idea of what happens in judo... and this video only shows a handful of injuries, mostly about knees injury, not broken arms shown as uke posts on the mat, no shoulder I jury shown etc. I remember Akli gyakova getting the forearm bone broken in half while posting on the mat after being thrown... kzbin.info/www/bejne/iInIiYxpo55kptE

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Thank you for sharing. I feel as though your video supports my argument...all those throws that results in injuries are not "good" Judo throws and have been done either at the wrong time or as a result of someone's defence...it's not the Judo that's dangerous, it's the people doing it. Obviously, in a competition you're going to try and defend against a technique, so therefore you put yourself at greater risk of injury...that is the persons choice, not the Judo.

[@SoldierDrew]

The risks and epidemic of injuries in Judo comes from some modern clubs being over competitive. In the early days there were many senior citizens still training Judo in Japan. What changed? Well, in the early days Judoka focused mainly on drilling Uchi Komi . . .mastering breaking opponent's posture to steal balance w/out following through w/the throw or takedown. Today Judoka want the ego masturbation of completing every throw on their opponent during repetitive practice. One can master throws with thousands of Uchi Komi drills and using moderation in executing full throws. Also use the crash mat for hard throws.

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Yep, and I don't think there is anything wrong with a club being overly competitive if everyone there is training under the same understanding of the intensity and risks associated...and that is down to the individual...as you say, the individual can choose to practice Judo is a safer environment drastically reducing the risk.

[@pureconciousnessn]

Music too loud my friend it's hard to listen remove it next time if possible

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Appreciate the feed back thank you. I use the music to counteract the echo/feedback, air conditioning unit and traffic noise that is in the background...I will play around with the audio to see if I can get a better result a different way.

[@user-md2fm7ik2z]

Can we buy hoodies or T-shirts?

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Shop is coming very soon!!