Judo Once A Week: Worth It?

[@tronbonn]

Kudo once a week is better than none a week. The idea that a person must attend 3-7 times a week along with other responsibilities as an adult is a great way to lose students. A good teacher will work with each student as they come and not hold it against them, a good student will find ways to prioritize what they can do while avoiding overtraining, then the way to success can be happily traveled.

[@joelplough720]

+1

[@lewisb85]

I do Kudo started with Judo, its taking the punches unlike pure judo thats punishing.

[@chrismiller6073]

Where you do kudo ?​@lewisb85

[@Keeganbrian70]

Perfect timing for this .I just turned 54 and I started judo last week. I am taking private sessions while going to the gymnon base here .i will take 2 sessions a week.i want to eventually transition to going to class with others and was not sure if this is a good thing to do but i have taking other striking martial arts before and think as i get older i should always tale some martial arts plus work out .

[@hanzojpalm7779]

Yes, I would say it's worth it, even if you only can practice once every two weeks. A few adults in our dojo work shifts, but they try to come as often as they can. And whenever they show up, they are super focused and attentive! They are more attentive than many who practice 2-3 times / week. They are learning, reflecting and really getting the most of the few hours they get!

[@themetkaf]

'So 98% of the people, you're gona be able to throw...' not sure why but that cracked me up 😂

[@johnnywgamer268]

I'm also only able to train only once a week . I've made significant progress since I've started but of course I would be further along if I was able to train more often . Training once a week gives me more time to recuperate after practices and helps keep it more fresh and enjoyable to train which is good for a older person like me .

[@Bigramt]

Mate I started with 3 and I try twice Sometimes I only make once Study practice at home, Build strength and endurance when necessary You will be well rested and be ae to go full throttle when you train. Once is better than zero. You won't win the Olympics or be seriously competitive,but you will be better than anyone who doesn't train it My club train 2 hour sessions with plenty of randori. Drilling too obviously with just a quick warmup Enjoy the training and reap the rewards

[@MuzzKL]

I agree with your video and people looking to cross train judo should not get discouraged for not seeing immediate results. It takes a lot of time to actually develop a effective judo against resisting opponents. It is all about always standing up after falling, like in life.

[@Bigramt]

Once better than zero,but 2 or 3 is much, much better A guy at my club trains judo once per week, boxes and lifts weights. His progress is slow, but it is there to see 2 hour session with good coaching can still see improvement imo, but slow

[@Sam-rb1id]

I train around 2hrs a week on average I think and can confirm that after a year there is some progress, but still feel like a beginner :) Judo is also very technical and difficult to learn. Think competency in 40hrs is unlikey. Maybe double or treble that to really have a decent rounded game

[@Bigramt]

@@Sam-rb1id 2 hours is still decent, not great, but you can learn some. It may take 2 or 3 years before it clicks, but you Will improve I roughly train 4 hours per week.

[@lewisb85]

Mark law wrote a book about it called "the pyjama game" he said he was going once a week some weeks because being 50 and older starting it took its toll on his body.

[@Bigramt]

Awesome book

[@OGFITNESS]

100%, i started at 36 and only did 2 hard sessions a week, that was more then enough, i could have added a technical class but i just wanted the randori at the time, mistake though.

[@arturofernandez725]

I go once a week or once every two weeks. But I also do a lot of BJJ in between sessions and do strength/conditioning training. So Judo is more of a specialty class I do when really I'm grappling at least 3x a week and doing physical training just as often. Also i use what I learn in Judo at BJJ.

[@rodneymance1139]

I definitely needed to hear this. I've been battling with myself on whether to do judo 1 day a week to compliment my Shuri-te karate. After watching this I'm definitely gonna sign up. Thx bro

[@OGFITNESS]

Glad it helps, let me know if you have any questions along the way, always happy to help. i highly recommend you watch more or all of my vids, will help keep you safe and injury free. Osu!

[@paulhenderson9905]

That’s a question I’ve been mulling over myself, so thank you for the advice. For my own circumstances, I train BJJ four times a week - I’m a brand new blue belt and I know that my stand up for grappling is dreadful. I also know that Judo is awesome. I’m not interested in competing, but I am interested being more well rounded and I roll a lot with BJJ competitors half my age (I’m an OG too), so I want to develop more of an edge in my skill set. Reckon you’ve persuaded me to give it a go. :)

[@IamLos]

Thank you for this video! I been considering in taking Judo 1-2x a week myself and wasnt sure if it would be worth it. Im 32 yrs old, i started BJJ in October and i go 2x a week and go to the gym 2x a week as well and was thinking down the line of incorporating Judo maybe when i get my blue belt or sooner.

[@Bigramt]

A friend of mine trains judo roughly 6 sessions per month, sometimes just 4 He's a bjj student who trains bjj 3-5 also He's a brown belt in both, obviously started BJJ much sooner. If you already train bjj,then 1 session per week will enhance your grappling

[@gengotaku]

Excellent video, brother. I have the same background as the person who asked the questions, so it´s easy to answer. I'm also practicing Gojuryu karate 2 times a week (3 times until recently), but like other karate styles, there are no takedowns or newaza, so judo is undoubtedly an asset to one´s karate. I wish I could practice more judo, but it´s difficult to find judo clubs for adults in Japan and I´m also busy 2 aikido styles (aikikai and tomiki, from which I'm a black belt in aikikai). Back to judo, I got back to judo in April 2022 after having stopped back in 1991(I had learned it for 5 years at the time) and took my black belt at the end of 2023, so practicing once a week was enough to get my black belt in about 1 year and 8 months and now I´m motivated to try the 2nd dan in tournaments this year. I really wanna practice more, but have no time or energy to do it so once a week should do the trick. OSS

[@paulabrahams6147]

".... but it's difficult to find judo clubs for adults in Japan ...." That really surprises me.

[@Bigramt]

Awesome video Watched it again! Your channel is gold

[@OGFITNESS]

Thanks big guy! Osu!

[@ShakUddin-qo4pj]

Great video brother. Just wondering through, if consistency plays a rule in the 40 hours you mentioned, for instance, do we need to practice more often in a week for Judo or would 1 day a week really be enough? Also, how many hours to be good when compared to other Judoka's? Could we really learn 80% of Judo after 20/40Hrs? Thank you.

[@ThaUnseenTruth]

Due to work schedules, and being older, I'm thinking of doing physical martial arts training every other week, and in the weeks in between, doing theoretical martial arts via reading and watching videos - alongside weights, callisthenics, cardio, and stretching...

[@ghostmasterson5446]

I've done BJJ for 4 years, only going 2 days a week. My work schedule and graduate school keep me from training more often. I get waxed by most of the people I roll against who train 5-6 days a week, but I'm learning something every time I'm on the mats! I just found your channel, and thanks for posting on this topic! OSS! 😂

[@OGFITNESS]

My pleasure brother, let me know if you have any questions

[@manuelrtbh5341]

Are you rush? If not, it's great and you'll need time to learn.

[@AdamT-88]

One is better then none. I only train 2 times a week and I see improvement all the time.

[@CyclingMartialartswithMusic]

Like the words "Focused effort". As we have days we just show up becauae we paid for it. Back to main topic. Yup, I rather train once than no training at all.

[@OGFITNESS]

It adds up and time passes us by anyway. Also if you're already practicing another martial art the movement patterns of both will cross over, biomechanics is bio mechanics at the end of the day. Osu!

[@dylan_krishna_777]

Funny i'm also a karate practitioner (wado ryu) is a defensive style of karate and it has some jūjutsu ( japanese jiu jitsu) wristlocks and standing arm locks because the founder merge his style of jiu jitsu Yoshin-ryu jujutsu with karate. In the past it has some trows but the most schools are more focused on the striking part and some wristlocks stuff but not in a practical way ( prearranged sparring). So that's why my journey is now on judo and bjj fundementals and i will leave karate behind me. Training in Judo and BJJ ( fundementals) will make me a allround fighter.

[@newtypehuman]

Can you do a video on the risk of spinal injuries and the risk of getting paralyzed in bjj and judo ? specially if you spar with aggressive students

[@DeathxThexKid100]

Just don't spar with white belts, problem solved. The overwhelming majority of your injuries will come in two ways: Lack of skill (it could be your opponent and/or yourself) or exhaustion, like lack of sleep or overtraining. As long as you know how to fall correctly, and spar with the right people, you'll be just fine.

[@WingChunBoyz]

I train in wing chun every other week and can barely afford it. I like the training and camaraderie. I’m same age as you. The people I train with are my friends and become like family. I’m such an introvert and the most socially awkward human being out there bro. I suck at explaining concepts but hope to contribute something to the wing chun world by being the training dummy.

[@andrewharrison3888]

Mate showing up is more than 99% ever do. Already contributing by being involved and also helping others commenting here- Top work and keep on showing up

[@facts-never-lies3160]

1s a week is better than nothing.

[@Bigramt]

Just commenting again I can currently only train at most twice per week, was at 3 I just won a comp 2 weeks ago and achieved 3rd kyu grading tonight, only training over 2 years I train judo roughly 4 hours per week in class,but I do loads of drills at home with bands, stretching and watching videos. I also strength train Still a hobbyist of course, but eve 2 hours per week, every week for a few years will make you decent, especially compared to one's who don't do it I notice how much I have improved everything someone new comes to train. Once pee week is definitely good enough to learn, don't listen to naysayers. If you only train once, you will also be able to go all out during Randori and less likely to get injured Of course twice or thrice is better. But one day is WAY better than zero days

[@andrewharrison3888]

Totally agree, top work. Similar to you- November will be two years for me too and just achieved 4th Kyu a couple of weeks ago. First comp 4 months ago at yellow belt and I am 44 years old.

[@Bigramt]

@@andrewharrison3888 nice to read mate. How often do you train? I feel now things are starting to click amd could use judo on a beginner no problem.

[@andrewharrison3888]

@@Bigramt I train twice a week 90% of the time, once depending on injury/tiredness. Weights 3x per week and some cardio/judo band specific. Think its hard for me to gauge as we often train with other judoka and Im one of lowest belts at the club. Did show my brother, trying to convince him to join, an Ippon Seo Nage and ripped his jacket from arm pit to the bottom lol and he's 10 kg heavier than me.

[@andrewharrison3888]

@@Bigramt Will you for more comps? Have you got the itch to compete regular?

[@Bigramt]

@@andrewharrison3888 yes I am going to compete at least 2 or 3 times per year from now

[@DeathxThexKid100]

I was just having this discussion with my Judo instructor. He learned in Korea, where they practice about 5-6 times a week, he stayed and learned Judo there for about 15 years (he's Korean himself, that's why he was able to stay as long as he did). We were talking about how often someone would need to show up to learn Judo. I mentioned showing up about one time a week. His response to that was "Then you are better off spending your time on something else." I even mentioned that something was better than nothing. He immediately told me that showing up once a week *is nothing* and that there was no point. My Judo club only offers classes for Family (mostly Juniors) and Seniors at limited times during the week since we are a non profit Judo club. My instructor had to modify the curriculum to teach people how to innately rotate a mass in as little time as possible to meet his idea of what a black belt should be able to do due to the limited time constraints. Personally, I'd agree that once a week is nothing. It's not a matter of "facing other Judoka" because odds are, you're way too old to start competing. You at 25 just started Judo, a competitor at 25 has been doing Judo for 18-20 years before you showed up. So it *definitely* has nothing to do with randori or competition. It's a matter of not wasting your time, and not wasting everyone else's time.

[@carritohmc]

I started Judo at 28 or so, had been doing MMA and BJJ for a few years, but as far as pure Judo, I started close to 30. I did it once a week, sometimes twice a week if work/responsibilities allowed me to. Doing it once a week improved my BJJ grips, my standup and made me a lot more comfortable falling. Then I moved, and could only go maybe 3 times a month. Competed as an old man adult, in old man adult divisions and also against young guys (2 for 1 price for tournaments). I've gotten silver a few times, and have also won BJJ tournaments thanks to my improved standup, I had fun, always got a great workout, and taught my son Judo techniques when he started grappling at 5. I would not consider my once-a-week times to be a waste, as an hour to two hours of Judo a week is a great exercise, a stress reliever and I genuinely enjoy learning and spending time with my coaches and fellow Judokas. Now granted that's not the only exercise I do during the week, as I also do BJJ, PT or wrestling, but it's still only 1 Judo lesson per week.

[@DeathxThexKid100]

@@carritohmc You are completely taking "Doing Judo once a week" out of context on purpose. The conversation is simply about Judo once a week, not adding a standup grappling session an extra day in the week. If your BJJ school already teaches a Judo standup based curriculum or forces everyone to no pull guard and actually do takedowns then it's not "once a week". If you show up to BJJ twice a week, and you start standing in the Gi in both classes, and then you show up to a Judo specific club once a week. You basically have done Judo 3 times a week. I have no idea how you guys can spout a half truth without granting the full context. Which is that you are not just practicing your Tachi-Waza once a week. It's incredible, really. Incredibly dishonest.

[@OGFITNESS]

A lot of bjj clubs don't spend too much time on takedowns, and when they do it's more wrestling based, so they are grabbing the legs pretty often, and pulling guard to get it to the ground where they do theyre thing. I don't think @carritohmc is taking it out of context when he's expressing that it was very beneficial to him even once a week, the discussion is about Judo once a week simply, not distinguishing between someone who only trains Judo once a week and nothing else vs someone who trains in other discipline and adds Judo once a week. I get what you're instructor's means, it's an old school hard nose mentality of someone who is very dedicated to the art. With that said, i think if someone can only train once a week they should be catered to as well, of course expectations have to be properly managed, and as long as they are learning and having fun they will keep training and that is a good thing. Judo isn't only for the olympics, it's was meant to be a tool for the mutual betterment of the invididual and society. Yes an older induvidual starting will not be able to compete with the younger guys who have been doing for longer, that is why when they get to brown belt they should me moved to the masters division if they compete. yellow to blue they can fights seniors id they wish since the progression level is the same. Of course someone starting later will not be someone who'll go to the olympics, but if they consisitently show up even once a week they derserve to be taught and not seen as a waste of time, actually anybody that shows up and puts in effort deserves respect.

[@DeathxThexKid100]

@@OGFITNESS No one "deserves" anything, especially respect, respect is earned. Which for the most part, as long as you yourself are respectful, you have earned the minimum amount of respect. (Very low barrier to entry so there should be zero complaint here.) The only thing in life that is deserved is anything relating to comeuppance. If you show up needing to be taught how to fall over and over and over again because you show up only one day a week, then yeah, you are wasting everyone's time. You all keep operating under these absolutes with no consideration for nuance so that it all seems like a welcoming environment to the lowest common denominator. Here's the reality: Many things in life, especially Judo are not for everyone. Not everyone has the mental fortitude to do something as monotonous and as difficult as Judo. When my instructor was learning in Korea, he told me the mentality of every instructor that taught him was to try and get him to quit (but not be a barrier to progress). When I showed up, his goal was to get me to quit. I didn't however, and so he decided to learn my name after my first belt promotion (he doesn't bother learning white belts names because way too many quit) and he has been nothing but a good coach. Recently I figured out I had exercise induced asthma and he's been not only pushing me, but understanding of my condition despite him not having it himself. So sure, if you show up, we won't turn you away and we won't be barriers to your progress, but we'll get you to understand what you signed up for if you haven't already.

[@OGFITNESS]

@@DeathxThexKid100 Read the moral code of Judo, there’s Respect in there. So always respect, even if someone is not skilled and only comes once a week. If someone has a hard time break falling week after week it is the failure of the club and coaches. You were taught by a bunch of assholes imo, and so was you sensei. Thats why you have these extreme views, sure Judo might not be for everyone but the ones who show up can be taught. When all you have is a hammer, every pb looks like a nail. This type if old school teaching is what i consider low level teaching/coaching skills.

[@dee-ix3iq]

Sir am 37 thinking of taking up judo but am Concerned with hurting my nees does this happen often ? As I work upstairs a lot in my job

[@OGFITNESS]

Oh yeah, knees and shoulders get busted up in judo, unless you’re very smart about your training.

[@dee-ix3iq]

​@@OGFITNESS Any advice?

[@OGFITNESS]

@@dee-ix3iq Lots, master break falling, bulletproof shoulders, neck, knees, train smart, very smart, choose partners carefully, develop extreme core strength, take privates, randori only when you’ve mastered the fundamentals. Choose a good club with a great coach/sensei, leave your ego at the door. Watch all my videos on judo for older guys, hire me for coaching.

[@Canecorso14]

Would it be the same learning process doing judo once a week compared to doing bjj once a week or would one or the other be easier and get better faster doing once a week

[@OGFITNESS]

bjj would is easier overall so you would get better at bjj faster.

[@JP-gh9gj]

btw approx. 60% of that 99% is either old people or kids. My question would be how many hours of judo experience will be enough to easily throw a young adult man with no martial arts experience?

[@OGFITNESS]

kids, old folks, and women, hahahaha, still counts! kidding. In regards to your question, if we focus on only 1 relatively easy technique (and devastating, because smashing is important, hehehehe) 5-10 hours of focused training in total should do it, it will obviously depend on how fit, and athletic you are. it can take 3-5 hours if you're one of those guys who are very kinesthetic and visual learners. Would also depend on the quality of the instructor as well. I would pick Ogoshi, easy throw, devasting, easily learned on both sides (left and right), set ups, positioning, reps and sets. Side note, once you acquire the skill you still need to do maintenance work on it, so at least once every 2 weeks you gotta practice.

[@JP-gh9gj]

@@OGFITNESS lol thanks for your input! and tip about maintaining the skill level with least amount of frequency of practice times. 👍 didn’t think about that.

[@jad7354]

Hey bro, is it possible to become an olympic judoka for a 25 year old brown belt? or is it too late? as what point is it to late to reach the olympic stage?

[@performancecartel]

How much time per week do you have to train?

[@arturofernandez725]

If you're genetically gifted, and commit full time to a training Regiment that includes a 4 year strength and conditioning phase designed to peak between the Olympic trials - then yes, you can do it.

[@Bigramt]

Too late

[@user-rc8br5sw6j]

Depends what you mean by Olympic. If you mean to qualify for the Olympic team of your nation then it would depend on how good your country's team is. There was a chap known as Eddie the Eagle who became a British Olympian Ski long jumper because nobody else wanted to be one from the UK and he met the qualifying jump range. So you're asking can you be in the top three national players for your olympic weight. If you were from a smaller country that didn't have a decent judo team then it's doable. You'd have to find out what the qualifying conditions are for the olympics

[@DeathxThexKid100]

Okay, let's break it down this way.. Let's say you're like me, or my instructor who both started in thier mid twenties, (I: 25, my instructer: 26) at that age, an Olympic competitor would have about 18-20 years of experience, in both randori and competition. And at 25, you are an old competitor, when you reach your early to mid 30's these top athletes are done competing. So unless you are both a freak of nature and a savant in Judo, your chances of catching up to them are slim to none. There is no benefit to destroying your body to achieve being a competitor in Judo. There is something to be said about being an instructor/coach at some point in your career however. Or competing at smaller local/regional tournaments.

[@dickiedavis5240]

Good video. Twice a week is twice as good as once a week, but once a week is infinitely better than never a week. For any discipline.

[@OGFITNESS]

Agree

[@Urmomma5f4t]

Most BJJ gyms run judo once a week. IMO it’s not great if you are going to hope to hit throws in sparring. It can improve ur balance tho and breakfalls for sure. You could learn grip fighting too during that year tho. I recommend 3x a week . I started off doing 1x a week for over a year and I did far far better doing in 3x a week . Currently train 4 days a week and it’s fun

[@OGFITNESS]

The more you practice the better you'll be but recovery speed and your goals play into that decision. In general Teenagers and people in their 20s should be able to spam it, once you hit 30s you have dial it back and train very smart.