Relax During Randori

[@simonrcarson]

Great video. I started judo 4 months ago (at the age of 63) and am constantly told to relax, not to stiff arm, and not to bend over so much. Slowly I'm getting better, at least partly because getting thrown so often I am getting less afraid of hitting the floor and starting to enjoy randori more. I'm starting to enjoy getting thrown with a quality throw from the higher grades! Relaxing is hard until you overcome that initial fear of falling.

[@heyitsnolfy]

Thank you guys so much, I've been trying to relax all the time when I'm doing Judo and I never seem to get the concept down. You guys are so cool. I'm a yellow belt and my osoto gari and tai otoshi helped significantly the more I focused on relaxing and being smooth. You guys are the best!

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

That's great to hear...I'm glad this video has helped. It's a strange concept to try and teach, especially through a video...it's much easy to demonstrate this concept physically. Keep up the good work!!

[@JM-jd7yp]

I am new to judo and I fall into this trap regularly. White belts often face other white belts in randori and most of my opponents are stiff armed too. I am conscious of it and the reasons why it is wrong has been pointed out to me by my very good instructors. I am really trying to relax and stand in a more natural stance. Thank you for this video because it really helps and reinforces the message.

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Every new Judoka (and plenty of long time Judoka) fall into this trap. It's great that you are aware of it so early in your learning, as this should help you figure it out quicker. Having a good instructor definitely helps!! I'm glad to hear our video has helped you. I hope you're enjoying learning Judo.

[@Fahim_Lalani]

True ambassadors for judo 🥋 the gentle way thx 🙏

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Thank you!!

[@davidwiller7192]

brilliant guys thank you

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Cheers David...hopefully it helped!

[@HanzoTookTheWrongShuriken]

Thanks for making this video! I've heard about this concept, but I can't say that I understood it. However, thanks to this video I'm finally starting to understand what people talk about using your hips to defend yourself! Gotta try it out!

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

I'm glad to hear it has been helpful. When you fight someone who is a master of the hip defence it feels like trying to throw a giant tree...it's very humbling!! Keep experimenting with it!

[@mvricks90]

hip trick was brilliant. I wasted so much energy using my arms on simple drills like this

[@adamraymond272]

Thanks for the video guys really useful.

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Glad you enjoyed it Adam!

[@TheZangetsuBankai1]

Great video! Can you do a video on how to improve ashiwaza (kouchi/ouchi) in randori and what you should be looking for when doing it?

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Cheers. Yes, great question. We'll get on to it!

[@jongler9775]

Hello everyone. I am quite happy to hear more about "relaxing". I do that too, as much as I can, but I have to say : the guys I train with don't think that way. It is therefore very hard for me to keep relaxing in every situation, even when I face stiff arming opponents. And well, if I cannot throw them, they will never accept a word of advice for me, so I keep my mouth shut, and I try to improve on my own. The thing is : I don't get tired easily, and they burn their stamina quick. ( I am 40 and they are about 18 years old ). Now, I hope I will be able to show better result, to be able to interest somebody in "soft arm judo". Last session, I ended up using too much arm strengh against my will (and of course going nowhere), and afterwards I felt strongly disappointed with myself. Man ! There is so much to learn.

[@youmang]

It’ll make you better. Keep doing it.

[@jongler9775]

@@youmang Thank you for your kind words. I will.

[@judomoves1308]

You don't have to dispense it as advice. You can ask it as a favour. Ask if they can train with you with relaxed arms and more flow because you want to practice hip defence and more movement. Most will oblige

[@jongler9775]

@@judomoves1308 Thank you for your nice advice. I will do that.

[@simonsharpe1352]

Had to laugh about the don’t worry about getting it thrown in Randori it’s competition you need to worry about LOL

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Yeah, this was something my coach was really strong on...randori is about trying to throw, and if in the process you get throw, so what, get up and crack on...competition is where it matters.

[@edjones6837]

It's randori, not the Kano cup!!

[@syrymserikov7354]

Thanks, I will use your advices to improve my judo. Do you have pdf or fb2 of that book?

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Thank you Syrym, it's nice to hear our advice has helped you. Unfortunately I don't...I like having the physical copies of books.

[@paultaylor107]

If you did an unabridged audio book of judo books such as that I'd pay for them on audible

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

I'll get to work on it 🤣

[@DegoJudo2012]

🇮🇹👍🏼

[@kennethrogers1129]

reminds me of my instructor telling me, NOT TO FIGHT FOR GRIPS, relax and throw with what your opponent/partner gives you…. and this instructor was the first white man to make black belt at the Kodokan in Japan, while serving in Vietnam war…. I see so many judoka waste a lot of energy fighting for grip, I guess that is a controversial way of thinking, … but seemed to change my judo thinking about what he was saying,

[@TheJudoWayofLife]

Yeah, it's a real balancing act. I think gripping fighting, or at least the ability to grip fight, is essential, but so is, as you describe, the ability to just grip and throw. Sometimes, a lot of energy is wasted on unnecessary grip fighting...being able to recognise when you have grip that you can throw with is part of the game...then actually being able to throw with it is the next part!!