Safety in Judo

We all know Judo can be rough on the body. This aspect of Judo can be a limiting factor in growing Judo's popularity. What kind of steps can we take to make Judo safe for everyone? In this episode, Shintaro and Peter talk about some of the strategies we as a community can take to help make Judo safe.
0:00 intro and Bjj 43 million dollar law suit
0:40 IJF and banning throws for safety
1:30 Martial Judo in the dojo and liability
2:20 Dojo safety rules
3:40 IJF head touch rule
4:40 121 dead judo kids
6:18 rank/age based technique restrictions
7:24 freestyle vs collegiate wrestling
9:28 white belts No Randori
10:20 dangerous visitors
12:30 protection of students in class
14:00 learning good judo for safety
14:45 safety for white belts
16:00 community policing
18:00 how to introduce dangerous techniques
19:20 Message to Keith Bryant US JUDO CEO: NO drops and ura nage for kids!
23:30 what is better for Judo!?
23:50 Japan's problem in Judo, 340lb elementary school champ
26:20 loser coaches
27:20 we aren't in Japan In the 60's anymore
I (Shintaro Higashi) Meticulously put these time stamps in. Was it worth my time? Was your experience that much better? Please let me know in the comments (seriously, I want to know... This isn't an algorithm move).
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[@MrRabouni]

In my dojo, we have a rule for the stuff we watch online. My sensei ask that we show him the techniques we've seen on the internet, to be sure they're safe, especially for beginners

[@frostysmoke37]

Makes total sense

[@SoldierAndrew]

So many former judoka complain about judo being hard on their bodies. A decent traditional judo club should be drilling mostly uchikomi drills to cultivate kuzushi without practicing repetitive impact throws that break down the body. Crash mats should be available to practice repetitive hard throws without wrecking the body. Break falls are necessary to practice in order to learn but to prevent long term injuries , especially for older adults, the old school judo focus of cultivating uchi komi for kuzushi, newaza and finally use modern crash pads to protect your uke during hard throws or high falls. The modern sport attitude that you must train hard by continuously taking high break falls and that uchi komi must be replaced with constant full throws of one's uke in order to learn to throw is toxic to the art of judo and results in broken, former, judoka leaving the art.🌊

[@larryzach7880]

Our local tournament, has for several years prohibited drop seoi for under 13. You have to protect your competitors, sports and arts require participation, paralyzed or dead players aren't very good at participating. And kids coming up through the ranks who haven't been hurt will be the best thing for the future of Judo. Those kids will be your true-lifers.

[@davidmcallister4692]

I have three kids doing competition judo. That exact thing with the ura nage happened to my son aged 11 in a low level competition where he was put in with heavier kids. Totally brutal to watch. Had no idea at the time it was so dangerous. Totally agree with the whole interview. Great work.

[@bla7091]

Timestamps are great, I love reading the contents to get the big picture of what you're saying. On this topic... it's the main reason guys at other martial arts mention when they say why they wouldn't try judo.

[@elcaminanteyexplorador53]

Nice. Fascinating martial art.

[@official_liberal_chungus7825]

Man i can't wait for my first no GI judo lesson

[@jongler9775]

French guy living in North Japan here. Got my black belt last year. 7 years old kid doing judo with me. I help the 7th dan teacher with the kids' judo lesson, and I have to say : your thoughts and comments about judo in Japan are spot on ! "everybody hates judo", "we have to make it fun", kids competitions are taken down a notch, everything is very true. Training at a university with students, more and more I put an emphasis on safety, fun, and helping out everybody. I think people like that. By the way, every teen I meet ( around 18 ), has no experience in armlocks and such. Cheers

[@kusotare9559]

I teach a couple of different high risk sports, and in each of them I tell parents my priorities are safety, fun, and learning, and in that order. If it ain't safe, we aren't doing it, because I want everybody to be able to come back for more. If it's not fun, they won't want to come back. And if they don't learn, there's no need for them to come back. Also, "Win at all costs" is definitely NOT jita kyoei. I do wish, though, that the IJF would be more explicit when they ban techniques for reasons of safety. I still don't understand what defines a reverse seoinage and why it is inherently unsafe. I don't allow my students to do it, but I can't give them a comprehensive explanation why it's banned.

[@Jiiimbooh]

Maybe instead of banning individual techniques, penalize when the techniques are done in a dangerous way (without control). Leg grabs were not banned for safety. I think with the elimination of the koka (previously the lowest score) they could try allowing leg grabs again, as badly performed leg grabs wouldn't get rewarded with kokas like in the past.

[@Laughingman9432]

Have you had issues with injuries with tani otoshi

[@jacobllavore397]

What do you think about judo in high school in the US? I coach for a school district that has a 10 week season and our pace has them competing with the other schools after their first month. We do ban the more dangerous throws and no chokes/armbars.

[@RichardSmith-xx8fr]

For every black belt with a quality technique There’s 10000 schools that would have the gym / history teacher teaching throws off KZbin Kids would get injured a lot

[@stacybehrens7152]

While id love to see it, It would be really hard to get judo going in the US schools. Simply not enough critical mass of participants in most places. Both coaches and athletes. Not saying it’s impossible but it would be very hard. Easier to pull off in college. There also are issues with infrastructure (rooms, mats, etc), safety concerns, financing, officiating, etc. Also competing for athletes with HS wrestling would be a thing. That said, I think judo clubs could and should partner with schools to offer it as an extra-curricular. Lots of places that would be possible.

[@Karen-fs6lf]

When I was a kid my club was famous for a adult white belt got his neck broken on the ground he was only 18 lucky he recovered

[@Karen-fs6lf]

White belt tournament

[@user-827JJJJJJefjkjen9llwn]

hey what's komi?

[@grahamwatson9023]

Komu is a helper verb loosely means "jam it in"

[@yodhamartialarts2913]

What is the danger of drop techniques?

[@zacharywiesel900]

Velocity is so much greater.

[@sirpibble]

We have a new rule that white belts are not allowed to train live together, Someone lost an ACL because they wrapped the leg on an osoto He was told not 5 minutes earlier to not do that but did it anyway So we realize that they just can't be trusted, we need to treat them like children

[@Karen-fs6lf]

White belt tournament

[@mrmalayweather4850]

PLEASE FIX SHINTARO‘s MICROPHONE… Not loud enough

[@stacybehrens7152]

Women wrestle freestyle in college wrestling. 4 and 5 point throws totally legal. It’s not more dangerous than folkstyle and injury rates aren’t higher. Folkstyle in HS has a lot more restrictions on throws and other moves primarily because the coaches never learned the techniques so they can’t teach them properly/safely. Plus schools are understandably cautious about safety for throws given the number of beginning wrestlers. Top tier HS and college wrestlers all do Olympic styles. Prohibitions against clasping hands on the mat in folkstyle are to encourage mat wrestling and give the guy on bottom a chance. Has nothing to do with safety.

[@timothykalamaros2954]

“One death is too much” is a bad slogan. Millions people playing game will lead to somebody dying even if some safely. But - No risk no exercise and I then all the sedentary people die of diabetes and heart disease.

[@ak-4292]

3:40 it's not exactly that. I am a competitor myself so know it, because it happens to me. If your shoulder touches the mat before your head, you do not lose for example.

[@djignatin4043]

That BJJ guy is a paralyzed now.

[@Dynamic6000]

He was, he’s recovered. Literally climbing mountains.

[@djignatin4043]

@@Dynamic6000 oh really?

[@djignatin4043]

@@Dynamic6000 Are we talking about the same guy?

[@hitnrunner303]

@@Dynamic6000 That's great to hear.

[@arieassouline7486]

​@Nick Serrano that is incorrect. He will never fully recover. He will never regain full strength and will live with incontinence for the rest of his life.