Judo Gradings

[Iconoclast]

Great info there Simon, cheers.

The more I read and find out about Judo, the more I feel drawn to it.

BJJ will always be my priority in terms of martial arts progression, but I'm really starting to feel that BJJ without some solid, long term Judo training is putting oneself at a distinct disadvantage.

If BJJ is the priority but Judo is something a student wants to train in (as is the case with myself) would it be worth visiting a Judo school such as Camberly, Ray Stevens, Budokwai etc to get more Judo time in? Or would that really not be worth doing, as we cover Judo techniques quite a bit up at Carlsons and unlike specific Judo clubs, we train Judo with BJJ in mind?

I don't think I've attended a BJJ class at Carlsons where a fair chunk of time wasn't spent on Judo techniques. Probably better to just go to more BJJ classes really???

[Simon Hayes]

I've said this before many times,

If you train 3 times per week it is best to do 2xBJJ and 1xJudo.

That is a better regime for self defence and reality than 3xBJJ.
However,i would recommend training the Judo at Carlson's as you will get
better tuition there from BJA high performance coach Danny Murphy (5th Dan) than at your average Judo Beginners class.

If you really can't get to the Saturday class please PM me and i will recommend which Judo classes are best to attend at The Budokwai,Ray Steven's or Camberley.All 3 of those clubs are excellent but it's important to attend the right class with the right coach.

[Iconoclast]

OK great, I've been to Danny Murphys' class twice and they were exactly the kind of thing I was after, but I often work saturdays so I haven't been able to make it a regular thing.

I'm starting a new job in the new year, so I'll see what my new work pattern is like before I know if I can get up there on saturdays on a more regular basis.

I just have a burning need to train in the things that I'm particularly crap at and I feel that I am spectacularly pants at Judo. It's the footwork and getting enough momentum behind the throws that really have me buggered.

[jcraig80]

Why are some Judo black belts not at the level they should be, McDojos'?

I think Simon stated the value of the black belt in judo as a good understanding of the basics; I think this is a great description.

As for some black belts not being up to standard; I think you have to seperate between recreational players who can achieve the black belt without contest and competitive black belts.

From the competitive black belts; I often see 2 problems.

1. To much strength and power used to obtain the points in contest; gradings used to be 'roughly' grouped by weight; with heavyweights typically at an advantage. I have seen players with less than a years experience but a lot of physical conditioning achieve 'black belt'.

2. To many gradings; meaning that if you turn up enough times; law of averages says that you will get the points eventually.

I would like to see the following (Which will never happen to much money involved).

1. Only contest points count or points obtained from official national gradings (perhaps 4 per year); run like tournaments as in Japan at weight categories.

2. A longer time-frame on progressions between the grades (except for exceptional students).

I think the Welsh Judo has plans to hold more kyu grade (Brown Belt and below) championships this year which would be ideal for any BJJ guys cross training to experience judo rules.

[Iconoclast]

I would like to see the following (Which will never happen to much money involved).

1. Only contest points count or points obtained from official national gradings (perhaps 4 per year); run like tournaments as in Japan at weight categories.

2. A longer time-frame on progressions between the grades (except for exceptional students).

How does money stop these from happening? Is it because gradings need to be paid for, thus they are viewed as a vital source of income?

[ade76]

I think the Welsh Judo has plans to hold more kyu grade (Brown Belt and below) championships this year which would be ideal for any BJJ guys cross training to experience judo rules.

Perfect glad to see your back Craig you've missed the snow and shit weather

Are you training next week at all?

[MrSimon]

MRSimon are you retarded or a troll?? Of course the ground game is not as developed in judo because of the rule set; just as the stand-up is not as developed within BJJ, because of the contest rules; doesn't make either sport more developed than the other; they are just different.

Yes, im ever so slightly retarded.

Have another read of my post, nice and slow this time! Do you actually have a problem with anything i said? or u just want an argument.

The points i make are simply:
1. Judo is easier to progress through belts
2.There is less to take in in judo

And then i suppose i kinda point out the obvious saying Bjj players can have a back belt judoka.

And i stress: Having good judo will help loads in BJJ!

Chill out, for god sake!

[ade76]

Yes, im ever so slightly retarded.

Have another read of my post, nice and slow this time! Do you actually have a problem with anything i said? or u just want an argument.

The points i make are simply:
1. Judo is easier to progress through belts
2.There is less to take in in judo

And then i suppose i kinda point out the obvious saying Bjj players can have a back belt judoka.

And i stress: Having good judo will help loads in BJJ!

Chill out, for god sake!

Craig's a national judo coach a 3rd Dan black belt along with being a blue belt in BJJ under Pedro Bessa so he know's what he's talking about and is highly respected.

[TRIBULUS]

Yes it is easier than BJJ to progress through the grades but I don't think there is any less to take in over the long term, both are infinite.

[blackdogmma]

It seems a tad unfair to compare the two really, it gives the wrong impression of judo which is still to a large degree graded by merit, not on some arbitrary syllabus or time scale. I know that there has been a change recently in the Uk that has increased the number of belt you can obtain before you have to compete, but the fact is you still have to fight and win to earn a black belt.

BJJ and Judo are both similar in the fact that they lean toward meritocratic evaluating systems, so if the question was "is it easier to get a TKD, Karate, Aikido black belt etc than a Judo black belt?" then judo would be given the credit it justly deserves.

It also doesnt help that the black belt is not at an equivalent level in each system, perhaps it would be fairer to compare the levels at which you can become an instructor in both systems.