April 30, 2013

• Pyjama Game

  I got to spar with [JJT] for the first time in a while.  It’s been perhaps a month since we last crossed paths.  He’s about 10kg lighter than me, so I have a significant weight advantage, but he’s got a lot more Brasilian Jiu Jitsu training than I do, so his newaza (ground fighting) is way better than mine, and he has a lot better instinct on his feet as well for tachiwaza (stand up fighting), even though the gameplay rules for judo differ slightly.  Mostly, the big difference is that Australian rules judo doesn’t allow you to grab below the belt anymore– so the most common MMA and BJJ takedowns, namely single leg and double leg takedowns, are not valid.

   

  Regardless, JJT and I started judo at the same time.  I’m not sure who of us gets more or less training because we both go when we can.  For the longest time though, I felt that he was winning 51% of our standup fights and 100% of our ground fights.  Indeed, now that I think about it– to this day, I have never submit him on the ground before.

  The tides have changed lately. In standup fighting, given about 5-10 minutes to go at it, I’m the one scoring about 2/3 to 3/4 of the takedowns.  And on the ground, although I still haven’t managed to tap him out, I used to be submitted 4 or more times in 5-10 minutes– now, going at it the other night, he only got me once over 10 minutes.

   

  I think the differences are due to the fact that simply, I’m getting more comfortable using my body for judo.  I’m better at controlling my own momentum and maintaining my balance.  I don’t feel I’m as good as JJT at initiating throws that rely on redirection finesse, but I am finally getting some basic “power” throws and sweeps.  Basically, I’m making the 10kg difference count.  Which doesn’t say very much– but at least I’m using my weight and strength more efficiently.  In the past, not only was JJT superior in technique, but I wasn’t using my weight and power properly, which made it a contest of just technique. 

   

  Although… 10 kg of difference is pretty huge.  Like… 22 pounds!  Mind you, we haven’t compared weight in a while and I’ve lost 5kg since I started judo, so maybe I’m getting better than I thought…

  • 10:51 pm
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