Sat 16/5/15 Session (Competition Training)

On Saturday we had an excellent competition training session with some guests joining our elite players for a 3-hour workout that consisted of 3 core modules: newaza, tachi-waza and randori (roughly 1 hour each).

When I had my first taste of competition judo training at the LA Judo Training Center, video was a big part of the training program so naturally I wanted to incorporate video into the KL Judo Training Centre's program. Since our approach is to teach competition style judo, I wanted to show the students real contest examples of the techniques I would be teaching them. Here, you can see us trying to install some external speakers to the TV so everyone can hear.

Class begins with a briefing about what would be taught during the session. For both newaza and tachi-waza modules, there would be a brief video session for them to see the techniques in action during international contests. The black matted area is where the video sessions and technical instruction is normally conducted.

PART 1 (Newaza)

The first newaza technique was a version of juji-gatame called the Iaskevitch Armlock named after the famous Russian player Alexander Iaskevitch, who had inspired a legion of armlockers around the world with his technique. In fact, Neil Adams was first inspired to incorporate the armlock into his groundwork repertoire after seeing Iaskevitch execute his masterful armlock.

Although Neil Adams was inspiredby Iaskevitch, his armlock was slightly different. He adapted the entry to incorporate a Figure-4 grip which allowed him to switch from attacking the back to the front and vice versa. The shortcoming of the Iaskevitch technique is that it only allows you to attack the back. This is why I told the students I found the Adams version to be superior. Here, I am helping a player secure a proper Figure-4 grip.

Some of the players asked what you can do when a player flattens out completely and you can't get your legs in or even your arms in to secure the Figure-4. When I trained in England in the early 90s, I had a chance to spend some time with Neil Adams and he gave me some very useful tips about the armlock. I shared some of those tips with the players.

Some of the players had problems with the entry because there was too much space between them and their partners. I showed them how tight you have to be when you do the juji-gatame roll.

Since many of the players were not familiar with the Adams armlock roll, I got each of them to try it out as I supervised. Here Shirinnah makes the initial entry into the roll.

It's important to post on your forehead and decide whether to roll to the front or to the back. I recommend the players initially try for the back roll, and if that doesn't work, they can always switch to the front. Qaini starts her entry posting on her forehead.

Wai Kit learns to fall on his right side to try attack his opponent from the back.

Cheryllynn learns to dig in deep -- crucial for the technique to work.

Qaini manages to roll her partner and end sup in an upright sitting position, ready to straighten the arm.

The students can't learn without doing drills though. So, I got all of them to partner up and try the technique, first without resistance and then with full resistance.



Drills are one of the best ways to learn become acquainted with the technique so I had the students do lots and lots of drills.


PART 2 (Tachi-Waza)

Many players are not familiar with what's legal and what's not when it comes to grip breaking so I give a brief explanation. And then I show them how they can break a grip legally (for lapel grip and for sleeve grip). I emphasized to the players that KL Judo Training Centre, we will emphasize grips a lot. Without good gripping, you can't do effective judo.

Grip fighting is not often taught in traditional clubs but both in the US and the UK where I trained, grip training was an essential part of the program. And so it is with the KL Judo Training Centre as well. I had all the students practice legal grip-breaking techniques. First in a static situation and then in a moving, almost randori like situation with full resistance. After the drill, everyone's arms felt like noodles (including mine).

After a short break to recover from the grip fighting drills, it was time to learn the throwing technique of the day: The Straight Leg Seoi-Nage. I broke it down to the tiniest details and explained the rationale for each aspect of the throw.

After that, I got each of them to try. Many were able to execute it although it was their first time trying this variation. This is why they are elite players!

Reza executed it well on his first try, sending his partner flying through the air. Luckily we have crash pads to cushion the fall.

Cheryllynn initially had some trouble with the driving leg but she eventually learned how to position it correctly and here she executes a picture perfect version.

Qaini was a natural with this technique and she picked it up really fast.

 Here you can see Aishah sending Reza flying through the air. She's got a knack for it as well.

Crash pads galore. We have many crash pads in the dojo and we make full use of them. No point having the players hurt themselves throwing repeatedly on the tatami, especially since I want them to do lots of throws and with full impact.

The only way they can learn to throw properly is to do a full-blooded throw and not hold back for fear of injuring or hurting their partner. The crash pads allow for that.

One of the problems I see many players face is that although they are able to make the entry, they can't complete the throw. The culprit is uchikomi. They are so conditioned to only enter and load but not complete the throw that after they have hoisted their opponent onto their backs, they can't finish the throw properly. I saw that in a few of the players. So, I told all of them to go for full impact. With a crash pad, there is no pain. And they did it. Here, Qaini goes all out with her throw.

After a few attempts Franklin manages to overcome the psychological barrier and smashes Sam to the crash pad.

Sam responds in kind. You can see the full commitment his puts into the throw.

Matthew goes for the full Koga effect, sending both his partner and himself hurling through the air.

Everybody's pretty tired after 2 hours of groundwork, grip-fighting and throwing drills. But they are only 2/3rds done. There's still another hour left. They get a short water break though.


PART 3 (Randori)

 

From the get go I told the elite players that this club emphasizes randori and we would have at least 1 hour of randori at each session. Although they had just been through 2 hours of hard training, doing throws and drills, nobody was allowed to say they were too tired to spar. The only exceptions were those who were injured. Those who had just thrown up were allowed to take a breather. Everyone else had to fight.

Sam, a Sukma silver medalist was fully into it, attacking Matthew with kouchi-gake.

Next, he followed up with a very competition-styled cross-grip tai-otoshi.

Though still an orange belt, Matthew wasn't going to take it lying down so he struck back with ouchi-gari.

I told the players to follow through to ground work when the action went to the ground. Quite a few of them did not yet have that instinct. But Luka did. He went straight into groundwork whenever he could.

So, did Reza. Here you can see him attempting to turn over his partner after knocking him down.

Time flies when you're having fun. Before you know it, the session is over. We conclude with a circular bow at KL Judo. Wai Kit is slightly injured which is why his judogi is off.

It was quite a big crowd today, thanks to the guests who came to visit and train with us despite being forewarned that it's going to be a tough session. They came anyway and had a great time. A few stubbed toes and fingers here and there during randori. A few dashes to the restroom to throw up. But everyone went away feeling they had the workout of their lives.

It's really hard to get girls to do judo. It's just not that popular. But we had several of them at the club tonight. All were hard fighters and all fought with guys. None complained.

After practice, I asked the players to choose the champion they would like to emulate most and to pose under their posters. Here, Matthew does his best Georgii Zantaraia impersonation.

Shirinnah looks just like a three-time World Champion as she imitates Yuri Alvear.

 Wai Kit wants to be just like Olympic and three-time World Champion Ilias Iliadis.

 

Qaini may be a lightweight unlike World and Olympic champion Kayla Harrison but that doesn't mean she can't fight like her.

Chee Wah almost looks Mongolian as he does the tomoe-nage like World Champion Tsagaanbaatar Khashbaatar.

Cherylynn jumps for joy at the thought of becoming a great champion like double World Champion Majlinda Kelmendi.

Jason attacks with ouchi-gari like his hero, World Champion Avtandil Tchrikishvili.

Try as she might, Aishah can't get herself to look at garang as "The Beast" Kaori Matsumoto.

 

"I am the greatest!" declares Sam as he raises his arms triumphantly like Olympic and seven-time World Champion Teddy Riner.

We topped off a great session with some drinks and food at the local mamak, the only food place open after 10pm. What a session 7pm to 10pm of non-stop training!