Judo as a self defense system

[Sam]

personal opinion is from what ive seen of it, it would seem to be effective for self defense. But again, its mainly down to how you train and what aim you have sport, etc. and what methods you use.

[Menjo]

personal opinion is from what ive seen of it, it would seem to be effective for self defense. But again, its mainly down to how you train and what aim you have sport, etc. and what methods you use.

I agree, its all down to how you train but judo is exellent how it allows you to get the attacker down and you should be able to run away easily.

Personaly I find Shotokan very effective, I recommend it.

[Sam]

i find tkd very effective.... for me and the way i train.

I think we all enjoy and recommend our art.... but yes i also have a lot of respect for shotokan

[E MacP]

Judo is very effective. I have been a Judoka for many years and I have had to use it a few times. Once someone tried to stab me, another time I was attacked with a broken beer bottle, and twice I have had people trained in striking techniques come at me.

The trick is not to rush them, as others have written. Rather you back up. This forces your opponent to reach for you. As they reach you block and then either pull them in towards yourself (using their momentum) or you advance quickly to them. It all depends on the technique that presents itself. The gap is closed and grappling begins. Regarding ground work, DO NOT USE IT. It does you no good to have a brilliant pin on someone only to have their friend kick you in the back of the head. Always stay on your feet. If your throw did not end the fight then break their arm from a standing armlock, or kick them.. but under no circumstances give up the "high ground". I hope that this was helpful.

Remember: Never hit a man who's down; but kicking a man who's trying to get back up is another matter.

[Sam]

i dont mean to be a pain - but obviously the strikers werent taht experienced... if an attacked backs off i would wait for them nad not chase - it leaves you open and off balance.....

[Menjo]

Thats true charging does get you in trouble, I charged a BJJ guy, and he some how slammed my head into the ground and started pounding on my back.

[E MacP]

You are not being a "pain", but you are forgetting a point. When somebody attacks you, they want to hit you. If you back up four inches as you block a punch then they will move forward. They want to hurt you.

One of the times when I was attached by a trained person he was a blackbelt in Karate (sorry, don't know the style). Someone told him that I was a judoka and then he came over and started asking questions. "What would you do if I did this" he said as he threw slow punches. I blocked, he started going faster and faster. Soon I was backing up across the kitchen as he advanced. One of his punches (left hand) grazed my glasses as I block it upwards, my frames cut into my eyebrow. He was advancing, I'd had enough. His next punch (right hand) came, I blocked it as I stepped forward. My left arm entwined his right. I performed a right side O-Soto-Gari. Fight ended.

Do not forget: fighting is not randori, fighting is not shia. Fighting is someone, and potentially all his friends in the room, deciding that they are going to hurt you. It is not a chance to showcase your skills, it is a forced situation that you must deal with. Just because I know judo techniques I will not limit myself to them. If I can win by smashing someone upside the head with the beer bottle in my hand then I will. Fighting is not two trained masters facing each other on a dusty plain waiting for the other to make a move. The other person will come after you, they are attacking you.

[Sam]

okay point taken - assuming theyre complete idiots who train and then go round trying to prove a point - they deserve what they get.

[elbows_and_knees]

it's not necessarily about proving a point. When people fight, they WANT to hurt you. if they want to hurt you, when you move back, they are going to follow. Why? because they have to be able to touch you in order to hurt you. We are talking fights, not sparring. If it's a real fight and he stops when you back off, then it's likely not that serious anyway. you can probably verbally end the confrontation.

Also, if your footwork is correct, advancing does not leave you off balance.

[Sam]

yep okay - but he was talking about trained people - all teh people i train with wouldnt initiate like that.... but i take the point that in this situation the striker is the agressor and so would follow up .... just saying its not wise thats all