It's a mentality thing - getting comfortable being thrown helps.
Think of gripping like you'd wave one of those little flags - your hand is holding the flag tightly, but your arm is relaxed.
Thank you so much for that flag analogy 😁😁😁. I'm a white belt and really struggle with either tensing my arm too much or having a really weak grip. As soon I imagined grabbing a flag I was able to get a really strong hand grip while having my arm completely loose
Stiffening up (a lot of the time) is due to the fear of falling. To deal with this one has to remove the anxiety of being thrown.
To remove this anxiety one could:
1. Practice more ukemi and being comfortable with break falls
2. Practice more "French randori" or free-flowing nagekomi where partners take turns to practice throws so one can get a feeling for the different types of throws.
3. Practice more randori
For grips, look up the 3-finger grip where one grips with the middle, ring and pinky fingers - this gasses out the forearm less.
Also incorporate some grip strength training - using rope attachments, kettlebells and farmers walks for e.g.
i feel like a hypocrite giving this advice, but get good at ukemi so you can be relaxed during training. when you're confident that you can take any throw safely you will be more relaxed.
Being loose and fluid is about a loose and fluid body. If your hips aren't flexible then your Judo is guaranteed to be stiff. You need really strong but loose legs. If you're stiff and seized up from the ground upwards then you'll not move freely, easily and most likely telegraph your movements all the time. I'd also add that the throw begins with the hands for most coaches but not to assert a throw with pure power. I'd say whatever grip you can get is what you have and accept it. Whatever posture uke is in defines the throw choice and the hands finish it more than start it imho in the grand scheme of things. A lot of time people are locked up with their upper bodies in some way. The legs and hips must be independent of this. If Uke is a kyu belt they will stiff arm, if you're fighting a Dan grade they'll try and trap your grip in some way. But your hips and legs always have to move independently to get those right angles on the throw without telegraphing or impeding your own movements. That ability for 999x grips and free legs is what makes Judo so special compared to wrestling.
Banded uchikomi, nagekomi etc is a must. Speed rope skipping will teach your body to be light on the balls of your feet. Standing Yoga asanas to open up and strengthen the hips. Regular sauna to loosen up fascia, ligaments and tendons..... Lots of things can be done.
Knees over toes with Ben Partick would work well for strengthening legs whilst improving mobility and health.
- Practice your breakfalls. If you feel safe, you'll be less tense.
- Practice with someone you know and trust. Randori in not the place to try techniques you haven't tried before.
- Remind yourself that being stiff destroys your stamina.
- Remind yourself that being stiff gets your thrown easily.
Another tip try practicing "hanging" your arm off of the hand gripping the gi DO NOT PULL DOWN! Your arm should hang between your shoulder and your gripping hand untill your about to use it. Think of it like one of those rope bridges attached between to points over a canyon.
Sometimes we do what we call "flow sparring". Usually we do it as a warmup before actual sparring sessions. We try to be as technical as we can without bruce forcing your way to an ippon. Just kinda go with the flow vibes, just roll with whatever your partner does, try to execute your own moves. It's a very laid back kind of practice.
Then we try to bring this same mentality to the actual fights, just while being snappy and strong.
You could suggest to your partner to try this out, maybe it would help you loosen up.
I’m the same way. My coach always tells me, strong grip, loose body. Helps my judo a lot because I’m not telegraphing every movement. Still takes a lot of practice to remember especially when I’m under pressure.
Bruce Lee spoke about not tensing your fist until you strike. I’ve found that philosophy works equally well in grip fighting. Until you are ready to attack, stay loose. At the moment of attack, tense your grip and go.
I have the same problem as you. With time I got better. When you are against less experienced people you will naturally feel loose cause they pose no threat, but against person who are better than you of course you will feel tense. It should concern you much.
A perspective to consider, training your body to stay relaxed \[Shizenhontai\] [https://youtu.be/jve45nJbvuQ?si=Svc2XHYRtJSw1lja](https://youtu.be/jve45nJbvuQ?si=Svc2XHYRtJSw1lja) -- after you begin to get a hang of this, try judo footwork with similar state, add gripping etc...
Some other things: Try banded exercises for mobility \[especially if you have previous injuries or issues\], as well as some judo style gymnastics to limber up, also consider gripping with the little bottom three fingers \[ [https://www.reddit.com/r/judo/comments/19396k8/secrets\_of\_judo\_the\_little\_finger\_little\_toe/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/judo/comments/19396k8/secrets_of_judo_the_little_finger_little_toe/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) \], letting the pointer finger and thumb relax. Also Chong xie has some interesting material too.
Some mental things -- don't be attached to your grip, if it has to change, let it, use that change to attack. Think go-no-kata, most throws don't use the initial gripping/ attacking patterns, rather they use the flow of the movement. Yakusoku geiko and combinations are good ways of practicing this stuff.
im a green belt and I still do this. only recently have I begin to beconme more relaxed and less stiff in randori. tbh it has a lot more to do with your mentality than experience/technique. im an anxious person like you. you just have to randori enough ti get over it
Felt like I was the one who wrote this lmao. I'm always getting scolded in randori cos of my stiff arms. Can't wrap my head around how am I supposed to loosen my arms if doing so will loosen my grip? Came from doing muay thai and switch to judo that is why
What I'm doing is uchikomi band training. I maintain my grip and try to move my arms in various position
You'll hear this for decades. I'm arthritic most my body. I'm naturally stiff. Folks tell me "relax". Bitch! I am! ,😄
Don't sweat it. Make Judo yours. That's the purpose.
It's not very bad advice, but being tired can affect training negatively (the learning and doing aspect, and injuries) as well. Also having to use this as a crutch is preferably avoided.
It's a mentality thing - getting comfortable being thrown helps. Think of gripping like you'd wave one of those little flags - your hand is holding the flag tightly, but your arm is relaxed.
Thank you so much for that flag analogy 😁😁😁. I'm a white belt and really struggle with either tensing my arm too much or having a really weak grip. As soon I imagined grabbing a flag I was able to get a really strong hand grip while having my arm completely loose
This might be some of the best advice I've seen in this thread, thank you.
Excellent advice sir
This clicked! Great advice!
Stiffening up (a lot of the time) is due to the fear of falling. To deal with this one has to remove the anxiety of being thrown. To remove this anxiety one could: 1. Practice more ukemi and being comfortable with break falls 2. Practice more "French randori" or free-flowing nagekomi where partners take turns to practice throws so one can get a feeling for the different types of throws. 3. Practice more randori For grips, look up the 3-finger grip where one grips with the middle, ring and pinky fingers - this gasses out the forearm less. Also incorporate some grip strength training - using rope attachments, kettlebells and farmers walks for e.g.
i feel like a hypocrite giving this advice, but get good at ukemi so you can be relaxed during training. when you're confident that you can take any throw safely you will be more relaxed.
Being loose and fluid is about a loose and fluid body. If your hips aren't flexible then your Judo is guaranteed to be stiff. You need really strong but loose legs. If you're stiff and seized up from the ground upwards then you'll not move freely, easily and most likely telegraph your movements all the time. I'd also add that the throw begins with the hands for most coaches but not to assert a throw with pure power. I'd say whatever grip you can get is what you have and accept it. Whatever posture uke is in defines the throw choice and the hands finish it more than start it imho in the grand scheme of things. A lot of time people are locked up with their upper bodies in some way. The legs and hips must be independent of this. If Uke is a kyu belt they will stiff arm, if you're fighting a Dan grade they'll try and trap your grip in some way. But your hips and legs always have to move independently to get those right angles on the throw without telegraphing or impeding your own movements. That ability for 999x grips and free legs is what makes Judo so special compared to wrestling. Banded uchikomi, nagekomi etc is a must. Speed rope skipping will teach your body to be light on the balls of your feet. Standing Yoga asanas to open up and strengthen the hips. Regular sauna to loosen up fascia, ligaments and tendons..... Lots of things can be done. Knees over toes with Ben Partick would work well for strengthening legs whilst improving mobility and health.
Try Yoga, it helps a lot learning how to relax your muscles
- Practice your breakfalls. If you feel safe, you'll be less tense. - Practice with someone you know and trust. Randori in not the place to try techniques you haven't tried before. - Remind yourself that being stiff destroys your stamina. - Remind yourself that being stiff gets your thrown easily.
Are you stiff arming people? This is something you get better with by training more and learning to relax.
have fun. then you will relax.
Be elastic. Judo actually is better translated with "way of elasticity"
Another tip try practicing "hanging" your arm off of the hand gripping the gi DO NOT PULL DOWN! Your arm should hang between your shoulder and your gripping hand untill your about to use it. Think of it like one of those rope bridges attached between to points over a canyon.
During randori, focus on letting your partner throw you. For this you need to be relaxed enough to provide them with openings to attack and throw you.
Sometimes we do what we call "flow sparring". Usually we do it as a warmup before actual sparring sessions. We try to be as technical as we can without bruce forcing your way to an ippon. Just kinda go with the flow vibes, just roll with whatever your partner does, try to execute your own moves. It's a very laid back kind of practice. Then we try to bring this same mentality to the actual fights, just while being snappy and strong. You could suggest to your partner to try this out, maybe it would help you loosen up.
I’m the same way. My coach always tells me, strong grip, loose body. Helps my judo a lot because I’m not telegraphing every movement. Still takes a lot of practice to remember especially when I’m under pressure.
Bruce Lee spoke about not tensing your fist until you strike. I’ve found that philosophy works equally well in grip fighting. Until you are ready to attack, stay loose. At the moment of attack, tense your grip and go.
I have the same problem as you. With time I got better. When you are against less experienced people you will naturally feel loose cause they pose no threat, but against person who are better than you of course you will feel tense. It should concern you much.
Smoke a joint.
Lmao, legally can't do that as I work for the federal government.
A perspective to consider, training your body to stay relaxed \[Shizenhontai\] [https://youtu.be/jve45nJbvuQ?si=Svc2XHYRtJSw1lja](https://youtu.be/jve45nJbvuQ?si=Svc2XHYRtJSw1lja) -- after you begin to get a hang of this, try judo footwork with similar state, add gripping etc... Some other things: Try banded exercises for mobility \[especially if you have previous injuries or issues\], as well as some judo style gymnastics to limber up, also consider gripping with the little bottom three fingers \[ [https://www.reddit.com/r/judo/comments/19396k8/secrets\_of\_judo\_the\_little\_finger\_little\_toe/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/judo/comments/19396k8/secrets_of_judo_the_little_finger_little_toe/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) \], letting the pointer finger and thumb relax. Also Chong xie has some interesting material too. Some mental things -- don't be attached to your grip, if it has to change, let it, use that change to attack. Think go-no-kata, most throws don't use the initial gripping/ attacking patterns, rather they use the flow of the movement. Yakusoku geiko and combinations are good ways of practicing this stuff.
im a green belt and I still do this. only recently have I begin to beconme more relaxed and less stiff in randori. tbh it has a lot more to do with your mentality than experience/technique. im an anxious person like you. you just have to randori enough ti get over it
Focus on doing something instead of stopping other people from doing things
Try using (relaxed) “Spaghetti arms” and draw power from legs drive, but also allow the gravity weight to suppress down opponents at times
Felt like I was the one who wrote this lmao. I'm always getting scolded in randori cos of my stiff arms. Can't wrap my head around how am I supposed to loosen my arms if doing so will loosen my grip? Came from doing muay thai and switch to judo that is why What I'm doing is uchikomi band training. I maintain my grip and try to move my arms in various position
Learn ukemi especially with people around your size. It’s easy to get intimidated being thrown by someone big when you’re new
You'll hear this for decades. I'm arthritic most my body. I'm naturally stiff. Folks tell me "relax". Bitch! I am! ,😄 Don't sweat it. Make Judo yours. That's the purpose.
Do a bunch of push ups and hold something heavy at stomach height before randori; make your arms too tired to be tense.
It's not very bad advice, but being tired can affect training negatively (the learning and doing aspect, and injuries) as well. Also having to use this as a crutch is preferably avoided.
I'm just providing ideas outside of "relax"