Judo Training And In MMA Questions

[Zapatista]

Okay, so I was supposed to start Judo this month but I ended up with plantar fasciitis so that kinda shot down the Judo so I'm going to wait until I have winter break from classes so that I don't have to deal with school (I'm in college and we just switched to semesters so I'm taking 4 classes instead of 3) and then I'll start it on my break. But...I have a few questions and what better place to ask them then here.

First off, do they train Judo differently in Japan rather than here in the United States? (for MMA wise that is) The reason I am asking this is because I got PRIDE FC "Bushido Vol. 1" on DVD from Netflix and I'm watching it and, so far, all of Team Japan's members are masters in Judo. Now I've watched a couple UFC events (51 and 47) and there was only one person who had a Judo background. So I'm wondering, why is it in Japan that people compete with a Judo background and in the U.S the majority of fighters have BJJ as their grappling art?

Another question, (this may vary by dojo, but I'll ask it anyways) do they teach no-gi Judo? I would learn with the gi because I want to eventually compete in Judo but would they teach me no-gi Judo so that I would be able to compete in MMA? Or, in MMA, are the throws not really emphasized and it is the ground work of Judo that is mainly used?

Sorry if these seem like stupid questions, but I would like an answer and I'm fairily new to martial arts.

[BadgerFu57]

If you get with a good Judo coach and explain your goals to him he can help you with no-gi especially if he has a wrestling background (a lot of Judo players wrestled before going to Judo).

Judo is a huge sport in Japan. It's not popular in America. That's why a lot of Japanese MMA fighters have Judo backgrounds.

The reason most people train BJJ over here is that 1) most Judo gyms here don't focus on matwork, they are taught to turtle up and stall until they get a stand-up (although I've heared the Japanese are taught to face you on the ground and continue to fight), 2) Gracie Marketing.

[medic06]

When I took Judo in college we spent alot of time on groundwork. Most commercial Judo schools in the states emphasis the standup because it is flashy and keeps students around. It all depends on the school

[ddrive]

As far as Judo

More people tend to train in BJJ than Judo because when UFC started, we were exposed and fascinated by how the Gracies took down a variety of people of standup styles with Brazillian Jujitsu. In Japan, sports like Judo, Kendo, and Karate is common like Wrestling, Fencing, and Boxing over here in the US. If you were to learn judo, it's best to learn in the no gi method like I did, especially if you plan on going into mma someday.

[Tant01]

.... If you were to learn judo, it's best to learn in the no gi method like I did, especially if you plan on going into mma someday.

I expect my young or newer students to wear a gi. It's an extra bit of padding and a good handle(s) so you can let them hit the deck with some nice safe gentleness. Later they can persue individual goals once the basics are understood.

It's like starting with "loading" practice before you let them actually throw the Uke.

[BoarSpear]

I expect my young or newer students to wear a gi. It's an extra bit of padding and a good handle(s) so you can let them hit the deck with some nice safe gentleness. Later they can persue individual goals once the basics are understood.

It's like starting with "loading" practice before you let them actually throw the Uke.

Exactly, it allows you to "heat up" a lesson but hang on to the gi to save a new student from the sudden stops. they can attack you full force...you reply full speed but save them from the throw...i find this has really brought my own understanding of grappelling up as well.