If you’re thinking of taking Judo for Self-Defense, you MUST see this !

[andrewkarl]

I started Judo at 58, then Jiu Jitsu at 59, only because where I trained they taught both. Later on one of my days off, after noon Jiu Jitsu, they added. Muay Thai. Now as a 65 year old I feel confident where ever I go, because, I can run really fast.

[diggoryjones]

21 years in judo. I can tell you I am afraid to get into a street fight but I'm also 100% confident I wouldn't lose one except maybe to a better martial artist. And it is that confidence that people pick up on. I can relax knowing my skills and be confident that a would be attacker is going to stay clear of me because of my confidence. The greatest part of teaching judo is helping bullied kids. They come in being bullied. Three months later they aren't being bullied anymore ....

[christopherbutler]

In complete agreement, judo is an excellent martial art for self defence.

My parents decided when I was 9 years old that I needed to learn judo to help me build my confidence and to have knowledge of how to defend myself when needed. They signed me up for classes at our local dojo back in 1996, because I was being physically bullied everyday on the school bus to and from school where I would walk into the house after a day of school with either a split lip, ripped clothes or a black eye.

Judo helped me stop all that almost instantly.

25 years later, I’m still doing judo, still loving this amazing sport and I’m still as excited as ever to step on to the tatami to get bounced about the dojo. The only difference now is that I’m coaching the next generation of judoka, one of which is my daughter, who will hopefully never have to experience what I went through as kid because of her knowledge of judo.

Judo is more than a martial art or a sport, it’s a way of life.

[MajinMind]

I totally agree. I started as a kid with karate, then Muay Thai, BJJ and now MMA. And if I could change one thing in my life it would be to have started with Judo.

[SoldierDrew]

“Judo is a study of techniques with which you may kill if you wish to kill, injure if you wish to injure, subdue if you wish to subdue, and, when attacked, defend yourself.”

— Kano Jigoro

[sharifhesso]

I trained judo as a kid and teen. I got through to a green belt and than dropped out because I lost interest. Fast forward 9 years, did not go to any martial art class or anything in the mean time and I got attacked by a guy and his friend who mistook me for someone else. He literally wanted to kill me. So as I was on the ground and he was choking me, somehow my training kicked in and I could submit him, even though it was so long ago. I am honestly 100 percent sure, that judo safed my life that day. Not only could I free myself from the choke and literally get him in to an arm lock that broke his elbow. After I stood up I did throw his friend to the ground who after realised what happened charged on me and started to try to also wrestle me down. I am so thankful for my parents that they send me to judo class when I was little. Again it safed my life.

[AlexanderPews]

You know a martial art is legit,
when certain techniques can easily kill a person.
Judo is the real deal, its the art of "hitting another person with a planet".
But Judo is also just beautiful and amazing.. its humbling and it makes you a better person.

[daveyponderosa]

Judo is a absolutely fantastic form of self defence.
If it weren’t effective then virtually all of the worlds military’s and para military’s would not be training JUDO.
On top of being brutally effective, it is absolutely beautiful to watch.
Thank you for your great post Sir.

[sofa.s]

I'm judoka, I agree totally with you, I had to use it for my self defence in past and I can tell it's very efficient.
Thank you for this video

[cewjudoselfdefense]

Judo help me in law enforcement and I love teaching it 100 percent right

[NickKano]

Judo (and grappling in general) also gives you more options IMO. You can either put someone down gently and restrain them, or slam them head first with Osoto Gari onto the concrete, ending the fight straight away. Striking doesn't give you the option to apply it incrementally.

[louissmith]

I learnt boxing as a kid and teach my two girls as its a great way to build confidence and learn how to handle themselves against attackers, but if there was one martial art Id like them to learn it would be judo. As described here, Judo throws on the street are devastating.

[faboxbkn]

Hello I am half blinded and have practiced martial arts before. I did Karate, Taekwondo and japanese Jiu - Jitsu. Practicing the last one suffered a punch directly in my 'bad eye' and now it is almost white. Luckily it wasn't in the eye I have vision at. This was like 9 years ago, and now I found your video and I am so excited to pick up martial arts again and try Judo this time but wearing protective glasses (just in case). Thanks for your informative and cool channel. Oss.

[minorityofone]

Thanks for making the video. As a traditional Japanese Jiu Jitsu practitioner we do most of the judo throws in our training. Most people know Judo comes from Kano's comprenensive Jiu Jitsu knowledge and these throwing techniques work very well - especially if a thug who does not know how to break-fall gets thrown.

[roberthagmaier]

I was thinking about taking a martial arts class for self defense.And was thinking about Judo there is a place around the block from my house that teaches it.This video awnsered the questions I had about it awesome video man.

[awbr]

I've learned over the years that no matter what martial art you pick up, or even boxing/wrestling, you will always have the advantage against the average person.

It's the muscle memory and mental advantage that you can't ignore.

[nobbytang]

I'm a ex boxer when younger but have been doing judo for 27 yrs and can tell you the easiest thing to do in the ring is clinch... Don't mesh around trying to get a perfect grip but just close the distance quickly... Then throw heavily but always punch them in the face too as sometimes they don't realise what's happened and think they have fallen, so always leave a mark. Practise left foot forward more than right foot forward as most Street troughs will be left foot left hand forward.. And practice leg grabs too... Also no gi nights too..

[zachb.]

Great video, thanks. I'm leaning towards training in Judo even though BJJ is all the craze! There's a place close by that offers Judo and Muay Thai, which seems like an ideal mix.

[aljoschalong]

Judo was my first martial art. Sometimes, if guy were just trying to wrestle, I won of course. But then there were the guys without any inhibitions. They just punched me right in the face and that was it. From Judo I was not conditioned at all for strikes. So it's great that you teach the basics of strikes.
Later, when I did a lot of other martial arts, Judo was a great foundation. The experience of sparring helped most. And the falling practice of Judo saved my life two times.

[jamesfredericrose]

When I am asked this question, one of my main points of why Judo is better for self defense is that it is a standing martial art. Sure we can go to the ground also, but like Sensei Yonezuka says, when you throw someone at 35 or 40 miles an hour into the concrete, they probably aren't getting up. Also, on the street the last thing you want to do is go to the ground. Once you are down there you are vulnerable to anyone else that may be standing. You do not know who is nearby that may be an ally of the guy you are submitting on the ground. On the street you always remain on your feet with hopefully a way to protect your back. You cannot do that when you are on the ground. Throw and stomp if you must finish them. Standing chokes and arm locks can work. But be careful, an inexperienced martial artist trying to use a choke can result in death.