Is Judo good for self defense?

Dominic answers the frequently asked question
'Is Judo good for self defense? '

[fileboy]

As a judo player, I have two thoughts about the efficacy of judo for self defense:

1) Judo is primarily a sport. Judo players train to win judo matches, not street fight. In that sense, judo is a bit like boxing. Can boxers apply their skills in street fights? Absolutely! But they don't specifically train for that. Boxers train to win boxing matches. Judo is the same way.

2) When someone asks if judo is useful in street, they are essentially asking of judo players are able to throw or submit untrained opponents. Well, yes, most certainly are. But that is setting the bar pretty darned low. The measure of a judo player's skill is his or her ability to throw or submit other trained judoka. Throwing or submitting untrained people is not much of a test.

[loneronin]

Putting aside my love for all martial arts (Judo is the first one I ever practiced and is still my favorite) as well as the discipline and skills it provides in a way that is challenging, good for self-improvement, and fun, in a fight, I find it efficient. While I have trained in striking, I still prefer grappling to this day, Judo being what often works best for me.

In my experiences from sparring regularly as well as having had to defend myself from time to time, I'm not the type to brawl with someone blow for blow. I can take a hit, but ever since I suffered a back injury that still gives me chronic pain, there are still move sets from Judo that I can still (and do) use, in tandem with other moves/methods from other grappling systems/styles, but I no longer have the stamina that I once did to rely on numerous striking moves. I often rely on grappling more than anything else because it allows me to protect myself effectively in a quicker amount of time than if I were a mostly dedicated striker.

The way I look at it, strikes can do damage and anyone who is a skilled striker has my utmost respect, but I give that same level of respect to experienced grapplers, and for me personally, being able to throw someone to the ground while keeping myself standing is an asset I find most effective for me. Long story short, punches, kicks, knees, elbows, etc. all bring pain, but the ground can hurt too!! XD lol

[CrowdPleeza]

I agree that Judo techniques can be useful for self defense. It's that Judo needs to be modified for self defense. A Judo persons needs to work on defending against strikes and focus on techniques that don't rely on the gi.

[iandavies]

The negatives with Judo in a street fight is often you have to turn your back to your opponent to throw. If you do that against a big strong man you can find yourself in trouble, as there's no ref to stand you up.It happened to me and this guy was incredibly strong he must have been on the roids.

[mpforeverunlimited]

I think the main issue is the gi and the inability to grab the legs. Many(most) throws are only possible with the gi

[karljans]

I don't have trained a grappling art (I do karate) but I want to do judo. I think if you practice a striking/kicking art like karate or kickboxing and then you combine it with Judo. Then it's effective. For example punch someone in the plexus and then throw him. Or he punches you use a shuto block, punch him on the muscle in the arm (that really hurts btw) and then throw him

[worldclasshappiness]

I’m an MMA coach as well as a judo coach which is closer to a street situation than a judo match, so I understand that judo alone isn’t ideal. However, it’s extremely effective against unskilled/untrained fighters (which is the vast majority of people).

I have trained good level judo fighters in MMA and there is generally a short transition faze where the fighter begins to understand which techniques work and don’t work in a no-gi situation. Most judo techniques are effective, but need to be adapted for the MMA or for the street.

As always though, the most effective technique for self defence is awareness and the ability to not be in the situation in the first place. Our best weapon either on the mat, inside the cage or on the street is our brain 🧠

[AjaychinuShah]

Pleasant synthesis, sorry 😞 not too many listeners whatsoever. But

[ThepDenNgoaiBien]

not enough...must be more add to it example Tae kwon Do ....because not all the time need ON THE FLOOR....we need stand up HIT AND RUN or Hit ON THE RUN....!

[ravichandel]

where can i find best judo teacher as in india judo teacher only see money and dont want to give technique what to do

[mysty]

If you can find somebody to teach you Combat Judo then sure its good for Defense, but if you're learning Olympic Judo you are living in a land of delusion and are acquiring far to many bad habits to ever be good in a Self Defense situation

[marioramos]

Judo is useless on self defense not evrybody wear a coat for you grab and on a street fight you should never take a fight to the ground you need distance.