On the list of crazy things I’ve done in the last 10 years, judo has to be in the top 4 things I’ve done that were unexpectedly out of character for me – and somewhat, weird. I started judo last year, in February 2024 at the ripe old age of 33 (in judo terms), out of an abundance of ignorance, excitement and motivation to become a more well rounded jiu jitsu practitioner.
I had no idea what I was signing up for.
Truly.
I did not know what I was about to be doing.
Like, REALLY did not know what I was about to be doing to the point that my students from France were confused that I didn’t even know the name of Teddy Riner or watching judo during the Olympics, like, ever. I think, in their minds, that precluded me from any right to even begin a journey in judo. (At least that’s what their tone said.)
Anyway, if I had known, I probably wouldn’t have started judo. Ignorance is not only bliss, but it’s also enabling, because I did not realize how many parts of it can be dangerous without good ukemi (breakfalls), how sore it was going to make me adjusting and conditioning in general, and how much more demands it was going to make on my body compared to jiu jitsu.
(Sorry, I said what I said.)
I had a few throws under my belt (ha!) from my Pedro Sauer based jiu jitsu days, such as o-goshi and tani otoshi. I’m grateful those were part of the curriculum required in the Pedro Sauer realm of jiu jitsu to obtain your blue belt, because without that, some of the kuzushi (off balancing) concepts in judo would have seemed like nothing short of sorcery to me.
Ignorance is not only bliss, but it’s also enabling…
Me, being crazy, starting judo at the age of 33
One of the first classes I started, I was paired with a guy who was much stronger and had a significant size difference (to this day, I’m still a little nervous to drill with him – less so now, but back then? Again – the ignorance part was key).
During my first ever real judo class, my body was naturally quite tense; I didn’t know how to relax, and I also did not know how to fall. We were working on seoi nage. I lost count of how many throws I endured after I kissed the floor 70 times, or as my mentor Doug Tussey said, “Yeah, getting hit by a planet over and over can be intense.” I thought I would be a little bit sore the next day…
Oh, boy.
I hate being right.
I was beyond sore. I was nearly crippled for almost three weeks. SO sore, that, I think I picked up a head cold because of it.
I learned quickly that:
- I needed to get better at ukemi – fast. I had no idea how to fall and not hurt myself beyond at least not putting my hands on the floor to break my fall. There is an art to falling. (Spoiler alert: My process to refine ukemi took way, way too long.)
- Taping fingers was essential (four days of blisters re-opening as a musician were not the vibe).
- Getting used to working with almost always larger drilling partners (my size is to blame here; it’s not you, it’s me!). Off balancing is going to get these big boys off their feet – not muscling them to the ground.
That being said, these are still lessons that I’m learning and have to refine in each judo session.
“Yeah, getting hit by a planet over and over can be intense.”
My mentor Doug Tussey on Judo
I started taking videos to track my progress and give my friends an idea of what I was accomplishing… It did not look like much, for a while, beyond embarrassing my coach to hell and back. (Which I still do, quite well.)
My regular training partner, Jackie, helped immensely with giving feedback, encouraging me, and for both of us being able to protect our bodies and encourage Jita–Kyoei (mutual benefit) between each other – a concept in judo that helps us both to learn and progress in the art.
Here’s a peek into my first 3 months of progress of integrating judo into my jiu jitsu practice with the folks at Gorilla House Gym:
I regret nothing starting judo. It’s made me a better jiu jitsu practitioner, it’s restructured my entire body and muscular structure, and overall made me a more confident person as well – but not in a cocky kind of way. No matter how many musicians I terrify by association when showing them my judo videos, despite the risk it could pose to my piano and organ playing profession, there is some sort of rush you get from hitting the floor full force and picking yourself back up and doing it all over again.
For comparison, here is how my judo journey is looking a year later!
There are more exciting things in store to share with you about my judo and jiu jitsu journey, particularly for judo, this month – so stay tuned and keep on reading!