5 Mistakes To Avoid When Practicing Judo For Self Defense

Judo Throw Example - Image Source mokurendojo.com

Those that are looking at practicing Judo at home, or in a dojo, will no doubt be learning a great mechanism for self defense. You can learn to fight in this manner, but as you practice, you will want to avoid making simple mistakes. Judo beginners make mistakes, like anyone else, and while you can subscribe to a lot of programs, and think you're doing the right thing, you could be making simple mistakes. It's for that reason why the following has been compiled. These are 5 mistakes that you want to avoid when practicing Judo today. Whether you want to learn to fight, or you want to master Judo for any reason, avoiding the following mistakes is critical for your learning experience.

Over Using Your Strength Before You're Ready

As you learn Judo, you will be learning basic skills that can seem mundane in nature. It could be difficult to master many of the basics, but you may find leverage by using your strength. There's nothing wrong with overpowering an opponent, but you should make sure that you are not using your muscles to strain a throw or to balance yourself against an opponent. When you learn to fight, you have to learn the steps to master the basics. If you over exert yourself, trying to speed up the process, you can strain your muscles, back, and learn improper technique. Over use of your strength will cause your basic movements to stifle, and you will not learn the RIGHT way to do basic moves.

Keeping Your Muscles Tense To Avoid Being Thrown

No one wants to get thrown. No one wants to feel like they are being defeated. When you learn to fight, you do not want to feel the sting of someone hitting you in the face, or making you tap out from a submission. Keeping your muscles tense is a terrible thing. This is a major mistake. If you tense up when someone is trying to throw you, you're not going to be able to react properly, and learning how to use momentum in Judo to counter throws, and build leverage against your opponent will not be easy. You should never keep your muscles tense, but rather flow with the momentum, as it will cause you to learn, and avoid injury at the same time. Tense muscles will cause injury as you learn, so try to relax a little, and remember you're learning, you're not going to master Judo in one or two days. It takes time.

Looking At Your Opponent's Feet

You are going to be tempted to look at the feet of your opponent. This is not a good thing. If you are doing this, you are going to have a slight incline with your upper body. Your upper body will be pointed forward, even if you think you're not slightly forward, you will be inclined, and that will allow your opponent to easily take your momentum and flip you, throw you, and do their will against you. Do not stare at your opponent's feet, do not lean forward, learn to avoid what feels "right", because you're learning how to shift your focus as you learn to fight, and defend yourself.

Keeping Your Feet Too Close Together

Judo is a difficult thing to master, especially when you're starting out. As you learn to fight, remember to maintain your stance properly. You will have the tendency to put your feet close together, as it is going to let you move around a little easier. When you have your feet close together, as you learn, you will be moving faster, but that doesn't mean it's good. Yes, you should move fast, but when you're starting out, if you keep your feet together, you will be giving your opponent the freedom to throw you fast. When you are learning Judo, and other martial arts, you want to ensure that you can explode with any stance, but as you first start learning, you need to keep in mind that your feet will make or break your progress. When you are learning, keep your feet spread apart, and slowly improve your balance, do not rush it. Keeping your feet close may feel natural, but you will get toppled and thrown faster.

Staying In One Position Too Long

If you're on the offensive, you will need to focus on shifting your positions and movements often enough. You do not want to stay in one place, as that will cause you to end up dealing with a variety of issues. Your opponent, when in a tournament or just in a street fight will take note of your stance, and your position, and will topple you. They will cause you a disruption because your foot work is going to show them what you're thinking about. You should not stay in one position, or stay isolated to the same movements when you initially try to approach an opponent for a strike or a throw. Staying in one position is bad no matter what martial art you try to learn. This is not just a mistake in learning Judo, it's a mistake in any process you will find when trying to learn to fight.

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