Judo newaza practice

Rob and I had an individual session of judo tonight in which we reviewed our beginning movement drill that teaches motion and transition between the various holding positions on the ground. Most judo classes use a similar drill to introduce supine holding, but this drill is particularly valuable because it makes tori more comfortable in all the major top positions with uke supine, prone, and turtled-up.

Afterward we reviewed one of the major groundwork escape principles - bridge uke's face forcibly into the mat. It's amazing how much easier many of the escapes become when you smash uke's nose into the earth first. Similar to an idea that Tomiki sensei allegedly expressed, "None of this will work unless you do shomenate (hit them in the face) first."