My ultimate arch-nemesis in judo

Henry Copeland sensei asked me one time, "What is your favorite technique?" and I instantly responded, "sumiotoshi."
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I was excited at the prospect of working on my most favorite move with such an auspicious teacher but he was not thinking to build a lesson plan out of my tokuiwaza and he let the wind out of my sails pretty quickly when he said, "The reason that is your favorite technique is because you are afraid of it."
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Like much of what Henry said, this didn't make sense.  I was pretty good at sumiotoshi and I'd practiced it a good bit.  I'd thrown it thousands of times and been thrown by it thousands of times.  I knew how to fall out of it safely. What was there to fear?
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Maybe he was talking about fear in the biblical sense of the word, as in, "Fear of the Lord," as in respect.
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He went on to say that in order for that to be my favorite I had to attribute some quality or power to it that I thought other techniques lacked.  He was saying that deep down I felt that sumiotoshi was a magic talisman that could fell opponents and slay dragons.
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He was saying that I wanted to practice it partly in order to put that magic talisman into my arsenal but also because I was afraid that the magic might fall into the wrong hands and someone might use my magical move against me.
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I think he was onto something - but you know what is weird? Even 25 years later, I still have techniques that are my favorites (tokuiwaza) and techniques that I dislike so much that I have a lot of trouble even practicing.  You might call these anti-tokuiwaza.
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I have no problem admitting that there are techniques that I'm still afraid of - techniques that represent an opponent's fearsome power over me.  Techniques that, as a teacher, I am loath to teach to my students.
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But you know what?  Shining light on this collection of dragons robs them of power, so here goes - my anti-tokuiwaza include...

1. kataguruma
2. uchimata
3. makikomi
4. tsurikomigoshi
5. utsurigoshi
6. oguruma
7. osotoguruma
8. harai tsurikomiashi

I'm sure there are a few more dragons in there but just listing this few makes my stomach roil tinking about them.
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You know who would be my ultimate arch-nemesis?  An athletic, healthy young adult with any 4 of these as their tokuiwaza!





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____________________
Patrick Parker
www.mokurendojo.com

10 most successful throwing techniques

According to Uchida, Wilson, & Fujiwara the most popular winning throwing techniques at the All Japan High School Championships for 10 years (1962-1971) included...

1. uchimata
2. seoinage
3. osotogari
4. ouchigari
5. haraigoshi
6. taiotoshi
7. tsurikomigoshi
8. kosotogari
9. harai makikomi
10. osoto otoshi

Make of this what you will.

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____________________
Patrick Parker
www.mokurendojo.com

What has judo got to do with spiritual discipline?

Sometimes you hear martial arts referred to as spiritual disciplines, and sometimes you hear of parents who put their kids into a martial arts class to "get discipline," But all the classes I've ever seen seem to deal a lot more with sweat and pain (or the avoidance thereof) than they do spiritual things or even with training mental discipline.
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So, what do martial arts actually have to do with honing the mind or spirit?
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Here's how I look at it.
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My spirit leads my mind
My mind uses my brain to operate my body.
My body creates results or actions in the physical world.
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But it is not a one-way relationship.
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My actions in the physical world influence or change my body.
The operation of my body influences the operation of my brain.
The functioning of my brain influences my mind.
My mind over time forges my spirit.
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So, if I want to influence any one of these aspects of my being, then I can choose whichever other aspect I feel like I have the most leverage with right now, and by exercising that aspect, all other aspects of my being are influenced.
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So, If I want to develop spiritual or mental discipline, then I can use a martial art as a physical, active lever with which to influence or reform my actions, my body, my brain, and in turn, my mind and spirit.
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Or I could play hockey or read self-help books or any other activity that activates or exercises my actions, body, or brain.


Want to discuss this blog post?
Come find me on Facebook at my Mokuren Dojo FB group

____________________
Patrick Parker
www.mokurendojo.com

Thoughts of a martial arts master (me)

A few personal thoughts, mantras, and quotes that are meaningful to me at the moment...

• I do not have to derive legitimacy from a connection to a lineage of ancient masters. I am as good a master as I need.

• I do not have to do things like the old, dead, wise guys, or anyone else - "Do not strive to imitate the old masters, but seek what they sought."

• I do not have to teach or treat any two students the same way. Every student is an individual and has special needs. - "A Foolish Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Small Minds."

• I do not have to execute any given technique the same way twice. I don't even have to have techniques at all. Every instant is a brand new thing.

• I do not have to conform to the standards of any external organization. External standards are a form of coercion. "I am the Master of my Fate. I am the Captain of my Soul."

• I do not have to discard the baby with the bathwater in an attempt to be an iconoclast. The old masters and external organizations can serve as a reference without my becoming their slave.

• Nicola Tesla said if you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.

Want to discuss this blog post?
Come find me on Facebook at my Mokuren Dojo FB group

____________________
Patrick Parker
www.mokurendojo.com

What makes Mokuren Judo distinctive?

Judo is a remarkably standardized martial art.  Wherever you find judo in the world, you will see a lot that is either the same or at least familiar.

Newaza class plan

Tonight's newaza class will include a TON of ground mobility drills, sit-up and uphill escapes from kesagatame, and entries into wakigatame and jujigatame from ukigatame.  Be there or be square!


Want to discuss this blog post?
Come find me on Facebook at my Mokuren Dojo FB group

____________________
Patrick Parker
www.mokurendojo.com

How to make Mokuren Judo classes even more awesome!

After a sabbatical of about 2 years for various reasons/excuses, we've restarted judo classes at Mokuren Dojo this week!

Divide releases into 3 steps to help beginners get started

There are a lot of different modes that you can do most martial arts exercises in.  They seem to be made to be played in different ways under various conditions.

How to move efficiently during a conflict

Here is an interesting video to watch.  I think it might be important to your martial research, not because I agree with every point.  In fact, I think the second fellow sounds like a paranoid schizo in much of his lecture. But there is something here.  Perhaps just gleanings.  Maybe important gleanings. Watch this and let me know what you get from it.



Want to discuss this blog post?
Come find me on Facebook at my Mokuren Dojo FB group

____________________
Patrick Parker
www.mokurendojo.com

Learning 1-2 karate kata could help you even if you're not a karate guy!

One of the things that can seem alien to a karate guy beginning in aikido or judo is the idea that each of the kata in judo and Tomiki aikido involves two people - tori (or nage) and uke.  All of the kata moves are actually done on an actual person's body.  There are no solo kata in judo or aikido.

Connections between Junokata, Koshiki, and Nanatsu!

You know what is really cool?  When you have both enough time in a body of work, and the opportunity to step back from it far enough that you can see the themes and motifs running through it.  Judo is like this.

My crazy names for Hirano's crazy exercises

Naming conventions for martial arts techniques and kata vary from art to art.  Some folks like the ultra-simple thing-1, thing-2 sort of ordinal naming system, while others like more descriptive names for things like the "arm-crushing cross-shaped armbar," from judo.

Tokio Hirano's unorthodox genius

Tokio Hirano was one of the, if not THE winningest competition judoka in history.

The story goes that he racked up 4300 competition wins in 6 years in western Europe in the early 1950's.  That's more than 700 wins per year, year-after-year!  Who among us modern mortals can even conceive of attempting 14-15 shiai matches per week for 6 years?

Aikido Ground Fighting by Walther G. Von Krenner

A relatively new addition to the body of literature about aikido is Walther G. Von Krenner's, Aikido Ground Fighting.  This is a really interesting book in a couple of ways.