Unpopular judo opinions

[u/Uchimatty]

What's your most unpopular judo opinion? I'll go first:

Traditional ukemi is overrated. The formulaic leg out, slap the ground recipe doesn't work if you're training with hand, elbow, and foot injuries. It's a good thing to teach to beginners, but we eventually have to grow out of it and learn to change our landings based on what body parts hurt. In wrestling, ukemi is taught as "rolling off" as much of the impact as possible, and a lot of judokas end up instinctively doing this to work around injuries.

[u/AshiWazaSuzukiBrudda]

Uchikomi - I feel like I missed the class on that one. Why wouldn’t I practise light, moving nagekomi instead?

[u/Uchimatty → u/AshiWazaSuzukiBrudda]

They use it as conditioning in Japan. Sadly in a lot of other places it’s taught as a way to “practice form”.

[u/fintip → u/Uchimatty]

I think even as conditioning it is problematic as Uchi komi forms are distinctly different and dysfunctional. I have no respect for sacred cows and pretty much omit them from my classes.

[u/averageharaienjoyer → u/AshiWazaSuzukiBrudda]

I really dislike uchikomi, it felt like it is actively training me to not commit and follow through on techniques.

[u/monkeycycling → u/AshiWazaSuzukiBrudda]

As an older guy that sometimes thinks of returning, the concept of doing speed uchikomi repeatedly down a line of everyone in the club makes my back talk me out of it

[u/judo_matt → u/AshiWazaSuzukiBrudda]

Because you can spend too much time waiting for uke to stand up.