Promoted to Shodan today. Here are some pictures.
imgur.com/a/yzQFnw5
imgur.comPosted Mar 1, 2020, 4:11 AM UTC
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imgur.comCongrats a shodan is a great achievement
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Much appreciated my friend. Your contribution to the online Judo community played a big role.
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MATT D’AQUINO HAS REDDIT?! Sir I would like to thank you for all your contributions for Judo.
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Thanks mate :) Glad my content has helped you!
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Congrats! Can you tell us about your journey to black? Any advice for kyu ranks? I know they do this in the bjj forum, and I think it would be interesting to hear from judoka as well.
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Can you tell us about your journey to black?
Judo always piqued my interest in how fierce the grip fighting appeared to be (I boxed for a long time and always enjoyed the exchanges) and how smooth all the throws and trips looked. I originally wanted to start training Judo when I started MMA back in 2012, but it wasn't in the works. After doing MMA grappling, No-Gi Submission Wrestling, training Wrestling with some great teachers / former Collegiate Wrestlers, and earning my BJJ purple belt, I finally came back to studying Judo and started a satellite location as part of a larger USJA club. It was a neat experience to learn naturally, first hand why we have the techniques that we do. Every technique is unique with its own mechanic.
It's always been enjoyable for me to test my Judo up against not only other Judoka, but Sambists, BJJ Players, MMA Grapplers and Wrestlers varying from High School Wrestlers upwards to All-Americans. Experiencing how to perform Judo against Non-Judoka, with and without the jacket refined my understanding of Tachiwaza.
Any advice for kyu ranks?
1.) Keep showing up.
2.) Don't rely on sacrifice throws.
3.) Keep an open mind to other martial arts. (Sambo, Wrestling, No-Gi BJJ, BJJ, MMA)
I know they do this in the bjj forum, and I think it would be interesting to hear from judoka as well.
Yes. I thought about doing an elaborate type up, but my story is a pretty simple one, haha.
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Congrats and great pictures! Can you elaborate on how/why you started the satellite USJA location and what the training in the satellite looked like from the standpoint of instruction and class schedule?
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I started a satellite club because there was no Judo available in my area other than a college club. The college club only ran twice a week, the location would change depending on which day of the week, was 45 minutes away, focused mostly on Kata over Randori, and didn't work with my job or the times I was teaching BJJ.
I also already had good standing with some Judoka who trained BJJ at my club, when in the area. I originally advised them I just wanted to start a "standup grappling" class, but they suggested I stay open to Judo and they would help me along the way. These Judoka ended up being my gateway into the USJA.
The training focused on fundamental Judo, emphasizing an open ruleset approach. Our goal was never to create Olympians, rather to create grapplers that could be contenders regardless of ruleset, which I feel we've succeeded in so far. My Judoka friends who helped me get setup with the program appreciated and supported this approach.
I'm actually surprised I'm ranked in Judo at all as it was never my goal or of interest to me. But I've always enjoyed learning new things and that pushed me to pursue a complete understanding of fundamental Judo.
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Congratulations to you! I'm genuinely happy to hear it.
That said, did I see SACRIFICE THROWS in the pictures? I thought sutemi waza was anathema to you.
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Thank you, Dave! It meant a lot to receive the belt from my teacher. He Wrestled from childhood to college and has been doing Judo for 47 years.
There was sixteen sacrifice throws in the demonstration, it tore my spirit a little to do them.. but it had to be done.
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Did you have to demonstrate any Kata?
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I demonstrated fifty seven standing techniques and thirty or so groundwork techniques. No Kata, per' say.
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I see a kani basami! Also congrats!
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Thank you!
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Nice Kani Basami
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Thank you!
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congratulations!
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Thank you!
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Congratulations!
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Thank you!
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Way to go! Friday, during the Randori at the end of class, I was watching a black belt help a brown belt with his eventual black belt routine. It was pretty cool, formal, quiet, and structured.
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Right on. I didn't have much of a routine. Just fifty-seven throws and some matwork techniques after thirty minutes of randori.
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Congratulations, sir! That's a big achievement. Getting to Shodan is not easy and takes many years of hard work and perseverance. I'm sure it's well deserved.
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Thank you, much appreciated!
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Congratulations on your promotion.
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Thank you!
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Thank you for the reply. This is great info!
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My pleasure.
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Where do you train?
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WI.
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Congratulations!
Just curious, was this after the grading (you appear to be wearing the black belt already)? Were you graded in club or in front of a panel?
Thank you. I had the opportunity to grade in club with my 8th Dan sensei and mail my paperwork in later to the governing body. I was wearing a brown belt in these photos.
Wait, I’m confused. So are you tori or uke in these photos? Is this after or during the exam?
Also. Congratulations on a big milestone!
This is during the exam, I am tori. Not sure if the belt appears black, but I'm wearing a brown belt during the exam in the white gi.
Thanks!