Posted by: BigRod
It's a good idea to train Judo without the gi - 12/29/05 05:14 PM
Judo is based on getting the correct grip on your opponent in order to throw him, and always practiced with a gi. A gi is made of strong material that doesn't rip or stretch and allows you to have a solid grip for throwing.
Take a close look at your Judo gi. It's got an open collar, no buttons, very easy to get a good grip on. It's even got a nice thick lapel made for grabbing. There is excess material on the gi where it hangs from your wrist. Again, perfect for grabbing.
But what happens when your opponent isn't wearing a gi? Is everything you trained so hard in practice still going to work, as is with no modifications.
Let's take a moment to really analyze the situation.
OK, your opponent isn't wearing a gi. What is he wearing? Let's look at the possiblities...
(1) No shirt
(2) A collared shirt
(3) A T-shirt
(4) A tank top
(5) A Jacket
No shirt: Well, it's obvious what the problem is here. You can still throw with ease, provided you know how to grip the body. But beware, if you have not practiced throwing someone with no shirt, you will encounter some difficulty. It's best to train this in advance, as opposed to waiting until you're attacked.
A collared shirt: If it were unbuttoned, you could probably grab it in the same fashion as a Judo gi. But often collared shirts are worn buttoned up, and now what do you have to grab? Also, the sleeves typically have a tighter fit around the wrist. Not impossible to grab, but there is a difference.
Tank tops and t-shirts: Made of cotton, a very flimsy material that will stretch, if not flat out tear. Same problem as the collared shirt, no lapel. Also no sleeves, at all. Grab a friend and try a few throws with them in one. I think you'll find a huge difference when you go to make your throw. The material will likely stretch and foil your throw.
A Jacket: You have the same problem as with shirts - no lapel, unless the jacket is unzipped or unbuttoned. Once open, you can probably use the same throws you do with a gi, given that jackets are fairly sturdy. If it's not open though, what kind of grip can you get? You're back to square one.
Those are the reasons why I say you should practice Judo with no gi. Perhaps only minor adjustments need to made in order to be successful at throwing someone in a tank top. But in the heat of the moment is the wrong time to find that out.
Try it for yourself. Perhaps someone could report back with their findings? In the meantime, share your thoughts and/or experiences.
Take a close look at your Judo gi. It's got an open collar, no buttons, very easy to get a good grip on. It's even got a nice thick lapel made for grabbing. There is excess material on the gi where it hangs from your wrist. Again, perfect for grabbing.
But what happens when your opponent isn't wearing a gi? Is everything you trained so hard in practice still going to work, as is with no modifications.
Let's take a moment to really analyze the situation.
OK, your opponent isn't wearing a gi. What is he wearing? Let's look at the possiblities...
(1) No shirt
(2) A collared shirt
(3) A T-shirt
(4) A tank top
(5) A Jacket
No shirt: Well, it's obvious what the problem is here. You can still throw with ease, provided you know how to grip the body. But beware, if you have not practiced throwing someone with no shirt, you will encounter some difficulty. It's best to train this in advance, as opposed to waiting until you're attacked.
A collared shirt: If it were unbuttoned, you could probably grab it in the same fashion as a Judo gi. But often collared shirts are worn buttoned up, and now what do you have to grab? Also, the sleeves typically have a tighter fit around the wrist. Not impossible to grab, but there is a difference.
Tank tops and t-shirts: Made of cotton, a very flimsy material that will stretch, if not flat out tear. Same problem as the collared shirt, no lapel. Also no sleeves, at all. Grab a friend and try a few throws with them in one. I think you'll find a huge difference when you go to make your throw. The material will likely stretch and foil your throw.
A Jacket: You have the same problem as with shirts - no lapel, unless the jacket is unzipped or unbuttoned. Once open, you can probably use the same throws you do with a gi, given that jackets are fairly sturdy. If it's not open though, what kind of grip can you get? You're back to square one.
Those are the reasons why I say you should practice Judo with no gi. Perhaps only minor adjustments need to made in order to be successful at throwing someone in a tank top. But in the heat of the moment is the wrong time to find that out.
Try it for yourself. Perhaps someone could report back with their findings? In the meantime, share your thoughts and/or experiences.
