They say you never stop learning in judo. Any judo throw goes through a never-ending development, improvement and progression. In 4Skills, I’ve aimed to break that down into four main stages, that move the judoka through crucial development phases, from the basics, into movement, then into context with combinations, and finally bringing it into a skilled situation like randori or competition.

Mastering Judo Throws goes through these four stages:

Stage 1: The Basics – Building a Foundation

First, that means the basics. Where judoka watch the instructor, or others, and copy the basics. Get the feel for the grips, the footwork, the movement. At this stage uchikomi and repetition is useful. This is where muscle memory begins to form, and where bad habits can be prevented before they start.

Stage 2: Movement – Making the throw Dynamic

Once this is learnt, my next key phase is movement. To take that same throw and add in natural movement. At Pinewood, Don called this butsakari, there are other Japanese terms for it, but the objective is the same: free movement around the mat as you repeat the technique.

As our partner changes position, so does their weight move around, and adjustments need to be made as you turn in for the throw. This movement can also be practiced in set patterns. One step movement. Or set steps to the side, etc. 

Stage 3: Context – Combinations and Reactions

Phase three, for me, was to bring in techniques around the key throw. Ideally, a couple of techniques that set my partner up, and a couple of techniques for when they avoid the throw by moving off it, or blocking it.

This I’d practice again in fairly realistic situations, but with a cooperative partner that would offer me the situations. You need a good uke for this, one that will give you a realistic situation, who react properly but allow you to attack freely, without blocking out. A good uke helps the learning of the throw. 

Stage 4: Skill – The Real Test

Finally, it’s about bringing the throw into a skilled situation, where your partner is no longer cooperative like competition, or randori. This is where all the previous work is tested, refined, and you continue to learn the nuances of the throw. This phase can go on and on (you never stop learning) as you find out ways to make the throw work against different types of opponents, different defences, different situations.

If you find you are getting countered or can’t get the technique to work at this stage, then just drop back a stage or two. Take the throw back to basics. Rework the footwork, look at the grips, examine the movement, and continue the progression.