What is the difference in practice sessions?
Most of a typical self defense practice session is focused on the same Judo techniques used in the Competition program, the rest of the time is devoted to defense instead of tournament scenarios. For example, in the Competition program we might spend a week on “playing the edge” of the competition area. This strategy provides a tool to increase your chances of scoring by forcing your opponent to worry about a penalty for going out of bounds. This same week in the Self Defense program might be spent on how to avoid getting clocked with a pool Que. Some of Judo’s self defense techniques are too dangerous to permit in tournament or randori and are instead practiced in kata form. For a quick overview see Nage No Kata and Kodokan Goshin-Jutsu. Although primarily a tool for learning, students can also compete with these katas against other teams in kata tournaments for medals and points. We also have library materials specific to avoidance, escape and prevailing when attacked.
