Double Parry counter grip to Spinning Ippon Seoi Nage

There is a world of difference between doing judo and actually being able to fight with judo whether it be sport or self defense. Grip fighting represents the very highest levels of competition however, at the lower levels of competition judo and in judo clubs around the world the approach of no grip fighting style still very much persists. A common mistake made when seeking grips is to be so focused on getting your grip that you allow the opponent to get the same grips. These 'mirror gripping tactics' (sleeve  and lapel grip) are what every judoka learns throws from but in actuality it is one of the worst places to attempt to fight from! 

To be able to fight effectively with judo be it competition or self defense, Kano maintained that judoka should stand upright, in the style of a “western boxer! To remain relaxed and loose in this posture so that Judoka could move more fluidly in attack and defense. This coincides with what every boxer and athlete knows today, that a stiff muscle is a slow muscle and a relaxed muscle offers faster action and reaction.

Grip or hand fighting in judo is a fairly recent development. There is great value in getting and preventing grips. Grip fighting, used aggressively, creates multiple opportunities to set up your throws and takedowns. Modern Olympic judo competitors look almost like boxers, circling each other while jabbing and probing their opponent's defenses, punching their hands in for a perfect grip. The perfect grip being the one that allows one to immediately initiate a successful throw or takedown. 

Double Parry counter grip to Spinning Ippon Seoi Nage

1.) Blue is standing in a right foot forward. Both of his arms are bent and both hands are held at chest level. The left hand is held slightly in front of his right hand.  White is standing left foot forward lead with his left hand held slightly in front.

2.) White attempts to get a lapel or collar grip with his left (lead) hand. Blue turns his upper body slightly to his left as he parries white’s attacking hand to the inside with his left hand.

3.) White immediately follows up with his right hand and tries to establish a right hand grip. Blue turns his upper body slightly more to his left as he parries white’s right hand to the outside with his right hand.

4.) Blue pushes off his left foot and turns his upper body back clockwise to the right creating torque and punches in his left hand in and gets a arm pit or lapel grip on White’s right side.

5.) Blue pulls white forward with his left hand keeping his elbow high. Simultaneously, Blue checks white’s left hand with his right hand as he slides/shifts his right foot back pushing off of it and steps forward with his left foot toward white’s left foot.

6.) As soon as Blue’s left foot touches the mat he pivots counter clockwise on the ball of the left foot. Blue’s right hand pushes White’s right hand into white’s body.

7.) Pivoting 180 degrees on his left foot, Blue brings his right knee up toward his chest his as he continues a high pull with his left hand. Blue’s right arm moves under the aggressor’s right armpit.

8.) At the completion of the pivot, Blue drops his right foot back deep between White’s t just to the inside of white’s right foot. The toes of both feet should be pointing in the direction of the throw. Blue pinches white’s right arm at his arm pit between Blue’s right forearm and bicep. Blue rotates the palm of the right hand toward your head (this creates a tighter clamp on the opponent’s arm).

9.)  Blue steps back with left foot to the inside of white’s left foot and pulls downward with his left hand.  Blue then begins to straighten his legs quickly by driving upward off his heels, popping his hips upward into the opponent. Blue continues to pull and twist his torso by turning his right elbow toward his left knee and  the opponent to the ground to finish the throw. 

"I have been working one on one with Barron, both of us trading knowledge of the different aspects of our particular styles, BJJ and Judo. When it comes to judo, I appreciate Barron’s style of teaching, not only with the specific drills that he utilizes to supplement and reinforce his judo techniques, but his overall approach of how to properly execute the techniques. One of the things that I especially like about Barron’s style of Judo is his approach to grip fighting and his one-handed style gripping attack. I have implemented this into my game. It has not only helped me with my stand up, but also with my ground game." - Eddie Sebastia 2^nd stripe Black belt, IBJJF Competitor, 62-2 In competition. Purple Belt World Champion, Brown Belt World Champion, 2x Black Belt Pan American Champion.

Shoulder Throw vs Rear Hand Straight Punch

“THE STOP” can be found in the US Army combatives Field Manuals 21-150 from 1954 through to 1971. It can also be found in earlier works such as Willaim Jacomb’s 1918 book on Practical self defense where it is referred to as “THE STOP”. It is also used in the 1905 book, The Complete Kano Jiujitsu/Judo. Simple, gross motor driven direct and effective, it takes our natural survival instincts into consideration and allows those survival instincts to work as a foundation for a very rapidly delivered technique. Turning this instinctive reaction into a hit, thrown much like a straight punch in boxing as opposed to a push, you can stop the rotation of the attacker’s torso at his shoulder. This tactic is incorporated into my boxing skills and combinations. It can be utilized as a preemptive strike or when the attack is recognized early or late.

Preemptively, “THE STOP” is used just before the adversary is within striking distance and when your intention is to take him to the ground. When delivered it stops the forward motion of the attacker and brings his arms up toward the front(1st picture below).

When it is used to intercept a punch early, striking the pocket of the shoulder stops the rotation of the adversary’s torso at his shoulder (2nd picture above). “THE STOP” is also effective when you pick up on the attacker throwing a punch late. For example, if the attacker throws a right haymaker, step off line of the punch and at an angle to your right and deliver the strike with your left hand to the attacker’s right shoulder (3rd picture above). This tactic basically short-circuits the power of your attacker’s punch at the root of its motion.

“THE STOP” is not a push, it is a strike, delivered much like a straight punch in boxing either with the lead hand like a jab or the rear hand. Targets the area where the shoulder meets the chest and immediately follow up by grabbing the adversary’s shirt at the area struck. Once the adversary has been rocked backwards, immediately follow – up with a pull bringing up off his heels  and toward you for more strikes or a throw or take down.

Shoulder Throw vs Rear Hand Punch

1.) From a ready position, you see the aggressor start to throw a rear hand punch. Push off the left foot and step forward with your right foot at a slight angle along the right side of the triangle slipping to the inside of the punch. Simultaneously strike the aggressor’s shoulder right above the armpit jamming his attempted punch. Immediately grip his shirt at the area struck.

2.) Pull the aggressor toward you with the left hand rocking him forward up off his heels. At the same time that you start your pull with the left hand, your left foot moves up toward the top of the triangle.

3.) Then Immediately step your right foot to his right foot. The toes of your right foot should be almost touching the inside of his right foot, next to his big toe. Your right arm moves under the aggressor’s right armpit.

4.) Pivot counter clockwise on the ball of your right foot and continue to pull with the left hand. Your left foot steps back all the way through the triangle between the opponent’s feet. The toes of both feet should be pointing in the direction of the apex of the triangle. Pinch the opponent’s right arm at his arm pit between your right forearm and bicep. Rotate the palm of the right hand toward your head (this creates a tighter clamp on the opponent’s arm).

5.) Pull downward with your right hand as you straighten your legs quickly by driving upward off your heels, popping your hips upward into the opponent.

6.) To finish the throw, continue to pull and twist your torso by turning your right elbow toward your left knee and drive the opponent to the ground.