ONE HANDED JUDO: Gripping and Grip Fighting

 

Ippon Seoi Nage off Arm pit grip only.

       

There probably was not a greater judoka than the man who literally introduced to the world a one handed style of Judo, the legendary Toshiko Koga. Koga is regarded as having the greatest Ippon Seoi Nage ever.  He is the sole reason I fell in love with not only his one handed style but many variations of Seoi Nage. 

The one-handed style of judo is very effective and allows for great adaptability and the ability to execute like Ippon Seoi Nage from multiple angles and directions. Being able to throw with either foot forward and to the right and left side leaves your opponent questioning from which direction your will attack.

 Ippon Seoi Nage - Koga variation

In this style you get a grip with one hand while your free hand fights off the opponent’s attempts to get their grip. Most judoka look to get their grips with two hands this makes the seemingly minimal contact of just getting a grip with only one hand extremely dangerous. Why?  Often the opponent doesn’t even feel threatened. The opponent is more inclined to be focused on fighting off the other hand to keep his opponent from getting his second grip. The one-handed grip allows numerous possibilities for sudden attacks. This method also frustrates your opponent and generally, they will open themselves up for you to attack.

Get the first grip

A judo throw requires the establishment of a strong grip. An offensive gripping strategy can help keep the opponent or adversary on their heels both literally and figuratively. Not having a solid plan for your grips can leave you vulnerable and at the mercy of your opponent.

Arm pit grip (waki)

Outside of Japan the arm pit grip is a pretty rare gripping method. Some of the great Japanese judo players have used this grip successfully in their offensive arsenal. Gripping the folds of the cloth at the area of arm pit is extremely versatile. It provides incredible defense and distance control.

1.) Insert your fingers in the fold of the gi just above the opponent’s arm pit with your left hand. 2.) Grip the gi with primarily the bottom three fingers of your left hand and turn the hand over clockwise palm down. 3.) For gripping over top, it is same as steps 1 and step

The arm pit grip is very useful in blocking an opponent’s attacks, restricting his movements and keeping him at a safe distance. It is extremely effective in a right vs right situation or an opposite stance, right vs. left situation (Kenka Yotsu). It helps control his arm making it harder for him to put his hand down to block a throw, it also keeps him from reaching over the top of your shoulder. In the one-handed judo style you have the added benefit of the opponent not feeling threatened by only a single grip. Unlike a pull on the sleeve or the lapel pulling at the armpit is a much shorter pull.

Posture and punching in your grip

1.) Stand with the right foot forward. The knees should be bent and center of gravity low. Feet are shoulder width apart. Twist your upper body clockwise bringing your left hand and shoulder to the front closer to your opponent. You left hand is your attacking hand and should be positioned closer to your opponent. The right hand acts as the defensive hand. 2.) Much like delivering a cross in boxing, punch in with your left hand and grip your opponent’s gi right above the armpit. Your right hand is up and defending any attempts by the opponent to get his grip.

Fighting with your grip

When you have gotten your grip keep your wrist, elbow and shoulder loose and constantly hunt for the opportunity to throw your opponent. A common error after you have punched in your grip is to constantly hold the opponent away with a stiff nonmoving arm.

Get in the habit of fanning your elbow up and down. Keeping the left arm loose will enable you to block your opponent’s grip attempts, as well as push, pull to position him and keep him off balance and even counter his attacks. Neither your gripping hand nor the arm should be stationary. Keeping the arm active pushing, pulling and fanning it up and down also makes it more difficult for your opponent to grip and control your arm.

Blocking opponent’s hand before he gets a grip

This blocking method is similar to throwing a cork screw punch in boxing. As I rotate my gripping hand clockwise turning my thumb downward, I push the knuckles of my hand into my opponent.

1.) You have established an armpit grip with the left hand. 2.) As your opponent reaches over the top with his right hand, turn your left hand over clockwise turning your thumb to the floor and roll your elbow upward to block his hand before he is able to get his grip. 3.) As an option knock his hand away by striking his forearm with the heel of your right hand.

Blocking the opponent’s over the top grip attempt

1.) From a fighting posture, 2.) punch in your grip. 3.) The opponent immediately tries to reach over the top of your arm to grip your lapel. 4.) Drop your center of gravity and roll your elbow upward to block his arm before he gets his grip on the lapel. 

Blocking opponent’s grip attempt under arm

1.) From your fighting stance, 2.) punch in your grip. 3.) The opponent immediately tries to reach under your arm to grip your lapel. 4.) Drop your center of gravity by bending your knees. Simultaneously, twist your torso to the right and roll your elbow downward to block before he gets his grip.

 Breaking your opponent’s lapel grip

When breaking grips you have to be careful not to put yourself in a bad or compromising position to get thrown. In this scenario you have secured your grip first and the opponent manages to reach over the top of the left arm and grip the lapel with his right hand. Punch the left arm straight out and at the same time knock his grip loose with your right hand.

1.) You have gotten the first grip at the armpit grip with your left hand. 2.) The opponent reaches over the top of your left arm with his right hand and grips your lapel. Immediately straighten your left arm. 3.) Simultaneously break his grip by hitting his forearm with the heel of your right hand.

Keep in mind that breaking grips and even off balancing your opponent work hand in hand with the movement of your feet. The arms, hands the legs and feet are used in conjunction to move your opponent around off balance break his grip and set him up for your throw.

When opponent grips lapel over the arm

You can also use your opponent’s lapel grip against him using his grip on your lapel as a set up for a throw.

1.) From your fighting stance, punch in your grip first. 2.) The opponent immediately counters by reaching over your arm and gets his grip on your lapel. Push slightly against his armpit by turning your gripping hand clockwise palm down. 3.) Drop your center of gravity slightly by bending your knees. Simultaneously pull with the left hand. This will bring his head forward and off-balance him. 4.) Immediately pull upward and back bringing your elbow high during the pull. Simultaneously, step in with your right foot to get into position to enter for your throw.

 When opponent grips lapel under the arm

1.) From your fighting stance, punch in your grip. 2.) The opponent immediately counters by reaching under your arm and gets his grip on your lapel. 3.) Drop your center of gravity by bending your knees. Simultaneously twist your torso to the right and roll your elbow downward pressing downward on the top of the opponent’s forearm with your forearm. This will bring his head forward and off-balance him. 4.) Immediately pull upward and back bringing your elbow high during the pull. Simultaneously, step in with your right foot to get into position to enter for your throw.

When opponent grips right sleeve

1.) Punch your grip in. 2.) The opponent gets a grip with his left hand on your right sleeve. 3.)  Make a fist with your right and and bring it to your chest and roll the right elbow over the top of the opponent’s left arm. Simultaneously take a half step toward your opponent’s right foot with your right foot. 4.) Bring your elbow downward to the inside of his left arm. Simultaneously step again with your right foot to the opponent’s right foot.

Keep the gripping hand and arm active. The most effective movements are performed in an explosive manner. The simultaneous and explosive movement of the different parts of the body in a coordinated way allows for greater speed and force.

Ippon Seoi Nage from Armpit Grip (Back Step Entry)

1.) White stands in a right foot forward position. His right foot is at the bottom corner of the triangle and his left foot is back deep behind the other corner of  the triangle. Blue is in a right foot forward position. 2.) Blue punches in his grip with the left hand gripping at the area of the opponent’s armpit. 3.) The opponent attempts to reach over the top of your left arm with his right hand to get a grip on your lapel. 

4.) Blues rolls his elbow upward and blocks white's lapel grip attempt. As Blue blocks with the elbow he bend the knees to drop his hips lower (this creates a space for you to move into to execute a throw). 5.)  Blue pulls white toward his front with the left hand keeping the elbow high as his right foot steps slightly down the side of the triangle toward White's right foot. 6.) Blue's left foot steps behind his right foot through the triangle to the baseline of the triangle (back step). As Blue back steps his knees are bent. Blues belt line should be lower than white's belt line.

4.) Blue brings his right hand up under the opponent’s right armpit as his right foot steps back all the way through the triangle between the opponent’s feet. The toes of both Blue's feet should be pointing in the direction of the apex of the triangle.  Blue pinches the opponent’s right arm at his arm pit between his right forearm and bicep.  Blue rotate the palm of his right hand toward his head (this creates a tighter clamp on the opponent’s arm).  5.)  Blues legs straighten quickly and he pops his hips upward into the opponent. 6.) Blue continues to pull and twists his torso to the left, taking his right elbow toward his left knee to finish the throw.