MY THROWS ARE NINJA AND I DONT FORGET

People who know me and those who even hate me will tell you one thing.....I don't suffer grief from anyone in any form. I don't turn the other cheek and I dont fucking forget. If you're going to talk shit online then you best be willing to back it up. Bret Gordon can talk tough online but he cant back his tough talk up. Back in 2020 Bret Gordon from Clermont Florida wrote a defamatory and slanderous article about me. Gordon went to great lengths attempting to paint me as a fraud. He claimed I had no judo back ground, that my judo instructors were non existent people. That I had fabricated my ranks through the National Governing bodies. 

 Koga variation of Ippon seoi nage - left versus right situation

Gordon claimed that the coaching certification I earned in 1997 thru the USJA Coaching educational Program was fake and that my rank certificates were not only fake but forged. Despite the fact that my ranks and certifications are recognized and verified not just in one NGB but in multiple legitimate Judo organizations. You can read more about the lengths he went to here:  https://combatjudo.blogspot.com/2022/10/public-statement.html 

If you're gonna be willing to lie to call someone a fraud online multiple times then you should be willing to back it up. As a judoka for me that means get your fucking ass on the mat and we will see what is what. Gordon even went so far to say that he wasn't past showing up at my front door. Three years later despite living only 45 minutes away and all the bullshit he wrote about me he still hasn't paid me a visit.  

Grip fighting drills

When someone goes to the lengths that Gordon did, lying to attempt to defame me, there's only one thing left to do....get on the mat.... randori...unless.... you're too much of a candy ass. Gordon let his mouth over load his ass, and like the pussy he is, he realized that he wouldn't stand the slightest chance against a legitimately trained judoka like me and he wouldn't. 

According to the Kontei Judo site Gordon teaches Kodokan Judo the way Kano intended and claims the scope of the competition part of judo is "limited". You would think, at the least, he would be willing to prove his stance that competition judo is limited. Gordon however wont get on the mat with me a guy who he called a fraud online. Gordon likes to run his mouth but at the end of the day its simple, don't run that meat sucker if you cant back it up. 

Blue defending against a over the top grip attempt by White.

In 2020 Gordon was claiming to be a 5th dan in judo. Gordon claims he started training in judo some where between 2013 and 2017. A 5th dan rank in judo takes about 35 years to attain. Bret was in his mid twenties at the time. Caught Gordon claimed it was a typo then changed his story and claimed to be a second dan through the USA TKJ an organization that is NOT affiliated with the Kodokan.  As for his second dan that takes approximately 14 to 20 years to attain. 7 to 10 years to attain first dan then you have to have 7 to ten years time in grade at first dan to even be eligible for second dan. 

Less than 2 years later in 2022 Gordon was claiming 3rd dan. A rank that requires a time in grade at second dan of 7 to 10 years. So even if we were to take the minimum requirement of time in grade, 7 years at each dan rank thats 21 years minimum. So where are any early pictures of Gordon training in judo? I was doing judo before Gordon was born and can provide pictures of training at a kyu rank back in the 90s. 

Gordon according to his own bio started training in 2013. That's only 10 years to present. Not enough time, by any legitimate judo standards, to garner the rank he now claims. He has also claimed he got his judo and BJJ black belts due to "previous experience in other martial arts". That isn't a practice that any legitimate judo or BJJ organization recognizes or condones.

Gordon ranks in judo and BJJ are a joke. He cant even seem to keep his stories about his "Judo black belt" straight. Gordon's judo ranks do not adhere to any Kodokan recognized international or national governing organizational or school standards. PERIOD. 

One handed seoi nage drill with back step entry

I don't care, if someone wants to fudge their judo rank and call it Cuntei Judo, or what ever, but don't start claiming or even implying you are better skilled than those of us who have adhered to the highest standards in judo. Especially when you're not even willing to randori against someone who is capable. Gordon tried to imply he was better than me but aint got the sack to back it up. He wont randori. He knows I will make a fool of him. 

Shiai is the testing of oneself. The time when a student must put his skills to actual use..The phrase is made up of two Japanese words. "Shi" means "to test" and "ai" means to meet. The term "randori means free sparring it is practiced under conditions of actual contest/competition/shiai. 

Ippon Seoi nage from lapel only step and pivot entry

Gordon has called me a fraud openly online, belittled sport judo, and legitimate judoka. He is good at running that meat sucker, you would think he would actually back up his bullshit and get on the mat or stand behind calling me out as a fraud. But he won't. I am thirty years older than Gordon. I'm in shape to do judo, in shape to randori. Gordon is in shape to compete in a hot dog eating contest. Think about this he is afraid of me, a guy that he called a fraud PUBLICLY. Gordon won't randori against me under any circumstances, too scared too. 

A lot of big claims and talk have come from Gordon. Deeming yourself a black belt in judo doesn't make one a judoka, a pretty certificate on the wall doesn't prove your judo rank, what you can actually do on the judo mat does! Randori is the proving ground in judo! PERIOD! It definitively shows who is a skilled judoka and who is just a bunch fucking hot air. Gordon is no legitimate judoka.......if you cant get on the mat and prove it, then you aint it. 

Ippon seoi nage split step entry

So how much of a pussy is Gordon? I am NOT challenging Gordon to a fist fight. I am NOT threatening to beat him up, knock him out or injure the guy. I am just talking about getting on the mat to randori.....But Gordon is too scared to even do that. 

Gordon is welcome to get on the mat and randori with me and prove me wrong ANY FUCKING TIME! I am on the mat everyday of the week. I personally don't think Gordon is even physically capable of handling a randori session with a skilled judoka like myself. Gordon knows I would put him on his ass in seconds. He wouldn't even know what hit him. I would make a fool out of him in seconds. And I do mean literally in SECONDS. So fast Gordon would run off the mat crying.  

If Gordon is too scared to take me up on randori. I will most certainly roll with him too. I have no intentions to injure Gordon but I will embarrass him. I will put my Carlson Gracie Jiujitsu white belt on and put it up against Gordon's so called "bjj black belt" ANYTIME and submit him just as fast as I would throw him standing.  

UNVERFIABLE INSTRUCTORS EQUATE TO SUBSTANDARD JUDO SKILLS

I am addressing two articles that were written by Bret Gordon and Steven Hatfield, "The Myth of the National Governing Bodies" and "Fantasy, Narcissism and lack of honor in the NGBs". I want to point out that both Gordon and Hatfield spread only disinformation when it comes to the inner workings of judo and how organizational and Kodokan ranking procedures really work. These articles were an attempt to rewrite the actual procedures of the Judo ranking system and to cover up Gordon's and Hatfield's own judo claims and backgrounds are non existent and UNVERIFIABLE. 

A lot of effort and hard work is put into learning judo in legitimate judo organizations and the Kodokan recognized national Governing bodies for judo. Judo is regulated and those who claim judo ranks can easily be verified. Judo keeps a clear record via the Kodokan and all its international and National governing bodies. Because of this it is easy to vet who are legitimate judo instructors and who arent. 

Be warned it is buyer beware when dealing with judo instructors with unverifiable back grounds. You are not getting Kodokan Judo by any standards, you are getting garbage!

The cold hard facts are that Neither Gordon or Hatfield are certified teachers, coaches or certified or endorsed instructors from any Kodokan regulated organization. The judo ranks both Gordon and Hatfield claim are not the result of actual Kodokan judo training of any kind.  They're self proclaimed judo instructors who literally garnered their ranks overnight, fabricated them and then bought rank from a non recognized organization, the USA TKJ. Only pussies buy a rank in this manner instead of earning it the right way.  

The article pictured above was written by Bret Gordon. He claims the NGBs are all about sport and nothing else. Gordon is purposely misleading because there are things he just doesn't want his students to know. First off the three NGBs (USA judo, USJA, USJF) that Gordon speaks of follow standards that were set by the Kodokan. These three NGBs in the US are the only ones the Kodokan recognizes. The Kodokan does not recognize USA Traditional Kodokan Judo (USA TKJ). The USA TKJ is not affiliated in any way to the Kodokan in Japan. 

Statement from Bruce Bethers, President of USA TKJ circled in red.

For any American Judoka the only path to the Kodokan is thru the NGBs then to the US Kodokan Committee then to the Kodokan in japan. THIS IS THE ONLY PATH! The Kodokan vets American judoka through the NGBs (USJA, USJF USA Judo) only. There is no skirting the NGBs in any country. The NGBs are who the Kodokan uses to vet all foreign Judoka around the world who want their ranks registered through the Kodokan.

The three NGBs themselves are represented by a US based Kodokan Committee. Anyone who has earned a shodan in the NGBs can submit their rank to the US Kodokan committee, if they qualify it will get passed on to the Kodokan in Japan. The Kodokan in japan will vet the application and check on all verified experience. If, involvement in the sport of judo is minimal you will not be granted a rank from the Kodokan. If a higher rank like a sandan wants that rank recognized and has not applied for rank recognition from the Kodokan before. The applicant will not be recognized at sandan, he will be recognized at shodan provided he has the commensurate amount of tournament experience. His time in grade will start on the day his shodan was recognized by the Kodokan. Basically starting over to earn his higher ranks. 

Secondly, what Gordon doesn't say is that the NGBs do cater to non competitive judoka. The NGBs have different sets of standards for judoka involved with the sport and those who aren't. There are four classifications. These four classifications range from the very competitive judoka, lessor competitive judoka to the Non competitive judoka. The competitive judoka make up only a small percentage of judo practitioners. There are not enough competitive judoka to sustain a NGB let alone the three NGBs in the US. Most of the people in the NGBs are non competitive judoka. The bigger numbers of non Competitive Judoka are who really sustain the NGBs. The NGBs recognize that not everyone has a desire to compete. Those who are more involved with Judo like sport judoka will garner ranks about 30 to 40 percent faster than those who don't compete.

Gordon goes on to state in his article that the NGBs aren't the real authority or influence on governing anything related to the traditional arts (judo). This is an out and out lie, the NGBs are the authority, no question. The Kodokan is the birthplace of Judo.  Judo is regulated and it is structured in a very specific way. The structure was indeed established and set forth by the Kodokan through its National Governing bodies all over the world. Because of this structure there is a distinct difference between verifiable judo rank which is capable of being proven true or real and a fabricated or unverifiable rank that is not objective and can't be proven.

I don't expect Gordon to speak knowledgeably about the workings of the NGBs he has never been involved in judo outside his own imagination. Gordon is being purposely misleading about what the NGBs true functions are. Gordon doesn't want his students to know that the NGBs true purpose reflects that of the Kodokan's. 

Fabricating ranks or buying them from non qualified organizations or sources is NOT a practice that the Kodokan or the NGBs engage in and seriously look down on. Gordon's and Hatfield's issues are really about the standards the Kodokan and its international Governing bodies ALL have. Neither Gordon or Hatfield meet those standards and requirements.  

UNVERFIABLE INSTRUCTORS EQUATE TO SUBSTANDARD JUDO SKILLS

What one gets from an unverifiable instructors is very sub standard at best..... meaning black belts who can easily be beaten by even a legitimate white belt. What Gordon tries to teach in the way of judo is very very substandard in comparison to the NGBs and the Kodokan. For the non competitive judoka or the judoka who does very little in the sport to achieve green belt level would typically be three years. To give an idea about how substandard Gordon is he promotes students to green belt in less than a year. it would take more than a year for a competitive judoka to reach that rank. Neither Gordon or his instructor have exemplary skills by any stretch of the imagination and sadly pass their non existent to substandard skills to their students. Their so called judo class/program is a literal joke. 

Gordon's method of fast tracking students thru judo ranks is disastrous for the student. It is generally the students of these types of instructors who pay the price. The instructors themselves would not dare step on the mat with legitimate judoka. They know what the poor skills that they are passing on aren't good or effective. This why Gordon will never step foot on the mat with someone like me. His piss poor skills would be no match, he would lose and lose badly.  

Some of Gordon's former students, believing they were the ranks Gordon had promoted them to, visited other judo schools. The poor level of training they received from Gordon became quickly apparent and they were embarrassed in front of everyone. The white belts with less than six months training were beating Gordon's green and brown belt students it spoke volumes of Gordon's lack of  judo skills. 

With that being said I want to stress this was one hundred percent Gordon's fault NOT his former students. Gordon is not a judo instructor, he teaches garbage. He has never been a judoka. He convinced his students that they didn't need years of training but only months and they would be ranked judoka. It was unfortunate that they found out the hard way that they were taught garbage that wouldn't work nor was it even remotely effective.

 Like Gordon's article, Hatfield attempts to put out false and misleading information (pictured above) to hide that the fact he is not even remotely qualified to teach or coach Judo. Hatfield sports a red white belt in judo, laughingly he isn't even old enough to have such a rank in judo. To say it is inflated is an under statement. He claims he started training in judo roughly in 2012. To obtain a 5th - 6th degree black belt in judo would require 35 plus years of judo training and experience. Hatfield's whole article gears around what he calls the uselessness of certifications and that they aren't really needed.   

Despite what Hatfield tries to say in his article, certifications show a specialty that goes beyond just an individual achieving a black belt rank in judo. Earning a Black belt rank isn't any indication of ones teaching or coaching ability. The NGBs, the Kodokan, even the founder Jigoro Kano all recognized this. Kano himself wanted qualified teachers and instructors. Simply getting your black belt in judo wasnt enough even back in Kano's era. This is why there are teaching/coaching programs and certifications today within the NGBs as well as educational programs within the Kodokan itself.  

Coaching certifications and accreditations are specific in that it shows an area of a judoka's expertise....TEACHING AND COACHING. It indicates that not only can the instructor do judo himself but he is a credential instructor and coach in other words, he is a professional. It cannot be stressed enough that coaching education doesn't stop with gaining a certification it is continuing education program. Personally I have coaching credentials and do continuing coaching education programs in three different legit Judo organizations as each hae their own coaching education programs. 

YOU ARE EITHER VERFIED OR YOU ARENT SHIT

The unverified uncredentialled instructor is substandard in comparison to the person who has specialized in judo by taking and garnering his certifications. Likewise when going to a school that is run by a instructor who is unverified....you are just getting a sub standard level of instruction. Substandard instruction can leave these types of schools and instructors wide open to civil litigation. Failure to provide adequate instruction is when a teacher instructor or coach has not adequately or properly instructed students in any or all phases of judo. It is the instructor's/ coaches duty and responsibility to adequately and properly instruct all students in correct technical and safety skills of judo. 

From a legal stand point it is never a good idea to lie about or exaggerate your expertise for several reasons. If you have to bull shit people it means you are hiding your lack of knowledge. It also means you aren't even confident in your own abilities if you have to make them out to be more than what they are. Judges see right through practices like a play on words. Those kinds of BS tactics certainly wont help you in legal proceedings. In court you will be required to prove every last one of your claims. Unverifiable claims will not be considered evidence. 1000 unverifiable claims doe not equate to a single truth or fact.

Hatfield's school ad on left - Kodokan member card on right

It is never a good idea to advertise or represent yourself as something as something that you are not. Hatfield has claimed to be a licensed and or endorsed with the Kodokan (pictured above on left). The truth is Hatfield doesn't hold a single rank through the NGBs. According to the Kodokan them selves he holds no rank with the Kodokan either. Hatfield's Kodokan judo rank and instructor claims were false. He isn't licensed nor is his school, his Kontei Judo or Sieken Judo Jiujitsu Association. Also if Hatfield's rank was recognized by the Kodokan the rank would be on his card. It clearly isn't (pictured above on right). 

According to an email from the Kodokan in Japan (pictured left), Hatfield isnt an instructor of any rank or of any licensed status with the Kodokan. ALL Hatfield did was buy a Kodokan member card. Anyone even non judoka can purchase a Kodokan member card. Kodokan member cards are easy to get.  Tourists can purchase them from a vending machine at the Kodokan with ever stepping on the mats to do judo. They can be purchased online without ever training in judo or physically stepping foot in the Kodokan. 

The Kodokan member card is not  proof of a license, rank or endorsement. The card's only function is as a gym card, you show it to get in. Trying to say its proof of endorsement or a license as Gordon and Hatfield implies is misrepresentative of the card's actual purpose. The way Gordon and Hatfield attempt to word things and imply on their websites and other public media is quite misleading. 

It is not a good idea from a legal standpoint to claim to be something that you are not. Neither Hatfield or Gordon should make things out to be more than what they really are but they do. They both have implied an affiliation with the Kodokan that isn't there. This quite literally leaves them open and vulnerable to litigation. It gives their students grounds to break any and all contracts they may have signed with Gordon or Hatfield schools immediately and even start litigation to regain the monies the students paid to them. Uncredentialled instructors can also be held liable for committing fraud. Claiming to be a judo instructor when you are not a verified judo instructor opens many doors for civil legal litigation. They can be held liable for any and all injuries that occur in their classes. 

Hatfield has no understanding of the certification process or even what it means and blatantly attempts to say in his article that standards, certification training and requirements that all legitimate judoka must meet means nothing. 

Being a credentialed, certified or accredited instructor is considered a professional and goes a long way in the eyes of the legal system. Attorneys do call instructors who are recognized by the NGBs into court proceedings for professional assessments, evaluations and testimony as they are noted credentialed experts. An instructor that is trained and certified through the NGBs could be called to testify against an instructor who isn't credentialed or certified. Example, I am an authority in my field, I am credentialed and certified in multiple legitimate Judo organizations. My testimony in court would hold more weight than that of Hatfield's or Gordon's. I would literally be there worst nightmare in a litigation. How important does being certified sound now?

The more educated you stay the better. It shows everyone that you are just not another instructor, it shows you are not an amateur or self proclaimed expert or self promoted instructor. Certifications from National recognized institutes and organizations shows that you are a capable professional Judo teacher, instructor and coach. Teaching judo cannot be taken lightly nor should it be, the more credentialed a judo instructor is, the more it helps protect the instructors themselves from legal litigation. If one isn't qualified to do CPR and offers assistance anyway and the subject dies as a result. Even if  their intentions were good, legally they would and could be held responsible for the death.  

Whether Gordon and Hatfield and others of their ilk like it or not,  Judo IS regulated, with the standards and requirements being set by the Kodokan. The three NGBs in the US are ALL comprised of professional teachers, instructors, coaches and athletes ALL who have met certain standards and criteria to be such.

Hatfield's skills are very substandard, a beginner level of white belt.  His poor level of skill and knowledge is evident in the videos he has on social media attempting to demonstrate judo techniques. He is clearly not a ranked judoka with any legitimate judo organization nor is he ranked with the Kodokan. He didn't go through the hard training or the effort that comes with judo and it shows. Calling  himself a 5th degree black belt master....now that's a joke. Like Gordon, he's a pretender and a candy ass. Hatfield cant and doesn't meet any standards in judo not even at a beginner rank. Hatfield calling himself a judo instructor is like someone trying to claim they're a attorney without having to go to law school and pass the bar. Lastly, only a pussy would buy a judo rank from a joke organization instead of actually training in it to earn it. 

PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM UNVERIFIED JUDO INSTRUCTORS 

I would like to point out to readers that unverifiable judo instructors or instructors who fast track you through judo ranks are practices not recognized and that these type practices are looked down upon by the Kodokan and its NGBs! There is no skirting the NGBs in any country. The NGBs are who the Kodokan uses to vet all foreign Judoka who want their ranks registered through the Kodokan. 

There is nothing wrong with a student or potential student independently verifying an instructor's information for themselves. Only those with stuff to hide will take it as an affront. If your instructor is claiming things like he is a Kodokan black belt and that he will get your rank registered with the Kodokan my advice is to CONTACT THE NGBs and THE KODOKAN DIRECTLY!  Website: http://www.kodokanjudoinstitute.org/  Email: int@kodokan.org 

BULLSHIT KODOKAN RANK CLAIMS

The sad and unfortunate truth in martial arts is that there are some instructors who will look their students and potential students in the eyes and blatantly tell one lie after the next. I recently had someone reach out to me inquiring about a judo rank that he received at another school.  Firstly by judo standards he got his rank from his instructor really fast...that's a red flag to any legit Judoka and the sign of a rank mill or mcdojo. 

Apparently, his instructor is charging money for judo rank and telling his students their ranks are registered with the Kodokan in Japan. To be direct his instructor isn't a judo instructor dint train in judo nor does he teach Kodokan Judo. I told him it is highly unlikely and if he personally wanted to verify whether he is or not simply email and check with the Kodokan themselves. He is being blatantly lied to by his instructor. In other words he is being defrauded. 

Make no mistake these guys aren't "judo enthusiasts" they are frauds lying to their students so they can steal as much money as they can from as many as they can. This instructor is known in the state of Florida as a fraud and is a laughing stock of the judo and BJJ community. Whether considered legally as fraud or not, it is in no uncertain terms unethical.  

Most judoka literally bust their asses for years in judo for every rank they earn. If you got a bogus judo rank don't expect anything from a real judoka other than an ass whoopin'. Judo frauds stink to high heaven, like skunks. If you are around a skunk its stench stays with you long after it leaves. This instructor has claimed that because of his previous training in other styles such Karate or jiujitsu rank that he was given rank in judo. Black belt ranks in other styles transter to a rank in judo nor does it translate some kind short cut to a black belt in judo. Personally, I have less than zero tolerance for judo frauds....my advice to them is to avoid me like I am the plague.   

This central Florida area instructor and his instructor from somewhere up north obtained black belt ranks literally overnight in "Traditional Kodokan Judo" bought from a shit judo rank mill organization. Judo frauds cannot grant anyone legit judo rank! If your training under a fraud you're getting zilch you are being let down, you're being robbed. If you think your getting something your letting yourself down. What good is a judo rank from a instructor with an unverifiable back ground? That rank that you have paid fees of hundreds or maybe even thousands for, even if its a kyu rank, means absolutely nothing.  

My honest hope is that those who this instructor is defrauding find the following information helpful. All I can say about this guy's instructor is; Don't be surprised when an actual judoka shows up demanding that the instructor get on the mat and randori... No real judoka shies away from actual real randori. 

What is Randori?

Randori not “randoriing” is the primary method of learning Judo. Randori is sparring it is done all out with full speed and full power. The opponent fights you back with full speed and power and gives full resistance. It's a fight! Its not a "dance" or a waltz. It isnt choreographed in any way.  Both practitoners utilize full speed and power and counter with full resistance to develops skills needed to throw in actual combat and competition. It isnt called "randori" if either you or your opponent are going 50/50. If you only practice kata and drills with a compliant or semi resistant partner that is not randori….that is not what Kano intended.... that is not Judo! Practicing kata and or doing drills on a compliant partner is not doing judo. Bruce Lee once noted that Kano’s randori is the best training method ever developed. It allows full contact and 100% commitment to the technique for both proponents. The end result is a level of toughness and knowledge / confidence that judo works and what to expect when facing real resistance.

Fake Judoka are easy to spot!

Because of judo's regulation fake judoka are few, they are easy to spot. The fakes don't realize how easy they are to pick up on. Legit judoka spot these types right off the bat. I have beginner white belts who do judo better than this guy and his instructor. That isn't an exaggeration. To call what he does judo is a stretch of the imagination. Typically fake judo instructors are literally non judoka, they don't even have a grasp of the rudimentary skills; the basics of gripping, stance, footwork, movement or throwing techniques. 

Judo is structured and regulated

There is a clear record in judo, it is structured with Kodokan recognized National and International governing bodies/organization, so because of this it is easier to refute false claims in judo than other martial arts. 

What if I have questions about my instructor’s claims of legitimacy, lineage or affiliations with Judo or the Kodokan?

First and foremost, no instructor should have a problem showing you his credentials. He should not become defensive simply because you want to verify his credentials as well as the kind of service you’re getting. If he claims to be affiliated with an NGB simply contact the NGB directly they will inform you of his rank and current standing within the NGB.

If he makes claims that he is endorsed by or instructor with the Kodokan then simply email the Kodokan in japan. They will tell you if he is only a member or if he is indeed a recognized black belt. Again, no instructor should have a problem with you INDEPENDANTLY verifying their background or certifications…if they become defensive or evasive, they are hiding something.

How do you know if your rank is registered with the Kodokan?

Do not take certificates at face value! Frauds will fabricate counterfeit credentials for themselves and they will sell counterfiet credentials! So independently verify them on your own! If your instructor is telling you that he has your rank registered with the Kodokan or one of their recognized NGBs then contact them directly. 

What is the Kodokan member card?

First off, the membership card itself isnt not hard to get at all. Pretty much anyone who visits the Kodokan can purchase a Kodokan membership card. The cost of a KDK member card is only 55 dollars/8,000 yen. It is nothing more than a gym card like a YMCA card. It is NOT a club charter, organization charter or “license” or an endorsement of ANY kind. 

No rank is listed on card

If there is no rank it generally means the card was just merely purchased. The Kodokan membership cards are available to anyone who visits the Kodokan whether you are there to train or simply visiting on a tour. You can even purchase one by phone or email all you have to do is contact the Kodokan and inquire. The Kodokan card presented on its own doesn't and shouldn't mean anything. There should be an accompanying documentation if rank is recognized by kodokan.

Is the card even proof of active membership with the Kodokan?

Personally, an active membership implies that one trains at the Kodokan on some sort of regular basis. The Kodokan membership card is a lifetime membership card that shows Kodokan accepted or granted rank. All memberships are lifetime, and updated only upon Kodokan promotion or recognition of rank. If a visitor or tourist purchases a member card it will not show a rank. If someone shows up with judo rank from a foreign national Governing body for judo and simply pays for KDK membership without applying for rank recognition, the card will not show rank.

If you are going to Japan and want to get your Judo rank registered with the Kodokan in japan, it is a challenging process.

Judo National Governing Bodies

Most countries have a National Governing body for Judo that are recognized by the Kodokan. The United States has only three.  This is how your rank in judo will be vetted by the Kodokan. First, bring all of your documentation from the United States regarding your rank from the recognized national governing bodies for judo which are the United States Judo Association, USA Judo and the United States Judo Federation. When you arrive at the Kodokan, you will register and show your documentation and will pay for a Kodokan membership. The Kodokan will provide you with a Kodokan English Membership card. This is not be a black belt ID card. You will use your card to check in each time that you train.

 

The Kodokan and the All Japan Judo Federation

It is going to be challenging to get a Black Belt diploma in Japan. The process will need to go through the All Japan Judo Federation and one of the first questions asked is are you a tourist? In Japan there is a lot of paperwork and bureaucracy even for Japanese nationals to get their ranks registered. If you’re able to go through the vetting process in Japan through the All Japan Judo Federation, you will be issued your diploma. The Kodokan will next issue an updated membership card in Japanese with the verified Dan rank.

In most countries there are official Kodokan recognized governing bodies that define and administer Dan-grade requirements and tests. These requirements are the same as the Kodokan in Japan. If you are training in Judo in the US to be recognized by the Kodokan your rank must be recognized by one of the three National Governing Bodies for judo, the USJA, USJF and USA judo. This is the only way to get rank from Japan or registered with the Kodokan. The USJA, USJF and USA Judo will be the ONLY organizations in the US that the Kodokan will vet and verify you through.

“The Judo NGBs are all about sport!”

This is basically what you will hear from bogus judo instructors and yes even bogus judo organizations. There are only 3 Organizations recognized by the Kodokan these are the three recognized national governing bodies, the USJA, USJF and USA Judo. Most who take judo are NOT competing in the sport of judo. Most judo clubs are primarily made up of hobbyist or recreational practitioners. A small percentage actually competes in tournaments.

If the NGBs (National Governing Bodies) were all about sport or sport only we would not be able to sustain one National Governing body much less three.  Most of the finances made from membership fees come from recreational judo practitioners. Simply put the number of competitive judokas wouldn’t keep the dojo doors open much less keep three Judo organizations running.

How many legitimate Judo organizations are there? 

There are 4 legitimate Judo organizations, all of whose standards rank requirements and time in grade are similar. The United States Judo Association, The United States Judo Federation, USA Judo and Freestyle Judo/AAU judo. These are the best organizations to get involved with. The most impressive of the four is the latter mentioned Freestyle Judo/AAU Judo.  

How long does it take to get a black belt in Judo?

Most of those who compete depending on how much they compete and on what level can reach black belt level in anywhere from 3 to 6 years. The majority of judo practitioners dont compete in judo. The ones who don’t compete may reach black belt level in 7 to 10 years. This is the universal standard among all Kodokan recognized organizations across the world. 

“We teach Judo the way Kano intended!”

This is another line you might hear from a judo fraud; this is usually followed with we teach Judo for the streets, self defense etc etc. This narrow mindedness is NOT what Kano intended! Kano intended KATA RANDORI AND SHIAI (Competition), to function together. ALL WERE EQUALLY IMPORTANT. If there is no competition record from sanctioned National Governing Body judo competitions it is highly unlikely that the Kodokan will grant a black Belt promotion to a foreigner. The Kodokan’s and the three NGB’s requirements are similar otherwise the Kodokan wouldn’t recognize them as the National Governing Bodies for Judo in the US.

A National Governing Body Ban

Yes, being banned from a recognized from one of the NGBs typically means that the person banned has done or committed something extremely shady and or heinous.

There is an area school instructor whose claims are indeed shady and that is putting it mildly. He has zero experience in Judo, his instructor has no ties to the Kodokan or the NGBs for that matter and even the person they claim a tie to on their website was banned from all three Judo NGBs for submitting unverifiable, in other words fake documents, for rank promotion and recognition. The life time ban he received meant that everyone he promoted was affected as well. This meant that their ranks were rendered null and void as well.  This also means anyone who submits a rank and lists the banned person as their instructor will be denied or in some cases, they direct you to an authorized rank examiner for the NGB to be evaluated and tested.

Conclusion

As stated earlier in this article, because judo keeps a clear record and is structured with Kodokan recognized National and International governing bodies, it is easier to refute false judo claims. Simply put if your dojo/instructor isn’t affiliated with an NGB you aren’t going to be affiliated with the Kodokan in any way. The Kodokan only recognizes three; USJA, USJF and USA Judo. They are also not going to able to register your rank with the NGBs or the Kodokan itself. 

Kodokan standards are set in stone there are no back doors into the Kodokan. These standards are followed by all three of the NGBs in the United states. This why they are the only ones in the US that are recognized by the Kodokan. There is even a Kodokan committee set up for all three NGBs so Judoka can get their ranks recognized by the Kodokan if they wish. 

If your instructor is claiming some sort of affiliation with the Kodokan or even tells you that he has registered your rank with the Kodokan simply contact the Kodokan with the information you have at http://kodokanjudoinstitute.org/en/contact/ 

If they say there is no record then it means you were flat out lied to by your instructor and they are obviously not teaching you judo at all and certianly not “teaching Kodokan judo as Kano intended!”

GRIP FIGHTING FOR JUDO AND BJJ

 

Blue punches in his grip, as he shuffles forward like a boxer throwing a jab.

A lot of people who start judo want to dive right into learning the fancy looking throws. Trying to throw an experienced grappler or judoka is extremely difficult without knowing how to fight to get your grip. Grip fighting is an art in itself. Grip fighting is a fundamental part of judo and is worth learning. It requires some serious time in training, if you don’t put the time into this, then you won’t progress very far with your throws.

Grip fighting is ultimately the act of grabbing your opponent's gi where YOU desire without letting the opponent get his grip in such a way that prevents you from attacking. 

Grip Fighting Key Points:

Have a grip fighting strategy

-          Grip fighting means just that "grip fighting!" Don’t change your stance stand your ground and fight for the grip you want.

       Be fast - Be ballistic - Be explosive

       Think boxing - punch in your grips like a boxer, you can use combinations, you can feint and you can even parry you opponent's grip attempts in the same manner a boxer parries punches. 

-          Grip fighting creates opportunities, it sets up your throws.

-          Create motion. Try to never break a grip while standing still it can be very difficult....MOVE!

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.

FIGHTING JUDO

Grip fighting in judo is an entire set of skills and strategies in and of itself.  Called “Kumi kata” in Japanese the idea is that whoever secures their favorite grips first will most likely get the throw, whoever gets the throw can dominate and win the match. I liken grip fighting to boxing.   

A significant part of grip fighting is learning the techniques to break your opponent’s grips which in turn leads to setting up a successful throw.  In most cases an opponent has to get both hands on you to throw. When breaking grips you have to be careful NOT to put yourself in a bad or compromising position. 

When opponent grips right sleeve

1.) Punch your grip in.

2.) The opponent gets a grip with his left hand on your right sleeve below the elbow.

3.)  Make a fist with your right hand and bring your fist to your chest, as if beating your chest, then 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 the opponent's  left arm. Simultaneously step again with your right foot to the opponent’s right foot.

Breaking opponent's grip on lapel to set up Ippon Seoi nage

1.) Step your right foot forward at the top of the triangle. Your knees should be bent and your center of gravity low. Twist your upper body clockwise bring your left hand and shoulder to the front closer to your opponent. In a right vs. right situation your right shoulder should be more toward your rear and not out front and easily accessible for your opponent to grip and attack. You left hand is your attacking hand and your right hand is the defensive hand.

2.) Much like delivering a punch 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.

3.) White immediately grips your right lapel with his left hand. 

4.) In the same way you break the opponent's grip on your sleeve, make a fist with the right hand and bring it into your chest and then roll elbow over the top of your opponent’s arm counter clockwise as you step forward slightly toward your opponent with your right foot. 

5.) Continue to roll your elbow over and then downward to the inside of his left arm. Pivot on your right foot as your right elbow moves to the inside of your opponent's left arm. Pull with your left hand and your right foot forward closer to the opponent by taking a short step with your right foot toward his right foot.

6.) Step your left foot up to your right foot to his right. Simultaneously, move your right hand under the opponent’s armpit.

7.) Step your right foot 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).

8.) Continue the pull with your left hand. Step the left foot back and 

9.) straighten your legs quickly and bend forward popping your hips upward into the opponent. This should pop your opponent’s hips off of your hips adding power to the throw. Twist your torso to the left by taking your right elbow to your left knee to finish the throw.

IPPON SEOI NAGE – Right vs. Right - Opponent reaches over top (Split Step entry)

Since it’s birth Judo has changed with the times. Even so, the essential nature of judo has remained the same. Judo is judo. Born out of innovation, the sport of Judo lends itself to specialization. Toshiko Koga perfected a variation of seio nage that required little in the way of gripping and got him consistently under his opponent’s hips. Koga’s powerhouse technique was the ippon-seoi-nage and he had an impressive range of seoi-nage variations. 

There were four distinct variations of seoi-nage that Koga did. One type of morote-seoi-nage he had used since the early days of his competition career was the cross-grip morote-seoi-nage. The morote-seoi-nage he is most known for is the legendary one-handed morote-seoi-nage that he did on Chang Su Li of North Korea in the semifinal of the 1989 world championships. 

In the 1989 World Championships, he did yet another unusual form of seoi-nage. It happened in the final, against a left hander, Mike Swain of the USA. Instead of inserting his lead leg like he usually does, against Swain, he did an extremely wide split seoi-nage. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics Koga would use a two on one lapel grip, grabbing his opponent’s right lapel with both hands. 

Firstly, Koga’s entry was ballistic. It was so quick and so powerful that even if he didn’t hit it cleanly, he could often get the score anyway. Koga’s seio nage wasn’t the traditional seoi nage. There were two things he did that made it more effective; 1.) His split step entry, and 2.) his use of the lapel grip rather than the more conventional sleeve grip. There was absolutely no question what Koga was going to do in 99% of his matches. He was going to secure his left-hand lapel grip, break your posture, and launch you skyward with his seoi nage. His opposition knew what Koga was going to do and couldn’t do a damn thing to stop it.

1.) Step your right foot forward at the top of the triangle. Your knees should be bent and your center of gravity low. Twist your upper body clockwise bring your left hand and shoulder to the front closer to your opponent. In a right vs. right situation your right shoulder should be more toward your rear and not out front and easily accessible for your opponent to grip and attack. You left hand is your attacking hand and your right hand is the defensive hand. 2.) From a right foot forward posture, punch in your 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. Roll your elbow upward and block his arm to keep his hand from grasping your lapel. As you block with the elbow bend the knees to drop your hips lower (this creates a space for you to move into to execute a throw).

4.) Pull your opponent toward his front with the left hand keeping your elbow high. Simultaneously, step your left foot up to your right foot about a half of a step forward. As you step keep your knees bent. Your belt line should be lower than your opponent’s belt line. 5.) Step your left foot to the top of the triangle. 6.) Your right foot steps back all the way through the triangle between the opponent’s feet pivot on your left foot. As your right foot touches the mat, you should be on the ball of your right foot and 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). 

 7.)  Step back with your left foot thru the triangle between your opponent’s feet and next to your right foot (as you step back with the left foot  your opponent’s feet should start to raise up off the mat). 8.) Straighten your legs quickly and pop your hips upward into the opponent. 9.) Continue to pull and twist your torso to the left, taking your right elbow toward your left knee and drive the opponent to the ground. 

COMBAT JUDO: OSOTO GARI

Being able to utilize judo and its principles in a street encounter requires more attention to the technical aspects of throwing an aggressor not wearing a judo gi (uniform). I have in the past two years written three books addressing this very thing, two of which got great reviews and have sold out. My third book (pictured left) "Combat Judo" will be published 2024. 

Personally as a long time Judoka, I look at what I do with the sole perspective of; If this is the system I am fighting with, how am I going to do that and be effective in a realistic context? In my first book, REAL COMBAT JUDO, I worked off a very specific tactic called “THE STOP”. This tactic 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.  The stop is a simple, gross motor driven direct and effective movement, it takes our natural survival instincts into consideration and allows those survival instincts to work as a foundation for a very rapidly delivered technique.

 “The Stop” capitalizes on the natural human reaction to extend your arms when someone attacks you by pushing him away.  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. “THE STOP” can be utilized as a preemptive strike or when the attack is recognized early or late. “THE STOP” can be used preemptively, 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).

The Stop can also be 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). It is also effective when you pick up on the attacker throwing a punch late. For example, if the attacker throws a right punch, 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 Combat Judo one - two 

You can use "the stop" in combination with another strike to keep the opponent's balance and posture disrupted. Think of a boxer throwing a one - two combination.  

1.) Executed similar to a one - two combination in boxing, from a fighting stance or non violent posture, push off the rear foot and step forward with your left foot shuffling forward and strike the opponent at the pocket of the shoulder with a lead straight open hand strike (picture the movement of a boxer throwing a jab as he shuffles forward). The impact should rock the opponent back on his heels. The left hand immediately grabs the opponent's shirt at the area struck.  2.) Pull the opponent into you bringing him forward off his heels as you push of the rear foot again stepping toward 11 o'clock with your left foot shuffling forward.  As you pull the opponent into you deliver a hack with the outer boney area of your right forearm to the left side of the opponent's neck (picture this movement as that of a boxer throwing a rear hand straight punch). 

1.) From your fighting position your attacker attempts a right punch. Push off the left foot and step forward with your right foot off line and strike him hard in the pocket of his shoulder. The strike should stop his rotation and knock him back on his heels.  2.) Grab his shirt at the area struck and pull him into you as you push off your right foot and step with your left foot toward 11 o'clock. Simultaneously strike him with the blade of your right forearm in the throat or the side of the neck.  3.) Draw the right arm back and execute a horizontal elbow strike (when doubling up the hack with the horizontal elbow think of rechambering the hack more the like the action a pump shot gun. Rechamber then execute the elbow).  4.) Swing your right leg up between your opponent's right leg and your left leg. Sweep his right leg up  high with your right leg to finish the cross hock takedown/osoto gari/major outside reap. 

See related articles:

http://combatjudo.net/combat-judo-blog/boxing-the-sweet-science-unleashed/ http://combatjudo.net/combat-judo-blog/the-judo-arsenal-osoto-gari-for-practical-self-defense/