Half Guard

Half guard or half mount is a ground grappling position where one fighter is lying on the other, with the opponent in the bottom having one leg entangled. This position is refered to as "half guard".
The half guard is the position that is in between a full guard and side control or full mount. The combatant on top will try to unentangle the leg and obtain side control or mount, while the bottom combatant will try to transition into a full guard or alternatively attempt a sweep or submission.
In self defence the fighter on top is said to be in a better position due to the fact that he can attemp elbows and punches as well as submissions. Although most atheltes tend to pass from half guard to side control in order to strike alot more effectively without getting swept or countered.
Below is a photo of the half guard position


Effective and well known sweeps from the bottom are Old School and New york, (video of them up in the next few weeks.)

Technique of the Week - O goshi

O goshi is a hip throw and is one of the first 40 throws of the Kodokan. It is also part of the updated 67 throws of the kodokan. O goshi is a great throw to teach beginners because it has all the elements needed in judo, from pivoting, pulling off balance, bending the knees and rotating to throw.
It can be done gi or no gi and is great when your opponent loves overhooks.


No Gi version

Pic of the Week

If at first you lose, do what your coach told you to do.

Pic of the week- Transitions

This weeks Picture of the week is a good example of the effectiveness of a judo throw. By throwing your opponent and continuing on the ground you have the abiity to pass your opponents guard straight away and finish in a side control or scarf hold position.
Practicing these transitions is a great way to acheive the upper and when fighting.
You can see in the picture below how the attacker has thrown with a drop seoi nage or a tai otoshi and will finish in a kesa gatame (Scarf hold) at the end of the movement.

My training videos

Osoto Gari

Osoto Gari or, major outer reaping throw, is usually the first technique taught to beginner judo players, and thus people tend to believe its a 'beginners throw.' Many greats including Kimura, Yamashita, Geesink and Yoshida all had very devastating Osoto garis that won very large international tournaments.

Osoto gari in action
(look out for the first throw which was performed by kimura on Helio Gracie)


My instructional (mind the unkempt gi)


A combination when the osoto gari is blocked by your opponent

Judo 4 BJJ