Larptastic

This was my second Judo class, so the sensei started me out with some rolling breakfalls, then had the other 3 guys take turns throwing me.

After getting thrown 20-30 times, he took me aside and started showing me my first throw. He broke it into 3 steps : Entry, Off-Balance & Execution

Ippon Seo Nage
* Start out in standard grip (one hand on lapel, other above elbow)
* Can be standing still, walking forward or walking backward
Off-Balance
* Pull on their arm to either stop their movement or to pull them off balance
Entry
* Right foot goes in front of their right foot
* Right arm comes up under their arm, around their bicep in a V
* Ass goes up against their right leg/hip
* Rotate 180 degrees on right foot
* Bring left foot in close beside right foot
* Knees should be bent, feet splayed outward
Execution
* Straighten legs, rotate and look at left wall
* They should go flying over the right shoulder

The main thing I had trouble with was my foot positioning at the end. I wouldn't bring my left leg back far enough and it would rob me of a lot of power. Another issue I had was keeping close in to them (my ass on their hip) and also keeping them off balance.

Finally got a chance to try Judo. The sensei took me aside and had me do breakfalls so that I could be thrown without being hurt. He had recently had back surgery and was sporting a fetching corset, so he wasn't able to show me, but he did a good job of explaining what I needed to do. I took 3 months of Shin Nagare Karate last year and I had learned some falls and rolls, so I wasn't completely lost.

I still sucked pretty badly though, my legs always end up reversed of what they need to be. I ended up practicing forward, backward & side falls as well as a rolling forward breakfall. He then had a classmate throw me onto a cushiony mat about 50 times, which was fun.

He explained to me the three important concepts of any judo throw - off balance, entry and execution - and told me about the importance of rotation to get someone off balance.

Breakfall
* Chin to chest
* Hand(s) slap at a 45 degree angle to legs
* Relaxed
* Exhale on landing
* Side Fall
- Bottom leg should be straight
- Top leg should be bent at knee, resting on ball of foot

Generating Power
* A powerlifter stance in order to generate the most power
* Feet shoulder width apart
* Slightly crouched
* Back Straight