Mini Judo Clinic with Dr. Ignacio Sanz @ Renshinkan Judo Dojo

Assistant instructor for the adult program, Dr. Sanz is the United States Judo Rokudan (6th Dan). He was Spain’s National Champion six times under the 81 kg weight divisions and National Champion twice in the open division. He has earned a Bronze Medal in the World University games. Dr. Sanz was a member of the Spanish team in four World Championships and three Olympic games.

http://www.brockport.edu/recservices/Youth%20and%20Family%20Programs/Judo%20Instruction/main.htm

All I can say it was awesome. His footworks, entries and attacks very similar with my long time Judo Instructor – Mohammad Khorrami. In today’s clinic he focus strictly on Tachi-Waza. Instead of teaching us bunch of fancy throw he focus on three basic throws and what type of concept  we need to take from learning these three throws.

The 1st throw we focus on was Ouchi Gari. Several important concepts that were taught when practicing Ouchi Gari (Large Inner Reaping) was constant body contact, Tori’s tilting of the body, the constant diving motion and using the wrist motion to set up the vector force of the rest of the body for an aggressive Ouchi Gari throw

The second throw we focus on was the classic Ippon Seoi Nage (One Arm Shoulder Throw). The major focus that Sensei wanted us to master was the hip turn and the single leg balance in which it should be constant moving and not stuck in a static position. This will allowed the Tori to switch to any other throws when being counter.

The third and final throw was the Tai Otoshi (Body Drop). One major detail Sensei Ignacio pointed out was the arc of our arms and that our throwing motions needs to be in a smooth arc and not a sharp vector change. When we throw our opponent/Uke in smooth arc, we save energy and is much more efficient in our execution of our throws.

It was my 1st time at SUNY Brockport Judo Club – Renshinkan Judo Dojo home of Dr. Sachio Ashida (now deceased). The dojo was very spacious and the tatami mat was brand new layout out in a competition manner.

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Special thanks to Sensei Nageyasu Ogasawara for the email invite and Renshinkan Judo Dojo for their hospitality.