My first experience with *Kosen Judo was as a university exchange student in Japan.
Having already trained in martial arts for a few years, I thought I’d at least have a fighting chance during practice.
Boy, was I wrong.
When it was time to work on pin escapes, one of the sempai (upperclassmen) chose to work with me. I think it was partly because he was being nice to the only foreigner but mostly because he wanted to show me that I didn’t know Jack Squat.
He put me into bottom-side control and said, “Get out.”
That was it. No instruction whatsoever.
I did what any normal person would do and started pushing, kicking, and flailing around. In other words, I had no idea what to do.
I remember feeling helpless and, truth be told, kinda freaked out. He was not only holding me down but also crushing the life out of me.
It was absolutely horrible and awesome at the same time.
Fast-forward to today, and you’ll still see me in my pajamas practicing the art of violently hugging other people. However, now if I find myself on the bottom, I don’t panic or flail around like I used to.
Instead, I keep calm and work to transition myself into a more manageable position. Little by little, I find a little space here, wiggle there, and ultimately get out of the hold. It’s a matter of small, incremental moves.
When you are getting crushed on the mat or in life, focusing on the micro-moves will help you get to a slightly better place than you currently are.
Using slight shifts of the body and mind to gain a better position with correct posture. Waypoints that allow you to take a breath and get your mind in a better place.
Keep moving until you find yourself on top again.
Kosen Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu changed the perspective of the bottom position.
You will find that many practitioners choose to stay on their backs and work for submissions from there. Playing from the bottom position can be fun. And it goes without saying that it works extremely well in sports grappling.
One thing I love about this is that it teaches you how to survive and even thrive when you’re on the bottom.
However, my personal goal when grappling is to “always be the one on top.”
I like what BJJ legend Chris Haueter has to say about this idea.
Focusing on being on top means that you must also know what to do when you’re on the bottom.
Train this by putting yourself into challenging situations while on the bottom and learning how to get out of them successfully.
Do this enough with incremental resistance, and you get good at getting out from the bottom.
This, of course, is a metaphor for life as well.
There are times when the weight of the world is holding us down. Or at least it feels that way.
You’ve got two choices;
- Submit and give up.
- Work your way back on top again.
I encourage you to choose option number two.
Work to find a tiny bit of breathing room. A little better position that allows you to gather your thoughts.
You’ll most likely realize that the weight pressing down on you isn’t so heavy after all.
Use this as a chance to get clear on the idea or vision for where you want to be.
Then, determine the small steps you must take to get there using decisive action.
Yes, it will be tough, and you might not get there immediately.
But keep moving and fighting to position yourself better.
Do that, and you’ll eventually find yourself back on top.
*Kosen Judo is a variation of Kodokan Judo that focuses mainly on newaza—ground techniques. It differs from Olympic-style judo in that Hiki-Komi (pulling guard), leg attacks, and extended periods of grappling on the ground are allowed. It is primarily practiced within Japanese universities.
Here is a video produced in the 1950s by the Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (NHK), Japan’s national public radio and TV system.
This is one of my favorite videos of all time. The other is a documentary called The Essence of Judo featuring 10th Dan Judoka Kyuzo Mifune. I had both of these videos on VHS when I was in Japan. 🙂
It is interesting to note that one of the presenters in the Kosen Judo video is Masahiko Kimura. He is said to have been the greatest judo practitioner of all time. And also famous for defeating Helio Gracie by using Ushiro Ude Garami— called the “Kimura” in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.