Judo Drills & Games #2 - Technique Game
By my Sensei: Don Werner, the legendary Pinewood Judo Sensei, coach of four world champions and 296 National Champions.
My Sensei, Don Werner was not known for playing games, unless you count uchikomi as a game ;-) but now and then we’d play the “Technique Game.” As a kid I loved playing it - as an adult I see it’s a great way of getting the whole class to learn the names of the techniques.
Technique Game
All the judoka pair up and stand around a central mat.
The first pair come out to the centre of the mat. They must demonstrate a technique and give its Japanese name. If they do, they go back to their place on the mat and remain standing - they progress to the next round.
Then, the next pair come out, and do the same but they must choose a different technique. And so on. Each pair must pick a new technique, which gets increasingly hard as the game goes on.
You can choose any technique you like: hold down, turnover or throw.
You can not repeat a technique.
You must be able to give its Japanese name. If you can’t then the technique goes back into the ‘pot’ and the next judoka can choose to demonstrate it and name it if they can.
You can talk with your partner to come up with techniques you are going to show (but keep it quiet so you don’t give the game away to the others).
You’re Out - Sit Down!
As the game goes on, there are less and less techniques to choose from and inevitably the judoka begin to run out of techniques.
You’re out if you can’t think of a new technique, or can’t remember the name of the technique.
When you’re out you return your place around the mat but this time you sit down.
Of course the judoka who are out of the game must keep watching their class mates and learn from watching their friends.
Last Judoka Standing
The winners are the last two judoka standing.
At the end of the game, Don would sometimes go through and name any techniques we had missed out.
Don Werner, 7th Dan, Pinewood Judo Sensei
Hope you like it! Do you have games like this that test technique knowledge? Please share them in this week’s chat: you can join the discussion here!
You can also use the chat to ask questions, and reply to other coaches. It’s a great way to share our collective judo knowledge.
Until next week,
Nik
Nicola Fairbrother MBE, 8th Dan
- 1992 Olympic Silver Medallist
- 1993 World Champion
- Publisher of Koka Kids children’s judo books