Judo Drills & Games #5 The Cuban Drill
Adapted from a drill by Ronaldo Veitía, the legendary Cuban Coach who led his team to multiple Olympic medals, and world championships medals.
Here’s a drill I got from the Cuban Team. Back in the 90s, when I was competing, the Cuban women’s team were world leaders and so I’d often watch them when we met at International Training Camps and I’d study what made them so good. This was one of their warm-up drills, no doubt created by the unforgettable Cuban Coach, Ronaldo Vietía - a drill that, later I adapted and used in my own training.
Please note
This is an advanced drill. For National level competitors and above.
Students will need have a good understanding of the individual techniques; ie be able to throw well with Morote-Seoi-Nage, Ippon-Seoi-Nage, Sode-Tsurikomi-Goshi and Yamaarashi.
Start with static uchi-komi, then add in movement, then move around the mat, and eventually add in throws.
The Drill
Begin in Migi Shizentai (right hand on collar and left hand on sleeve) and turn in for Morote Seoi-Nage.
Come out of the Morote Seoi-Nage and without stopping swing back the other way pushing the left sleeve up and across and turn in for Sode Tsurikomi-Ashi.
Come out of the Sode, and as you do let go of the sleeve and grab the lapel. You should now have a double lapel grip. Let go with your right hand, and swing it under for Ippon Seoi-Nage.
Come out of the Ippon Seoi-Nage, and use your right hand to grab the sleeve. Switch your collar grip to the other collar, so you a one-sided yamaarashi grip (ie your left hand on the opposite collar, your right hand on the sleeve). Turn in for Yamarashi.
And so on… you can of course keep going, on and on forever more - adding more and more techniques, and grip variations as you swing from attacking one side then the other.
The goal is to move fluidly from one technique to the next.
And to learn to attack from all sorts of angles, quickly, with any grips.
The Cuban team were brilliant at this; they could attack on the grip, off any grip. Often just off a single sleeve. You never knew where they were going to attack from; and this was one of their major strengths.
Here’s a perfect example of Legna Verdecia doing just that. This one handed drop sode-tsuri-komi-goshi scored ippon to win Olympic gold medal in Sydney 2000.
I hope you can use the drill and bring it into your own training and teaching.
Please use this chat to ask any questions.
AND I’d love it if you would share one of your most used uchikomi drills - add it here!
Until Monday, have a great week!
Nik
Nicola Fairbrother MBE, 8th Dan
- 1992 Olympic Silver Medallist
- 1993 World Champion
- Publisher of Koka Kids children’s judo books
More drills from coaches
Teaching Uchimata for Younger Players, by Peter Gardiner
Flamingo Randori, by Sandra Bax