Starting judo as a quiet, shy, six year old in the small Scottish town where my gran and granddad lived I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would be on a worldwide coaching site sharing my hints and tips on how to become a successful judoka.
I wasn't enormously talented, or confident, or strong. What I did have was a passion for the sport and an unquenchable drive to improve. And I suppose that combination can take you a long way, even if it did take a long time!
I will be giving you a unique insight into what it took for me to go from that shy, retiring six year old, through to a pretty unexceptional teenage judoka, to someone who stood on the top of international rostrums, defeating world and Olympic champions on the way to Grand Slam gold.
I will break down the gripping, preparation, attack system and newaza that I built my judo around and show you how, by taking care of the basics, you can take your competitive judo to the next level.
This forward twitch is done when Burton has a strong sleeve and lapel grip and his opponent is in a defensive posture. To break their posture he twitches forward.
Burton likes to get a reaction from his opponent by using a fast piece of footwork. This gives him the opening to throw.
One of Burton’s most effective ways to get a reaction from an opponent is to bounce his weight up and down when gripped up.
When fighting against a left handed opponent, Burton – a right hander, has a good twitch to get their left leg back, so that he can throw with his Uchi mata.
A big part of Euan Burton’s game was strong and offensive gripping. Burton, a right hander, shows how he likes to control the distance when fighting a left handed opponent.
Burton shows his strongest grip break against right handed opponents who like to take his lapel
In a right versus right situation one of Burton’s key objectives is to dominate his opponent’s right hand. Here Burton shows how he prevents his opponent from getting their lapel grip
Here Burton shows his strong and aggressive response if an opponent tries to throw their arm over the top
Burton shows one of the ways he likes to control his opponent’s head
Burton shows one of the ways he neutralises a strong right handed fighter.
Here Burton’s shows a very unorthodox grip from which many of his throws came
Double World and triple European medallist Burton shows one of his major scoring techniques.
Double World medallist Euan Burton shows his very unusual Uchi mata makikomi, which involves wrapping up his opponent's arm and latching onto his own jacket.
Double World medallist Euan Burton shows his very unusual Harai makikomi. The wrap up of the arm is the same as his Uchi mata makikomi.
Tokyo Grand Slam winner Burton demonstrates a deadly Yama arashi, breaking it down into incredible detail.
A right handed fighter, Burton’s Sumi gaeshi comes from a left handed lapel grip, with his right hand taking a cross lapel grip.
Burton’s arm wrap variation of Sumi gaeshi perfectly complements his forwards Makikomi techniques.
Burton has a very unusual Yoko sumi gaeshi, which he uses when his opponent tries to defend his standard Sumi gaeshi.
Burton’s Uchi mata gaeshi starts from his favoured high sleeve and collar grip. Like most of his techniques he has his own unique version of the technique.
Burton’s Osoto gari usually comes when he’s in an extreme right versus right stance.
Burton has a strong counter attack to an opponent who likes to throw with Osoto gari. This was the technique that he used to win his first European Championships medal.
Euan Burton’s Kosoto gari, like many of his techniques, is unconventional.
Burton shows his Kosoto gake counter to drop Seoi nage
Here Tokyo GS Champion Burton shows a chop down to leave him in attacking position in Newaza
