The concept of a ‘Judo tree’ is easy to grasp. Your favourite or main technique, your ‘tokui-waza’, should be connected to all of your other techniques. Your tokui-waza forms the trunk of the tree, around which you build your branches. These branches are various other techniques that form combina...

Before coaching some of the World’s best players at the highest levels, Yusuke Kanamaru had an illustrious competitive career, winning four All Japan Judo Championships and two World Championship medals. Here are some examples of techniques from Kanamaru’s Judo tree applied in competitive situati...

This kneeling morote-seoi-nage is Yusuke Kanamaru’s tokui-waza; his favourite and best technique. Such was his level of competency with this throw, he endeavoured to score and win with it in every contest.

With this seoi-nage forming the trunk, let’s take a look at how Kanamaru developed his Jud...

No matter if he was facing same or opposite stance opponents, Kanamaru’s goal remained the same - to throw and score with his kneeling morote-seoi-nage. As his favourite and best technique, it formed the trunk of his judo tree, from which the rest of his judo developed.

But adjustments were need...

Yusuke Kanamaru started learning seoi-nage at 6 years old, and throughout his distinguished competitive career, was renowned as a specialist of shoulder throws.

Although now referred to as seoi-otoshi, Kanamaru, when competing, knew his tokui-waza as a kneeling morote-seoi-nage. This beautiful t...

Join one of FF’s favourite fighters, Prisca Awiti-Alcaraz as she relives her emphatic day at the Paris Olympic Games. Here, Prisca breaks down her techniques as well as the winning moments from each of her fights throughout a monumental day that saw her win her Olympic silver medal. A historic, f...

All techniques are clearly demonstrated by Neil Adams and Chris Bowles; shown at speed and repeated in slow motion with commentary by Neil himself.

Demonstrations are followed by numerous examples from top class competitions, selected from the extensive Fighting Films Judo Film Library.

Amongst...

To develop the tsugi-ashi stepping pattern you can play the fencing game. See the previous video for a detailed explanation on tsugi-ashi versus ayumi-ashi

To set up the game players stand at a join between two tatami, which acts as a line to play the game along. They face in opposite directions...

The hand balance game teaches judoka how they can benefit from an opponent's action or reaction in a competitive situation.

It develops balance, decision making and reaction speed. Both judoka adopt a natural posture with their feet shoulder width apart, back straight, and head up. It's importan...

Here Kanamaru demonstrates two different stepping patterns; ayumi-ashi on the left and tsugi-ashi on the right. At first glance, they may not look too different, but for judo tsugi-ashi is a much more functional way to move around the tatami. It is very important that judoka know the difference b...

The side-on balance game teaches Judoka to understand the directions in which an opponent may be weak due to their stance and foot positioning. Players learn how to manipulate the balance of their opponent whilst always attempting to maintain their own. It also tests their tactical guile and reac...

Adapted from its popular namesake, this game is great for warming up both body and mind prior to training or competition.

The difference here is that players signal their moves with their feet. Standing with legs together represents rock. Legs apart equals paper and legs split to front and back ...

This simple but effective game reinforces the techniques of kuzushi or breaking an opponent's balance. It focuses on using whole body movements led by the hips and utilizing body weight to initiate movement

Using a belt players position it around their hips creating an S shape, ensuring they hav...

In this series, Kanamaru introduces several simple games that can be employed by coaches to reinforce some of the fundamental and underlying movement principles within judo.

Where applicable, Kanamaru also demonstrates how the principles learnt from each game relate directly to Judo specific sit...

As with the majority of forward throws, the pattern of entry steps for seoi-nage is very simple, yet pivotal to the overall success of the technique.

Here Kanamaru shows us the step pattern used for his standing seoi-nage. First, Kanamaru steps diagonally forward with his lead foot, aiming to pl...

Yusuke Kanamaru is renowned as a shoulder throw specialist, particularly Morote Seoi nage. He performed many variations of Seoi nage from a range of grips, both kneeling and standing, he even developed his own unique and distinctive version.

In this clip Kanamaru demonstrates a basic standing Mo...