Mastering Judo Combination Concepts by Shintaro Higashi

Are you stuck using one technique at a time?

Shintaro Higashi shows you how to create synergy between your favorite attacks, and catch your opponent off guard!
Uncover concepts that will have you finding the link between your favorite techniques.
Don’t fight from a 50/50 position instead create positional advantages that have your opponent off-balance and you on the attack.
Explore technique chains like Sasae into turning throws, Ouchi Gari into footsweeps and Kouchi combinations!

If your techniques are easily defended it’s time to add some combinations to the mix. The trouble with combinations is learning how to successfully link them together. This is where Mastering Combination Concepts comes in handy. Shintaro Higashi has been doing Judo his entire life. As a red and white belt he has an ample amount of experience on the mat. One of his biggest tips is to vary your approach by linking techniques to form hard to defend combinations.

The trick is to get a reaction out of your opponent. Once you can anticipate how your opponent will react you can be better prepared to transition into your next technique. This synergy created between techniques is how you develop an efficient and effective offense.

Part 1 of Mastering Combination Concepts, focuses on creating positional advantages. If you are stuck in a neutral 50/50 type position it’s going to come down to raw athleticism, strength, and speed of the technique. Shintaro stresses getting your grips and feet into a position where you start to negate any strength advantage your opponent might have. By creating these advantageous positions you will start to become comfortable approaching a situation with multiple options in mind instead of one.

Mastering Combination Concepts doesn’t require you to overhaul your game. There is a good chance that you are proficient at the individual techniques Shintaro uses to set up his offense. Instead Shintaro shows you how to link techniques together. For instance his use of Osoto to transition into Sasae. He uses a common tactic that will ‘fish out’ the reaction needed to immediately switch gears into his next attack. This dual approach makes mounting a successful defense very difficult.

Part 2 and 3 of Mastering Combination Concepts focuses on utilizing the ouchi gari and kouchi gari to make your partner react. These classic techniques lend themselves perfectly well to combinations because your opponent has to respect them with a reaction. Keep in mind as you get razor sharp with the set up technique, you may very well nail it the first time! However if they start to defend Shintaro has you covered with the next attack, and the next one….!