Adult Judo - Fundamentals
What is a “Fundamentals” Class?
While all our classes are appropriate for all levels of experience, over its more than 30 years of operation the instructors at the Des Moines Judo Academy have learned that some new adult students benefit from additional instruction focused on the most basic elements of Judo. Our fundamentals classes focus on foundational elements such as how to properly fall or be thrown without injury, balance and movement, how to destabilize your opponent to create openings, stance, and the mechanics of performing a throw.
Who are Fundamentals Classes Suited For?
The primary focus of fundamentals classes are the needs of novice students, typically considered to be white, yellow, and orange belts, seeking to build competence in core skills every Judoka (person who practices Judo) needs. However, these classes are open to all students of the Des Moines Judo Academy, and are often attended by higher rankings students looking to improve these same skills, or to benefit from approaching these lessons from a different perspective.
These classes are also well suited for individuals with experience in other grappling arts, like Brazilian Jujitsu or wrestling, who are looking to incorporate more throws into their grappling.
How are Fundamentals Classes Different from other Adult Judo Classes?
While they are generally run in the same fashion, those attending fundamentals classes can expect to spend more time drilling the basic version of a technique, with thorough explanation of how the technique is performed and the significance of various details. Instruction then shits to when the technique is best used, typically including a period of drills setting up the move to allow for hands on, rather than purely theoretical, learning.
The techniques selected also tend to be more basic, emphasizing the moves from which more advanced techniques are derived with the goal of building a better foundation from which to understand more complex techniques.