How dangerous is a Judo black belt?

When it comes to martial arts, practically all black belts should be respected and held in high regard. Having said that, honestly speaking there are some martial arts that are better than others. As it happens, Judo is one of those arts and is not to be messed with. Firstly, it has been battle tested in MMA with a number of high-level Judoka’s proving their worth such as Ronda Rousey.

Away from MMA moving towards a street fight setting, Judo is also proven to be great for self defense and can be absolutely brutal. Imagine getting hit with an Uchi Mata and landing on a concrete floor. Here, we shall discuss just how dangerous a Judo black belt truly is. For the sake of avoiding bias, we shall also be as truthful as possible and also focus on any of the shortcomings that Judo has too.

How dangerous is a Judo black belt in a street fight?

As mentioned above, a skilled Judoka in a street fight is no joke. Simply put, if they manage to get solid grips, then as an opponent you’re in trouble. By its very nature though, Judo is often dependent on grips which means it is suited towards fighting an opponent wearing a coat or jacket. This is great if you live in a cold climate, but not so great if you live in a hot one.

As a result, some Judo black belts may struggle more against people wearing t-shirts. The good news is that Judo still works without the gi as proven in MMA. Sadly though, for the most part it’s more difficult to throw someone, especially if you’re used to training using grips. At the same time, by the time you’ve reached the rank of black belt, you should know at least a couple of throws without the gi. Whether this is a foot sweep or reap, there should be enough in your locker to fall back on. If you’re reading this as a Judo black belt and want to improve your self defense skills, then training in a no gi setting every now and then wouldn’t hurt.

Also, because of the nature of Judo, it is naturally explosive and quite aggressive at times. Learning this mentality will only help in a street fight where people are obviously aggressive and high on adrenaline. Just remember to time your entries though. Fighting someone who is actively trying to punch and kick you is very different to trying to take someone down in a Judo setting where these strikes are illegal.

Further, remember not to get too caught up in IJF rules. For instance, if you know banned takedowns then use them. If you need to grab the legs, then do so. In short, competition Judo can be very restrictive in terms of what is allowed and what is banned. On the streets this is irrelevant, so maybe worth learning which will only help your chances of winning.

How dangerous is a Judo black belt within a Judo dojo?

Within a Judo setting, a Judo black belt is obviously a respectable rank. However, as the saying goes ‘black belt is where you begin your learning’. In other words, with enough dedication, most people can obtain the rank of black belt in Judo. Basically, this can be achieved in around 5 years or so which isn’t exactly a lifelong dedication to the art. With this in mind, there are levels to each black belt. For instance, a third dan Judo black belt should be substantially better than a newly promoted black belt. Because of this, most gyms will usually have a few black belts training – and there’s often a big difference in black belts as explained above.

As for a Judo black belt doing randori against other belts, they should be able to win during most sparring sessions. Of course, this won’t always be the case and factors such as age and strength will always be relevant. Nonetheless, you should be a black belt for a reason and that means you should be able to handle yourself within the dojo.

Not only this but most black belt Judoka’s should have a skilled ground game (newaza). This means they should know a variety of submissions such as juji gatame (armbar) and sankaku (triangle choke). Whilst a Judo black belt may not be as dangerous as a BJJ black belt on the ground, they should still have a good understanding of submissions and pins such as kesa gatame. As a result, their game should be far better on the ground in comparison to other Judo belts. This is a great skill to learn for fighting too as it means you can control opponents after taking them to the ground.

How dangerous is a Judo black belt in MMA?

Obviously, Ronda Rousey is often used as the poster girl for Judo in MMA and used her throws to become the UFC Champion. Whilst this is true, Judo has been around in MMA since its inception and the likes of Dan Severn also used it to great effect in the earlier days. Looking at most Japanese fighters too, a lot of them have black belts in Judo. This means that it isn’t uncommon to see Judo being used in MMA. Although it is mostly trained in the gi, it still has enough crossover to work against opponent’s without clothing.

As a result, a Judo black belt should be respected in MMA. However, it isn’t that simple. If you plan on doing MMA with only a black belt in Judo then this may not be enough. This is because a good Muay Thai striker could potentially beat you up whilst standing. Especially if they can wrestle and defend takedowns against the fence, this also nullifies Judo somewhat.

As a result, it’s good to cross train with a number of other arts if possible. This means adding a bit of striking into your training and maybe even some BJJ. The outcome is that you should now be much more rounded and ready to fight in MMA. Generally speaking though, Judo is a fantastic tool to use, whether in MMA or in general self defense situations.

Conclusion

Overall, a Judo black belt should be feared and respected. Anyone who can easily throw opponents to the floor has a big advantage in any fighting scenario and that is why Judo has lasted the test of time. Having said this, as mentioned earlier, a Judo black belt doesn’t mean you cannot be defeated. If you’re in a dojo setting then you will still have to train and keep your reactions sharp. Similarly, if you’re in a self defense situation then you will also have to be wary of strikes too which is an added variant.

In conclusion, if you want to be dangerous at fighting then earning a Judo black belt is a great idea. Here, you will improve your balance, physique and strength – as well as legitimate fighting skills that have been pressure tested for centuries. As a result, it’s fair to say that Judo black belts are dangerous and should be approached with caution.