The Shintaro Higashi Show

Competitions are an important part of Judo as well as other grappling arts as they provide an opportunity to stress-test your skills against other practitioners. Another key benefit of competitions is that it can be used as a great learning opportunity. As a result, it is very important to "debrief" after a competition to assess what went right and wrong and learn from it. In this episode, Shintar...

It is said that Judo begins with respect and ends with respect (礼に始まり、礼に終わる). One way to see this aspect of Judo is bowing. You bow when you enter the dojo; you bow to your teacher; you bow to your partner; and you bow when you exit the dojo. But is this all there to "respect"? In this episode, Shintaro and Peter discuss what respect means within the context of Judo. Please support us o...

People start Judo for many different reasons, but it can be daunting for everyone just the same. In this episode, Shintaro and Peter discuss what to do and expect when people first start Judo so that they can start their Judo journey right. Please support us on Patreon if you can: https://www.patreon.com/shintaro_higashi_show . Any amount helps!

Shintaro and Peter have been podcasting for over a year now, and it's been a wild ride with many lessons learned on the way. In this episode, Shintaro and Peter look back on their experience producing this podcast, and look ahead to the future. Please support us on Patreon if you can: https://www.patreon.com/shintaro_higashi_show . Any amount helps!

In workplaces, people often make the distinction between hard skills (job-related knowledge and abilities) and soft skills (personal qualities), and how important it is to have both to be successful. Judo is no different, and you need to develop both hard Judo skills and soft skills in order to be a good Judoka as well as a productive member of your Judo community. In this episode, Shintaro and Pe...

We all have different body types. Some of us are tall; some of us are short; some of us have long limbs; some of us are stocky. Naturally, certain Judo throws work well for certain body types, but not so well for others. How can we know which Judo throws are right for our body types? In this episode, Shintaro and Peter dig deeper into which Judo throws work well for different body types. Please su...

Due to the hierarchical nature of how martial arts are usually taught, it is easy for sensei's to catch the "Sensei Syndrome." What exactly is it, and how do we prevent it? Listen to this episode to find out! Please support us on Patreon if you can: https://www.patreon.com/shintaro_higashi_show . Any amount helps!

In grappling sports like Judo, wrestling and BJJ, it is common to see people attend various seminars and clinics taught by renowned athletes and coaches. Is it really beneficial to attend one, and if so, how can we get the most out of it? In this episode, Shintaro and Peter discuss what their experiences have been like attending seminars and clinics. Also, Shintaro talks about the details of hosti...

Many, if not all, Judokas experience the "Judo Blues" once the initial enthusiasm inevitably subsides-- feeling stuck and frustrated for a variety of reasons. This is one of the major reasons why people quit Judo. In this episode, Shintaro and Peter discuss what we can do to combat the Judo Blues so we can truly enjoy Judo. Please support us on Patreon if you can: https://www.patreon.com/shintaro_...

Martial arts are always developed within the context of broader culture, and they always contain elements from the broader culture. Judo is no exception. In this episode, Shintaro and Peter talk about how Japanese and Korean cultures have influenced Judo and how we can develop a healthy Judo culture in America. Please support us on Patreon if you can: https://www.patreon.com/shintaro_higashi_show...

In any sport, you become "loose" and "effortless" as you improve your skills. The same is true for grappling, but it is complicated by the fact that your default instinct is to become "stiff" in order to prevent yourself from getting thrown, taken down and choked. How can we fight this instinct and stay "loose" while grappling? In this episode, Shintaro and Peter offer some advice on how you can s...

Judo, as well as other grappling arts, is quite taxing to your body, and it is commonplace to hear grapplers complain about their sore bodies. Therefore, it is very important to have a good recovery routine not only to protect yourself from injuries but also to improve your skills by training more. In this episode, Shintaro and Peter discuss how they recover from Judo and make suggestions on what...

Not many activities in life require you to be at a certain weight to participate. So it's no wonder many grappling art practitioners are confused about which weight class to choose and how to get to that weight class when competing. In this episode, Shintaro and Peter discuss various factors involved in choosing the right weight class and how to control your weight to be in that weight class. Plea...

Oon Yeoh is an accomplished Judoka who represented Malaysia at the World Championships in 1993 and 1995. Now he is a prolific Judo journalist and publisher who writes for his blog Judo Crazy while running his own Judo club in Kuala Lumpur. He also helped produce the official IJF media digital e-books. In this episode, Shintaro sits down with Oon to talk about his experience as a competitor, and hi...

Shintaro was an international-level Judo competitor who has gone on many tours around the world. In this episode, Shintaro and Peter talk about Shintaro's experience competing and training around the world. They talk about how different countries train, what the atmosphere at competition venues are like in different parts of the world and other fun experiences Shintaro had. Please support us on Pa...

It's an unfortunate reality that for some people, it's hard to find Judo near them, especially in the USA. There may be no Judo schools nearby. You want to compete in Judo, but there may not be a competition nearby. What can we do in these situations? Shintaro and Peter discuss some ideas on what you can do when you live in a "Judo desert." Please support us on Patreon if you can: https://www.patr...

After a year filled with surprises, we've finally welcomed another new year 2022! In this episode, Shintaro and Peter talk about their goals for 2022. Do you have any goals for 2022? Please support us on Patreon if you can: https://www.patreon.com/shintaro_higashi_show . Any amount helps!

The IJF has announced a new rule set for the upcoming Olympic cycle, and it contains the controversial ban on reverse seoinage, also known as Korean seoinage. Shintaro and Peter sit down to talk about the ban and controversy surrounding it. What do you think about the ban? Will it help the future of Judo, or will it hinder its development? Please support us on Patreon if you can: https://www.patre...

It is an unfortunate truth that Judo has dangerous throws. Some are more dangerous than others. Some are more "situationally" dangerous. What are some of these dangerous throws? Can we make them safer? Tune in to find out! Please support us on Patreon if you can: https://www.patreon.com/shintaro_higashi_show . Any amount helps!

Grappling may look simple to start-- after all, you only really need your body and a training partner to grapple-- but there are many essential gears that can make your grappling life a lot more pleasant. You might not have even thought of some of the gears mentioned in this episode! Any gears we missed? Please support us on Patreon if you can: https://www.patreon.com/shintaro_higashi_show . Any a...

Shintaro has a new system he believes can revolutionize the whole Judo world-- No Turn Judo! Shintaro explains it in detail to Peter in this episode. What do you think of No Turn Judo? Do you agree or disagree that it will revolutionize Judo? Please support us on Patreon if you can: https://www.patreon.com/shintaro_higashi_show . Any amount helps!

Teaching kids Judo is a totally different ball game from teaching adults Judo. How do you keep them engaged? How do you keep them safe? How do you communicate with their parents? In this episode, Shintaro and Peter discuss various aspects of teaching kids Judo successfully, and how Shintaro runs a successful kids' Judo program at his dojo Kokushi Budo Institute. Please support us on Patreon if you...

Most of us are Judo hobbyists who have only a limited amount of time for Judo practice. Then, how can we get maximize our Judo practice time? In this episode, Shintaro and Peter discuss how practice is run at Shintaro's dojo Kokushi Budo so that it can help you make your practice more efficient. Please support us on Patreon if you can: https://www.patreon.com/shintaro_higashi_show . Any amount hel...

Everyone wants a cool Tokui Waza, or your favorite technique. But how do you actually pick one and develop it? In this episode, Shintaro and Peter discuss various aspects of picking a Tokui Waza, developing it and building your Judo around it. Please support us on Patreon if you can: https://www.patreon.com/shintaro_higashi_show . Any amount helps!

Judo is first and foremost a "martial" art and is about "fighting". In this episode, Shintaro and Peter discuss fundamental elements about fighting. What exactly is fighting? What are some common misconceptions? Where does Judo fit in, and what does it not cover?  Please support us on Patreon if you can: https://www.patreon.com/shintaro_higashi_show . Any amount helps!