ITS JUST THAT THING I DO CALLED BARRON SHEPHERD JUDO

At the end of 2020 I was looking to move and retire in Hilo Hawaii. Andrew Kinchen reached out and talked me out of retiring and starting a judo program at Carlson Gracie Winter Haven. I told myself if I started teaching judo again I would help everyone I could. At 60 years old at  a time when one thinks about slowing down and retiring, I work HARD at my craft every day. I teach more judo than I ever have. My body racked with pain every day despite this I keep going. 

My books have been successful and the Winter Haven freestyle judo program has been steadily growing. The scrimmages are becoming more and more popular among legitimate grapplers of all styles, Judo, BJJ, Folk style and Greco roman wrestlers have attended my scrimmages and freestyle judo clinics. 

You just never know who may be watching what you're doing and how you're doing it. Barron Shepherd Judo has been garnering more and more attention because of its progressive, dynamic and ballistic nature. This hasnt happened over night, it has taken years of dedicated training and commitment to what has become over the yeas, my craft and a lifestyle.  

Out of the blue one day, a Hollywood fight choreographer contacted me. It seems a friend of his had told him about my style of Judo. The next thing I knew I was on a video call. This fight choreographer and stunt coordinator works on a certain Tv series that has been on a streaming Network platform for multiple seasons. He has since kept in constant contact. They are interested in me training the show’s star in my style of Judo so he can use it for the show’s main character’s fight style. He and the star of the show want to train extensively with me because they like my ballistic style of Judo. Details about it will come out later. 

Several years ago when I was 51, I sustained permanent life altering injuries from being hit and run over, while on foot, by a semi truck. My body was literally dragged underneath the semi and crushed in the accident. No one could believe I was still alive after that. The many doctors and specialists I saw contributed one thing to my survival...JUDO. The years and years of taking repeated impacts from various judo throws had prepared my body and my mind. It was the only logical and medical explanation. 

I never really fathomed that a life long personal dedication to judo would not only save my life but create such opportunities for me now at this point in my life. It is exciting to think of the possibility that my style of judo might play a major part of the main character’s fighting style in a TV series in a new season of the show. 

WHAT DO DAN RANKS IN JUDO MEAN?

As in my last article regarding yonkyu (blue belt rank), this isn’t a all inclusive list of what is required at Winter Haven Freestyle Judo it is only meant to give a general idea and a brief over view of the level of proficiency and time it takes to achieve black belt in judo.

The most critical factor is technical performance and effectiveness in randori as it is in all ranks. The standards, needless to say, are high.

SHODAN

First and foremost, earning a black belt in judo is similar to earning a bachelor’s degree from a university. The standards are high and quite frankly second to none.

It normally takes approximately 6 years of hard work, literally thousands of hours on the mat to achieve the rank of Shodan. 

The minimum age required for Shodan is 18 years old. 

Must have met and fulfilled ALL previous rank requirements.

As stated before, one should consider earning the Shodan as the same as earning a bachelor’s degree from a university. In a judo sense, advancing through the black belt ranks is equivalent to further advancing one’s education in a college or university.

IT IS ESSENTIAL AND FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN DEMONSTRATING ALL TECHNICAL SKILLS IN A FUNCTIONAL, REALISTIC AND DYNAMIC MANNER IN RANDORI. AS AN EXAMPLE, IF BASED ON A SCALE OF 1 (BEING THE LOWEST) TO 10 (BEING THE BEST), THE APPLICANT MUST DEMONSTRATE A SKILL LEVEL OF AT LEAST A “7.” IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE APPLICANT TO DEMONSTRATE THIS LEVEL OF SKILL ON A REGULAR BASIS.

NIDAN

The rank of Nidan is an extension of Shodan and the judoka is expected to continue his progress and refine the skills he has learned for Shodan. Time in grade is important as the judoka matures and continues in his study of judo. This is also a time when the judoka assists a senior coach or starts teaching on his own so that he has a better understanding of as many aspects of judo as possible.

The student is required to attend as many JBBA clinics, seminars, workshops and classes as possible to improve his skill level. The judoka must progress in the quality of his technical skills and understanding of judo. If the judoka’s technical skill was a “7” on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as the best), then he should improve it to as close to “10” as possible to be a Nidan. It takes a minimum of 3 years (3 years being the minimum not the standard) to 6 years to reach Nidan. Must have met and fulfilled ALL previous rank requirements.

SANDAN

The rank of Sandan is considered an advanced rank, and as such, the judoka must possess an excellent skill level as well as participate fully in judo activities, clinics, scrimmages, tournaments and other events. Minimum time in grade from Nidan to Sandan is 5 years and must have met and fulfilled all previous rank requirements.

MUST DEMOSNTRATE AN ADVANCED LEVEL OF TECHNICAL, THEORETICAL AND FUNCTIONAL SKILL IN ALL PHASES OF JUDO. THE APPLICANT MUST BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE ALL TECHNICAL SKILLS IN A FUNCTIIONAL, DYNAMIC MANNER IN RANDORI.

Applicant must demonstrate all the skills required for Shodan with excellent skill (on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best, the applicant should demonstrate skill at the “10” level).

YONDAN

The rank of Yondan is considered a senior rank and the person who applies for this level must possess excellent personal skill. Historically, the rank of Yondan has been required to be a recognized teacher, and because of this, a person ranked at Yondan, in addition to being able to demonstrate the required technical skills, must be able to teach others these skills. At this point in a judoka’s career, it is recommended that the applicant for this rank choose an area of expertise, either in coaching, working as a mat official or referee or in some other capacity.  Approximately a 25 year journey from gokyu to Yondan candidate must have met and fulfilled ALL previous rank requirements. 

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

IT IS FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE APPLICANT DEMONSTRATE ALL TECHNICAL SKILLS IN A FUNCTIONAL, REALISTIC AND DYNAMIC MANNER IN REALISTIC AND MOVING OR DYNAMIC SITUATIONS. THE RANK OF YONDAN IS A SENIOR TEACHING RANK AND THE APPLICANT MUST HAVE THE PRACTICAL TECHNICAL AND THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE BASED ON EFFECIVE MOVEMENT. MUST HAVE EXCELLENT  TECHNICAL SKILL (ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 WITH 10 BEING THE BEST, THE APPLICANT SHOULD DEMOSNTRATE SKILL AT THE “10” LEVEL.).

WHAT DOES A YONKYU THE FIRST RANK EARNED IN JUDO MEAN

I get asked a lot of questions about how long it takes to progress through Judo at Winter Haven Freestyle Judo. I am going to start with the general requirements of the first adult rank earned in Freestyle Judo, Yonkyu or Blue Belt . 

The path of Judo isn't an easy road. It is a demanding one. Rank doesn't come in the measurement of months, it comes in the measurement of years. No short cuts are taken, nor is there a fast tracking of rank. Grading standards are high. 

This is a progressive fighting method, a game of inches and precise dynamic movement that is won and accomplished in stages. For the learning judoka, each rank presents a particular range of techniques to be learned at that rank. Generally rank and rank progression helps set learning goals. It also serves as an interim goal to strive towards. 

The adult ranks are as follows:

Fifth kyu (gokkyu) White belt

Fourth kyu (yonkyu) Blue belt

Third kyu (sankyu) Brown belt or Purple belt

Second kyu (nikyu) Brown belt

First kyu (ikkyu) Brown belt

BUILDING THE CORRECT FOUNDATION 

At Winter Haven Freestyle Judo, the rank of Blue belt (yonkyu) is the first promotion that a practitioner will achieve. It is the most important step in achieving long term goals in Judo. At the blue belt level, students gain a wide breadth of technical knowledge and undertake hundreds of hours of mat time to learn how to implement judo techniques efficiently.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR YONKYU BLUE BELT

MUST BE A MINIMUM AGE OF 14 YEARS OLD.

MUST HAVE EXCELLENT ATTENDANCE IN ALL CLASSES, WORKOUTS, AND SCRIMMAGES IS REQUIRED. MUST HAVE ACTIVELY STUDIED AND TRAINED FOR A MINIMUM PERIOD OF TIME OF TWO YEARS. (TWO YEARS IS A MINIMUM - NOT A STANDARD TIME IN GRADE.)

MUST DEMONSTRATE SKILLFUL JUDO IN BOTH STANDING AND GROUNDFIGHTING DURING RANDORI. MUST HAVE EXCELLENT FUNCTIONAL SKILL IN RANDORI AND UNDERSTANDING OF TECHNIQUES.

MUST HAVE A GOOD, FUNCTIONAL UNDERSTANDING AND ABILITY AT GRIP FIGHTING. MUST HAVE EFFECTIVE, FUNCTIONAL AND REALISTIC GRIP FIGHTING SKILLS IN RANDORI.

APPLICANT MUST DEMONSTRATE AND UNDERSTAND CONCEPT OF:

KUZUSHI/BREAKING BALANCE/POSTURE

TSUKURI/FITTING IN 

KAKE/EXECUTE TECHNIQUE

MUST DEMONSTRATE ALL REQUIRED BLUE BELT NAGE WAZA (THROWING TECHNIQUES) IN RANDORI

RENRAKU WAZA/COMBINATION TECHNIQUES -DEMONSTRATE A REALISTIC CONTINUATION OR COMBINATION OF ONE THROWING SKILL TO ANOTHER IN RANDORI.

RENRAKU WAZA/ CONTINUATION OR COMBINATION TRANSITION FROM STANDING TO GROUNDFIGHTING TECHNIQUES IN RANDORI

FUSEGI/DEFENSE AND KAESHI WAZA/COUNTER TECHNIQUES FOR NAGE WAZA (THROWING TECHNIQUES)-DEMONSTRATE REALISTIC DEFENSIVE SKILLS AND COUNTER ATTACKS IN RANDORI.

 

KATAME WAZA (GRAPPLING TECHNIQUES)

THE KATAME WAZA OF KODOKAN JUDO ARE THE GROUNDFIGHTING OR GRAPPLING TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS.

OSAEKOMI WAZA/IMMOBILIZATION (HOLDING OR PINNING) TECHNIQUES

GOALS-HAVE FUNCTIONAL SKILL AND UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO HOLD OPPONENT TO THE MAT IN RANDORI.

NEWAZA SKILLS

GOALS-STUDENT MUST POSSESS EXCELLENT FUNCTIONAL ABILITY AT CONTROLLING OPPONENT’S POSITION TO APPLY PINS OR SUBMISSION TECHNIQUES IN RANDORI. 

DEMONSTRATE EXCELLENT ABILITY AT LEG CONTROL, HIP CONTRAL AND HAND CONTROL AND HOW THESE SKILLS CONTROL AN OPPONENT. EFFECTIVE JUDO (IN THIS CASE, GROUNDFIGHTING) IS A SERIES OF CONTROLLING POSITIONS THAT ULTIMATELY LEADS TO DEFEATING HIM.

IMPORTANT- (WHEN DEMONSTRATING ALL BREAKDOWNS, GUARD PASSES OR GUARD SWEEPS, APPLICANT MUST IMMEDIATELY AND EFFECTIVELY MOVE INTO ANY PIN, CHOKE OR ARMLOCK OF HIS CHOICE.)

DEMONSTRATION OF BREAKDOWNS OR TURNOVERS WHEN OPPONENT IS ON ALL FOURS OR PRONE AND LYING FLAT ON FRONT

ALL REQUIRED NEWAZA SKILLS MUST BE DEMOSTRATED IN RANDORI

KANSETSU WAZA/JOINT OR ARMLOCK TECHNIQUES

GOALS-ABILITY OF APPLICANT TO PERFORM ARMLOCKS IN A FUNCTIONAL WAY IN RANDORI. 

HAVE EXCELLENT SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLLS AND SET UPS FOR A VARIETY OF ARMLOCKS. APPLICANT MUST BE ABLE TO PERFORM GOOD SKILL AT ARMLOCK DEFENSES. EXCELLENT SKILL AT LEVERS AND PRYING ARM FREE TO APPLY JUJI GATAME. ALL MUST BE DEMONSTRATED IN RANDORI

SHIME WAZA/STRANGLING AND CHOKING TECHNIQUES

GOAL-HAVE FUNCTIONAL SKILL IN STRANGLES AND CHOKES IN RANDORI. 

KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY WHEN USING CHOKES AND ABILITY TO USE POSITION TO SET UP THE STRANGLE OR CHOKE.