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The Purple Guide to Learning Judo in 10 Days
A concrete, day-by-day starter plan to learn real Judo techniques, understand the culture, and decide if this martial art is for you
by Alumigogo Books
Chapter 1: First Day
Welcome to day one. Your first task right now is not to perform a throw or to learn the Japanese names of techniques. Your only job is to get a feel for what Judo actually is - not what movies or YouTube clips suggest, but the textured, physical, slightly humbling reality of it. You're here because you're curious. Curiosity is enough for today. Let's start.
First, find a space in your home where you can lie down flat on your back without obstacles. A carpeted floor is good. A yoga mat on hardwood is better. A mattress on the floor also works - but be careful not to sink into it. You need a firm surface. Take off your socks or wear grippy ones; you'll want friction with your toes at one point, and slipping on a wooden floor is a miserable start. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes that you can sweat in. A t-shirt and sweatpants are perfect. Peak today involves a little movement, a little contact with the floor, and most importantly, a new way of holding your body.
Now, walk me through your first physical orientation. Stand up in that space with your feet about shoulder-width apart. This is a big deal. Most martial arts ask you to stand in some kind of fighting stance - crouched, hands up, ready to strike. Judo is not that. Judo starts from a neutral, upright posture called shizenhontai (natural posture). You'll be standing this way a lot.