What Is No Gi Judo? | The Shintaro Higashi Show
Mon Jan 12 2026
In this episode, Shintaro dives deep into the concept of NoGi Judo—what it is, what it isn’t, and how it fits into today’s grappling landscape. He breaks down key differences between gi and nogi stand-up, technique adaptations, and the integration of wrestling into modern judo practice. If you're a coach, competitor, or martial arts nerd, this one's a must-listen.00:00 What Is NoGi Judo?00:40 Traditional vs Sport vs NoGi Judo01:20 NoGi in BJJ, Wrestling & Judo Crossovers01:50 Why Gi Techniques Don't Translate Directly to NoGi02:20 Mechanics: Sleeve Grip vs Wrist Grip03:00 Controlling Distance Without the Gi03:20 Underhooks, Overhooks & Closed Loops04:00 Friction, Sweat & Realistic Contact in NoGi04:30 NoGi Judo Instructional on JudoFanatics & BJJFanatics05:00 Wrestling Integration: Singles, Doubles & Kata Guruma06:00 Using Shots to Close Distance07:00 Strength vs Technique: When Bad Technique Works08:00 Importance of Athleticism & Balance08:30 Why Wrestling Background Is Essential for NoGi Judo09:20 Judo vs NoGi BJJ for NoGi Instruction09:50 Shintaro's Recommended NoGi Judo Coaches10:10 Satoshi Ishii's Body Lock-Based NoGi Judo10:30 Why Judo Dojos Should Add Weekly NoGi Classes11:00 Final Thoughts & Where to Find the Instructionals🚨 LIMITED-TIME OFFER: 40% OFF 🚨The All-in-One Instructional Bundle just got even better.Every major instructional. One complete system. Now at our biggest discount yet.Grab yours now at 40% off : https://higashibrand.com/products/all-instructionalsThis won’t last. Build your game today.🔥 Get 20% OFF FUJI Gear! 🔥Looking to level up your judo training with the best gear? FUJI Sports has you covered. Use my exclusive link to grab 20% OFF high-quality gis, belts, bags, and more.👉 https://www.fujisports.com/JUDOSHINTARO 👈No code needed – just click and save!Links:🇯🇵 Kokushi Budo Institute (The Dojo) Class Schedule in New York, NY 🗽: https://www.kokushibudo.com/schedule🇯🇵 Higashi Brand Merch & Instructionals: https://www.higashibrand.com📚 Shintari Higashi x BJJ Fanatics Judo Courses & Instructionals Collection: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/shintaro-higashi/
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In this episode, Shintaro dives deep into the concept of NoGi Judo—what it is, what it isn’t, and how it fits into today’s grappling landscape. He breaks down key differences between gi and nogi stand-up, technique adaptations, and the integration of wrestling into modern judo practice. If you're a coach, competitor, or martial arts nerd, this one's a must-listen.00:00 What Is NoGi Judo?00:40 Traditional vs Sport vs NoGi Judo01:20 NoGi in BJJ, Wrestling & Judo Crossovers01:50 Why Gi Techniques Don't Translate Directly to NoGi02:20 Mechanics: Sleeve Grip vs Wrist Grip03:00 Controlling Distance Without the Gi03:20 Underhooks, Overhooks & Closed Loops04:00 Friction, Sweat & Realistic Contact in NoGi04:30 NoGi Judo Instructional on JudoFanatics & BJJFanatics05:00 Wrestling Integration: Singles, Doubles & Kata Guruma06:00 Using Shots to Close Distance07:00 Strength vs Technique: When Bad Technique Works08:00 Importance of Athleticism & Balance08:30 Why Wrestling Background Is Essential for NoGi Judo09:20 Judo vs NoGi BJJ for NoGi Instruction09:50 Shintaro's Recommended NoGi Judo Coaches10:10 Satoshi Ishii's Body Lock-Based NoGi Judo10:30 Why Judo Dojos Should Add Weekly NoGi Classes11:00 Final Thoughts & Where to Find the Instructionals🚨 LIMITED-TIME OFFER: 40% OFF 🚨The All-in-One Instructional Bundle just got even better.Every major instructional. One complete system. Now at our biggest discount yet.Grab yours now at 40% off : https://higashibrand.com/products/all-instructionalsThis won’t last. Build your game today.🔥 Get 20% OFF FUJI Gear! 🔥Looking to level up your judo training with the best gear? FUJI Sports has you covered. Use my exclusive link to grab 20% OFF high-quality gis, belts, bags, and more.👉 https://www.fujisports.com/JUDOSHINTARO 👈No code needed – just click and save!Links:🇯🇵 Kokushi Budo Institute (The Dojo) Class Schedule in New York, NY 🗽: https://www.kokushibudo.com/schedule🇯🇵 Higashi Brand Merch & Instructionals: https://www.higashibrand.com📚 Shintari Higashi x BJJ Fanatics Judo Courses & Instructionals Collection: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/shintaro-higashi/