Hello all,
Due to a recent spike in traffic thanks to the chaps and, I presume, chapesses at BloodyElbow.com and several requests to add more content to the blog coming in various forms. I thought I should probably post a quick message to explain why the blog hasn't been updated since January.
The reason is quite simple.
I ran out of things I knew enough about to feel comfortable writing about, then publishing to the world. I was already pushing at the boundaries of what I was knowledgeable enough to talk about when I started the blog So by the time it came to my last post in January I felt I had tested those limits as far as I could.
I'm a firm believer in knowing when you've reached the limits of what you know and being confident enough to say 'I don't know'.
One of the big issues that I think affects the teaching of Judo in the Anglophone world is that too few coaches feel able or are willing to admit when they don't know something. There is incredible pressure on people once they reach their black belt, to suddenly have all the answers, and if you're in a coaching position or role at a club, this is increased exponentially.
Due to this pressure, I feel too many coaches, try and give answers to questions they don't really know the answer to and try and teach techniques they don't really know how to do, let alone understand at a fundamental conceptual level.
To that end, I say with some pride that this blog represents the sum total of my limited current knowledge of Judo. As and when I learn more about Judo or gain new insights into techniques or concepts I will post again. Until then, however, I must admit that the answer to your question is 'I don't know'.
Ganbatte and remember, never miss practice.
