Neil Adams Masterclass – A Day of Advanced Training

Our coaches Adam and Matt from Judo Academy Northampton had the honour of attending a judo masterclass led by Neil Adams at the University of Warwick. Neil Adams is a giant in the judo world—an Olympic silver medalist, World Champion, and five-time European Champion. Known as “The Voice of Judo,” Neil is famous for his expertise in groundwork and his signature arm-lock, juji gatame.

The event was filled with high-level training and technical insights that Neil shared with attendees, giving Matt and Adam plenty of new techniques to bring back to our judo club in Northampton. Here's a breakdown of what we covered during this remarkable session:

Ashi Waza (足技) Techniques

Neil guided us through various ashi waza techniques, or “foot techniques,” showing how precise footwork can disrupt an opponent’s balance and create opportunities to dominate in a match. This area of focus was invaluable for improving agility and timing on the mat.

Setting Up for Tai Otoshi (体落) and Backwards Techniques

We worked on setting up techniques like tai otoshi (体落, body drop) and backwards throws such as osoto gari (大外刈, major outer reap), kouchi gari (小内刈, small inner reap), and ouchi gari (大内刈, major inner reap). Neil shared practical ways to control and guide an opponent’s movement, setting up effective attacks with precision.

Facing an Opponent in an Extreme Sideways Stance

One of the challenges addressed was how to handle an opponent who adopts an extreme sideways stance. Neil provided strategies to break through this difficult positioning, focusing on foot positioning, angle adjustment, and creating opportunities to attack from unconventional angles.

Kumikata (組み方) and Opposite Stance Techniques

Kumikata*, or “gripping techniques,” were a key focus in situations involving opponents with an opposite stance (right vs. left). Neil demonstrated the best approaches to control grip battles and effectively set up throws, maintaining a dominant position and maximising control.

Transitions into Newaza (寝技) and Submissions

In addition to standing techniques, Neil focused on transitions into newaza (groundwork) and how to flow into submission techniques. We covered shime waza (絞技, strangulation techniques) and kansetsu waza (関節技, joint-locking techniques), with particular emphasis on juji gatame (十字固, cross arm-lock), Neil’s signature move. These techniques enable judokas to confidently transition from standing to groundwork, opening up opportunities for decisive submissions.

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Multiple Groundwork Plans Based on Opponent’s Reaction

Finally, Neil highlighted the importance of having multiple plans in newaza based on the opponent’s reaction. He explained that by maintaining flexibility and adapting to each move, judokas can effectively counter and control the groundwork, anticipating the opponent’s actions and staying a step ahead.

Our coaches are looking forward to sharing these techniques with our students in the coming sessions, empowering them with knowledge and skills passed down from one of judo’s true masters.

We’re grateful for this experience and excited to incorporate Neil’s teachings into our training at Judo Academy Northampton.