The Shintaro Higashi Show
Episodes
How to Grow Your Judo Gym
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro and Peter have extensively discussed the economics of Judo in the United States. Now that we understand the current status quo, what can we d...
Economics of Judo - An Interview with Jimmy Pedro
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's a simple reality: the more money that flows into Judo, the more popular it becomes. But how do the economics of Judo in America compare to th...
Fast Track to Success
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Judo, and grappling in general, is usually thought to be a long journey. But is there a way to shorten it? Shintaro believes there is! In this episode...
Interview with Austin Cook
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro sits down with Austin Cook, a Stanford-trained medical doctor whose illustrious Judo career includes gold medals at the U.S. Nationals and U....
How to Be a Good Uke
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Uke appreciation episode! Being an Uke is a huge part of Judo, but it's often not the most popular role, and many Judoka never bother to work on t...
How to Make It to the Olympics in Judo - An Interview with Jimmy Pedro
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you actually make it to the Olympics in Judo? Is it just a matter of being skilled at Judo, or does it involve much more? In this special episo...
Pulling Guard
01 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro is now a dirty guard puller! We Judokas, and some BJJ'ers, love to make fun of guard pullers, but is the ridicule really warranted? In th...
No-gi Judo
25 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With no-gi grappling's meteoric rise, no-gi Judo has recently been gaining attention. What exactly is no-gi Judo? Is it basically just Judo withou...
Everyday Judoka - An Interview with Jimmy Pedro
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode sponsored by FUJI Sports, Shintaro sits down with Jimmy Pedro to discuss the most important demographic in Judo—the everyday...
Judo Metagame
17 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A metagame, often described as a 'game within a game,' refers to the strategies used within a game to secure victory. Every competitive game, ...
Making Friends at the Dojo
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Making friends and finding your own community at the dojo is key to success for any Judoka. That's actually how Shintaro and Peter became friends!...
Judo Games
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Incorporating small games into your practice is a popular training method across many sports. Does this also work for Judo? In this episode, Shintaro ...
Judo for Intermediate BJJ’ers
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, many intermediate BJJ'ers are dabbling in Judo to improve their takedown game, but are they approaching it the right way? Some Judo thro...
BJJ for Intermediate Judokas
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's quite common in America for intermediate Judokas to supplement their training with BJJ. Maybe the BJJ school offers more flexible class times...
Judo Comment Sections
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Judo community lives in the comment section! If you're doing an Uchi Mata and you hit that far leg it's actually Hane Goshi....and you'...
Ouchi Gari
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ouchi Gari is possibly the most ubiquitous and frequently used grappling technique. Why is it so popular, and how can we really take advantage of its ...
Higher-Order Thinking For Judo
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When most people talk about their Judo game, they tend to focus on their favorite techniques and maybe favorite combinations around them. But Judo is ...
Safe Judo Throws
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Judo with its high amplitude throws is known to be one of the more dangerous grappling arts out there. Are there any "safe" Judo throws then...
How to Actually Win Judo Matches
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Judo is one of the most technical and physical sports out there, but you can't win all your Judo matches with your physical prowess and techniques...
Why Judo Sucks
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You are a dedicated Judoka that loves everything about Judo. You train hard at your local dojo even though the facility is not great and there are not...
Tai Otoshi
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tai Otoshi is one of those throws that many want to learn, but is deceptively difficult to master. What makes it so popular, yet so difficult to maste...
Interview with Jessa Khan
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro sits down with Jessa Khan, the gold medalist at the IBJJF World Championship 2023. They talk about her BJJ journey, and her upcoming fight wi...
Big Bear City Seminar
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro recently went to Big Bear City, CA to give a seminar at a BJJ school. In this episode, he shares his experience with Greg, especially around ...
Ashi Waza
04 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Judo places a bigger emphasis on Ashi Waza or foot techniques than other grappling arts. Yet, Ashi Waza can remain elusive to many. What is the key to...
Situational Training
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Traditionally, Judo training relied almost exclusively on uchikomi, repetition training of throws, and randori, free sparring. Does this paradigm stil...
Finishing Throws
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You can't always get that picture-perfect ippon throw, so it is important to know how to "finish" the throw. What does it mean to finish...
Producing Shintaro's Content - An Interview with Greg
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder who was behind all of the high-quality YouTube videos on Shintaro's channel? In this episode, you get to hear Greg discuss with Shinta...
Prehab and Strength Training for Judo - An Interview with Eugene
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode, Shintaro's cousin Eugene sits down to share his expertise as a doctor of physical therapy. He shares tips on prehab, inju...
Should I Compete?
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Judo places a huge emphasis on competition, but is competition for everyone? It wouldn't be an overstatement to say every Judoka has asked the que...
How Judo Can Improve Strategic Thinking Capabilities
24 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Judo is known for its physicality, but can it also be a "thinking" game? In this episode, Shintaro and Peter discuss this "thinking&quo...
What Judo Can Learn from Wrestling
17 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The American wrestling system is known to consistently produce quality grapplers. What's the reason behind its success, and what can Judo learn fr...
Interview with Tammi Musumeci
10 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tammi Musumeci is one of the most decorated BJJ competitors with multiple World Championship wins under her belt. In this episode, Tammi talks about h...
How to Train with Different Bodies
03 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When you train Judo, it's inevitable to encounter different body types. Some of your training partners may be tall and lanky, while others may be ...
Rethinking the Belt System
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The primary purpose of the belt system in Judo is to help beginners with their progress. Does the current belt system in Judo, especially in America, ...
Seoi Nage
19 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Seoi Nage is probably the most iconic throw in Judo that even a person with no experience in Judo can recognize. How did it become so iconic? Is Seoi ...
Coaching - An Interview With Chris Round
12 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, Shintaro sits down with Chris Round-- an accomplished Judoka and a PhD candidate who has a very unique, academic approach ...
Fundamentals and Progression in Judo
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Judo is said to have a very steep learning curve, which may be quite discouraging for beginners. One way to combat this is to create smaller milestone...
Running Judo Tournaments - An Interview With Ramon Hernandez
29 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode, Shintaro sits down with Ramon Hernandez, a former competitor and current dojo owner who is an active member of the Tri-state ...
Judo for Old Guys
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There is a popular belief that Judo is a young man's game, and it may be better for "old guys" to find an alternative that is less taxin...
JUDOTV.COM
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The IJF recently launched a new streaming website called JUDOTV.COM, which caused a bit of controversy on Reddit, especially around its cost. What'...
How to Create Judo Content
08 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the main things Shintaro and Peter emphasized in their previous episode "What Can You Do for the Sport of Judo Right Now?" was to cre...
Judo Drills
01 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The traditional Judo training doesn't involve a whole lot of drills. It usually starts with a warm-up, standing uchikomi's, moving uchikomi...
Osamah Almarwai - IBJJF World No-Gi Champion
24 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode, Shintaro sits down with the current IBJJF World No-Gi Champion Osamah Almarwai to talk about his illustrious BJJ career, and ...
Reinier de Ridder - ONE Middleweight World Champion
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode, Shintaro sits down with ONE Middleweight World Champion Reinier de Ridder (RdR) to talk about his lifelong martial arts journ...
Chatri Sityodtong - CEO of ONE Championship
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
ONE Championship, a global combat sports titan, is coming to America! In this special mid-week episode, Shintaro sits down with Chatri Sityodtong to d...
Safety in Judo
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We all know Judo can be rough on the body. This aspect of Judo can be a limiting factor in growing Judo's popularity. What kind of steps can we ta...
What Can You Do for the Sport of Judo Right Now?
03 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We have all heard of Shintaro's idea on how to grow Judo in America: a grassroots, bottom-up approach that starts with the local Judo communities....
Benefits of Teaching Judo
27 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We all know the benefits of learning Judo, but how about the flip side: are there any benefits of "teaching" Judo? Not many of us are in the...
Shintaro is a BJJ Black Belt!
20 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro recently received his BJJ black belt from his friend Brian Glick, a Danaher black belt. In this episode, Shintaro talks about what that means...
Shintaro’s Current Training
13 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many of you may be curious about what Shintaro's current training looks like. How many times a week does he do Judo? How about BJJ? Does he lift at al...
Teaching Styles
06 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Judo teaching styles have evolved over the years, and Shintaro is a living embodiment of that evolution. In this episode, Shintaro describes how his f...
Mat-side Coaching
27 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Coaching doesn't end in the dojo. When an athlete participates in a competition, their coach usually is by their side on the mat, shouting out encoura...
Cardio Judo
20 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Most people, when they say they do boxing, do what they call "cardio boxing"-- using boxing as a means of exercise, not as a combat sport. This is mas...
Our First Impression on Shuai Jiao
13 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
By popular demand, Shintaro and Peter are talking about Shuai Jiao! They're no experts of Shuai Jiao, so in this episode, they focus more on their fir...
How to Prepare for Competitions
06 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Competitions are a big part of many grappling sports including Judo, BJJ and wrestling. What'd be the best way to prepare for them? In this episode, S...
How to Grow Judo in the USA
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Judo is one of the most popular sports in the world practiced in over 200 countries. If you go to a Judo tournament in Judo powerhouses like Japan and...
Best Training Format
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Traditionally, Judo classes have been quite simple: warm-up, uchi-komi then randori. But recently, we see many different class formats thanks to the i...
Learning Uchimata
16 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every Judoka at one point or another goes through a phase where he/she wants to master Uchimata. It is one of the most popular throws know for its ver...
Micro Judo
09 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
All the techniques in Judo, and other sports for that matter, have small details that are super important for their successful execution. Shintaro cal...
Interesting Rule Changes
02 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rule changes are some of the most popular and controversial topics among Judokas, and they've been covered quite a bit in the podcast. How about this ...
Doing Judo While Busy
26 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Let's face it, the vast majority of us cannot even practice Judo a few hours a week, let alone full-time. You may have a busy day job; you may have fa...
Drop Seoi Nage
19 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Drop seoi nage is one of the most popular and spectacular throws in Judo. Despite its popularity, it's one of the hardest throws to master. Why is it ...
Kuzushi
12 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The word "kuzushi" gets thrown a lot in Judo and, to a certain extent, BJJ. It usually gets translated as "unbalancing", but there is a lot of missing...
Adult White Belts
05 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Adult white belts often are the butt of the joke in certain Judo and BJJ circles, but they form the foundation of the sports. How important are adult ...
How to Manage Parents in Your Dojo
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most important aspects of running a dojo that frequently gets overlooked is how to manage parents of kids at your dojo. They come in all ki...
Explosiveness in Judo and Other Grappling Arts
21 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Explosiveness is a key athletic ability in a lot of sports, and Judo is no exception. How important is explosiveness in Judo exactly? Is there a way t...
Peter’s Thoughts on BJJ After One Year
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Peter, a longtime Judoka, has been doing BJJ almost exclusively for the past year, and he has made some interesting observations about it. Now, he wan...
Tips to Get Better at Judo Right Away
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Judo can be a frustrating sport, and Judokas often become frustrated with their lack of progress, but it doesn't have to be that way! In this episode,...
What Does It Mean to Be a Black Belt?
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's not an understatement to say the black belt is one of the most coveted honors in many of the modern martial arts including Judo. It carries so mu...
Contextual Grappling
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro is back and we're back in business! In this come-back episode, we go on a deeper dive on a recurring theme on this podcast-- contextual grapp...
Thank You and Updates From Shintaro
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As many of you know, it's been a crazy few weeks for Shintaro, but thanks to your support, Shintaro is doing much better. In this episode, Shintaro gi...
How to Stay Consistent
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When you start out in Judo, or any activities for that matter, consistency is key. However, people often have trouble staying consistent. They may sta...
Where Has Shintaro Been?
03 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You might have noticed that Shintaro hasn't been posting videos and reels lately. You might have even messaged him to see if he's doing OK. In this ep...
Reading Your Opponent
26 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Using your opponent's action and reaction to your advantage is one of the key concepts of Judo. In order to do so, you need to be able to "read" your ...
Dating in the Dojo
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is a fun (maybe controversial even?) one: dating in the dojo! Is it OK, or should you avoid it at all costs? In this episode, Shintaro and Peter ...
Training Equipments
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rubber bands, jump ropes, dummies, etc... There are a myriad of training equipments for Judo and BJJ, almost too many! Do they really work, or are the...
Heading to the Dojo with Shintaro
05 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many people listen to the Shintaro Higashi Show while heading to the dojo, driving, taking the bus or train, biking and walking. In this solo episode,...
Our Tokui Waza
29 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro teaches many different Judo techniques in and out of class, but what is his favorite, or tokui waza? In this episode, Shintaro and Peter disc...
Osoto Gari
22 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Osoto Gari is an elusive throw, almost paradoxical, in the sense that it is oftentimes one of the first throws you learn as a Judoka, but it is one of...
Will Judo Help Me Lose Weight?
15 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many people participate in sports to lose weight and get in better shape, and Judo is no exception. As a result, it's worth taking a close and honest ...
Common Beginner Mistakes in Judo
08 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When you first learn a new skill like Judo, you're bound to make mistakes. Being cognizant of this and addressing it appropriately can really accelera...
Tomoe Nage
01 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tomoe Nage is a unique throw where you throw yourself on your back in order to generate the momentum to throw your partner. It is a versatile and usef...
Randori
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Randori, free-style practice or sparring, is an extremely important part of Judo training, and yet many Judokas have difficulty maximizing their time ...
Uchimata
18 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Uchimata is one of the most popular throws in Judo and other grappling arts for its versatility and beauty. Why is uchimata so loved, yet so hard to e...
Judo Fit
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to be "fit" in Judo? Can you become fit just by doing Judo, or do you need to be fit to do Judo? In this episode, Shintaro and Peter...
New York Debrief
04 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Peter visited New York City for 10 days a couple of weeks ago! His trip was filled with friends and family time and, of course, Judo. In this episode,...
Grip Fighting for BJJ - A Conversation With Brian Glick
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Take-down-focused grappling arts like Judo and wrestling put a huge emphasis on grip fighting (or hand fighting), but BJJ tends to focus less on it. W...
Weight Training
20 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Weight training is one of the most popular supplemental exercises to grappling. It is also one of Shintaro's biggest hobbies. In this episode, Shintar...
Difference in Mentality between Champions and Hobbyists
14 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Most of us are hobbyists, and often look at world-class champions for inspiration. As a result, champions are often mystified and it's hard to discern...
How to Deal With Injuries
06 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Judo and other grappling sports are tough on the body, and injuries are, unfortunately, almost inevitable. As a result, it's not only important to pre...
Peter's Martial Art Journey
31 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this solo episode, Peter talks about how he started his martial art journey, where he is right now in it, and what he is looking forward to in the ...
Seminar Debrief
23 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro recently went to Las Vegas, NV and Fargo, ND to host Judo seminars. In this episode, he shares his experience with Peter. Please support us o...
Judo and MMA
16 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Most people are exposed to Judo as a sport via international tournaments like the Olympics. The techniques used in those settings are often hyper opti...
Competition Debrief
09 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Competitions are an important part of Judo as well as other grappling arts as they provide an opportunity to stress-test your skills against other pra...
On Respect
02 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It is said that Judo begins with respect and ends with respect (礼に始まり、礼に終わる). One way to see this aspect of Judo is bowing. You ...
Starting Judo
25 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
People start Judo for many different reasons, but it can be daunting for everyone just the same. In this episode, Shintaro and Peter discuss what to d...
Judo Podcast
18 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Shintaro and Peter have been podcasting for over a year now, and it's been a wild ride with many lessons learned on the way. In this episode, Shintaro...
Hard Skills vs Soft Skills
11 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In workplaces, people often make the distinction between hard skills (job-related knowledge and abilities) and soft skills (personal qualities), and h...
Judo Throws for Different Body Types
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We all have different body types. Some of us are tall; some of us are short; some of us have long limbs; some of us are stocky. Naturally, certain Jud...
Sensei Syndrome
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Due to the hierarchical nature of how martial arts are usually taught, it is easy for sensei's to catch the "Sensei Syndrome." What exactly is it, and...