Why Rhode Island Jiujitsu Schools Need Adult Judo — And How We’re Helping
🥋 Why Rhode Island Jiujitsu Schools Need Adult Judo — And How We’re Helping
Introducing a Safe, Proven System for Teaching Beginner Adults
Over the past decade, a clear pattern has taken shape in local Jiu-Jitsu competitions: more and more matches are starting on the feet. Not just among adults, but also among youth competitors. At the same time, we’ve seen growing curiosity from purple, brown, and black belts who want to add Judo to their game.
But there’s a problem.
Rhode Island lacks sufficient qualified adult Judo coaches to meet the demand.
And teaching Judo to adults — especially adults who didn’t grow up doing Judo — is one of the most challenging tasks in all of grappling.
This blog post explains why that challenge exists… and how Elevate Dojo is offering a solution for BJJ schools across the state.
Why Learning Judo as an Adult Is So Hard
Among the grappling arts, Judo is the most difficult to learn for adults with no prior experience. Even world-class coaches will tell you this.
During a recent trip to San Sebastian, Spain — a city with nearly 500 active Judoka — their coaching staff expressed the same struggles we see here:
Adults fear falling.
Adults carry tension.
Adults struggle to relax on impact.
Adults often lack foundational movement patterns.
Teaching them safely requires a different approach.
Even Spain’s national-level judo coaches openly acknowledged the risks and difficulties of introducing Judo to adult beginners who never trained as children.
In Jiujitsu, it’s not uncommon to let new adult students roll on day one, week one, or month one. It’s debatable whether that’s ideal — but it’s possible.
In Judo?
Putting a brand-new adult straight into randori is a recipe for injury.
Judo demands a solid foundation — a physical vocabulary — before technique can be effectively applied.
How Elevate Successfully Teaches Judo to Adults (In Their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s)
At Elevate Dojo, we’ve developed a proven system that enables adult beginners to learn Judo safely, effectively, and with long-term retention — even if they never participated in youth Judo.
The key shift?
We teach adults to focus on their partner's experience, not their own.
This fosters trust, alleviates tension, and cultivates the body awareness necessary for safe training.
Before one single throw is taught, every adult must learn:
How to fall
How to take throws
How to stand
How to walk
How to keep themselves safe
How to be receptive to their partner
These skills form the non-negotiable foundation of adult Judo. When done right, the transformation is remarkable:
Students begin to look like they’re practicing real Judo — not “wrestling with a jacket.”
And they can enter randori safely, with confidence, and with purpose.
What I Need From Local BJJ Schools
I’d like to know if you and your team are interested in learning Judo using this framework.
If so, here’s the simple next step:
Coordinate a day and time — weekday or weekend — to visit Elevate with your students and coaches.
I’ll teach you the whole system and process myself.
It will take 4–5 sessions, and by the end, your team will be able to:
Your students will know:
How to fall
How to take throws
How to stand
How to walk
How to stay safe
How to be a receptive partners
Your gym will be able to train these throws safely:
Ko Uchi Gari
O Uchi Gari
Ko Soto Gari
O Soto Gari
Ippon Seoi Nage
O Goshi
Okuri Ashi Harai
De Ashi Harai
Uchi Mata (…Okay, that one takes years!)
This foundation will allow your school to:
Offer adult Judo classes
Reduce injuries
Give your students new skills
Strengthen the Rhode Island martial arts community
Why I’m Offering This
Honestly?
Because Rhode Island needs more Judo.
1. More adult Judoka means more future kids’ Judo coaches.
Which means stronger youth development.
Which means more competitors.
Which means better opportunities for everyone — including our developmental students at Elevate.
2. I want to keep people safe.
We’ve all heard stories of BJJ students getting hurt while attempting Judo throws without formal training.
We don’t need more injuries.
We need more knowledge.
If people are going to use Judo in Jiujitsu — and they clearly are — they deserve to learn it safely and correctly.
What’s the Cost?
Here’s the simple policy:
If you’re polite, appreciative, and genuinely want to learn, you don’t need to pay anything.
I’m doing this to help the community.
Suppose schools are interested in additional coaching, ongoing sessions, or help progressing students toward a Judo black belt (yes, double black belts exist!). In that case, we can work out a long-term arrangement.
Let’s Grow Adult Judo in Rhode Island — Together
If you’re a Rhode Island Jiujitsu school owner, coach, or student who wants:
Safer stand-up
Stronger takedowns
More well-rounded grappling
Better coaching for your students
A sustainable long-term foundation for teaching Judo
I would then love to work with you.
Reach out. Bring your team. Let’s build something meaningful.