Judo at Williamsburg MMA

Traditional Judo Taught with Structure, Intent, and Lineage

Judo is the art of balance, timing, and control. At Williamsburg MMA, Judo is taught as a complete grappling system: standing, transitions, pins, and groundwork; rather than a collection of isolated techniques.

Our Judo program emphasizes proper mechanics, efficient movement, and technical depth, giving students a clear understanding of how Judo actually works against resistance.

This is Judo taught with clarity, not confusion.

Proper Judo,

From Direct Lineage

Our Judo program is rooted in traditional Japanese Judo, passed down through direct instruction from Sensei Kiyoshi Shiina, one of the most technically skilled Judoka to ever teach in the United States.

Sensei Shiina was known for:

Complete technical knowledge across all areas of Judo
Emphasis on balance, timing, and efficiency
Strong focus on groundwork long before it became popular
Teaching Judo as a full system, not a ruleset

That approach shapes how Judo is taught at WMMA today; structured, technical, and pressure-tested.

What Judo Really Trains

Judo develops the ability to:

Control balance and posture
Break an opponent’s structure (kuzushi)
Execute throws with timing rather than force
Transition cleanly from standing to ground
Maintain dominant pins and positional control

While throws are often what people associate with Judo, our classes make clear that control, positioning, and follow-through are what make those throws effective.

What Our Judo Focus On

Instead of jumping between techniques randomly, our Judo curriculum is built around shared fundamentals.

We emphasize:

Posture and balance
Grip fighting and hand control
Off-balancing and entries
High-percentage throws
Transitions from throw to pin or control
Groundwork (newaza) and pressure differs while also connects different jiu-jitsu and wrestling systems.

Every technique is taught with the expectation that your partner is resisting.

Judo for No-Gi and MMA

Adapting the Art Without Diluting It

At Williamsburg MMA, Judo is taught first in its traditional, technical form, with full respect for structure, grips, balance, and timing.

From there, students learn how those same principles apply in no-gi and MMA environments—without changing what Judo is.

The art remains intact.
The context changes.

What Transfers and Why It Works

While grips and rules differ, the core principles of Judo remain consistent:

Balance and posture control
Off-balancing (kuzushi)
Timing and entries
Hip positioning and footwork
Transitions from standing to dominant control

Students learn how to express these principles without relying on the gi, using underhooks, overhooks, head position, and body alignment.

Clear Boundaries, Clear Application

We do not blend rules or confuse objectives.

Students learn:

Traditional Judo within its own structure
No-gi adaptations intentionally and separately
How and when Judo applies in MMA
Where limitations exist—and how to account for them

This clarity allows Judo to remain powerful instead of becoming watered down.

Judo as a Living System

Judo is not frozen in time.

It evolves through understanding, not shortcuts.

At Williamsburg MMA, Judo is taught as a living system; respected in its traditional form, and applied intelligently in modern combat sports.

Judo as Part of a Connected Grappling System

At Williamsburg MMA, Judo is taught alongside Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Wrestling; not blended together, but understood together.

Judo contributes:

Balance and off-balancing
Upright posture and timing
Grip fighting and standing control
Clean entries into pins and ground dominance

Students don’t replace one style with another.
They learn how each discipline reinforces the others.

Who Judo Classes Are For

Our Judo classes are ideal for:

Beginners who want to learn proper grappling fundamentals
Jiu-Jitsu practitioners looking to improve takedowns and standing control
Wrestlers refining balance and grip fighting
MMA athletes developing clinch and throw-based control
Students who want authentic Judo taught correctly

All classes scale by experience level and emphasize safety and longevity.

Class Structure & Training Environment

Classes typically include:

Movement and balance preparation
Technical instruction and drilling
Situational practice
Controlled live training

Intensity is purposeful, not reckless.
Technique always comes before ego.

The Legacy of Sensei Shiina and Japan judo continues here at Williamsburg MMA.

"Every time you break fall say thank you." - Kiyoshi Shiina