Some judo notes:
- Escaping via bridging and shrimping should ideally be done with the idea of staying close and getting your knee under the opponent — NOT to shoot your hips out so you can then wriggle your head out, which is hard against people with a strong grip on your neck. With the knee in, you have leverage over your opponent. Bridge them off, get your hips out with the shrimp, but keep your grip on them and get your knee under.
- They had us experiment with forms of uchimata and harai goshi. Uchimata on the near leg (the leg closest to you in a right-handed vs. right-handed situation) is easier for shorter people because you get uke on one leg and only need to sweep that one leg. On the far leg, both of uke's legs are down, and you need to lift the far leg really high to tip them. *Unless* you have advantageous kuzushi and have them bent way over (as, incidentally, the guy often does somehow).
- Harai goshi kuzushi is really hard to do while standing square because you have to force uke's lapel grip arm to bend. Way easier with a small step to the side. Also way easier while moving backward rather than standing still.
- Moving sideways and circling around is important for dealing with tall person stiff-arming (as well as charging and sacrifice throws, which aren't appropriate against beginners).
- I think maintaining upright posture when gassed is actually easier than being hunched over.
- If I plan to do a turn throw, I really need to start turning at the beginning of the attack. If I pull the opponent in, then try to turn, it's too late. They know what's up, and it ends there.