Solo gripping, locking & throwing drills

I know some Judoka use bungee/elastic cords attached to a wall or apparatus to practice throw entries and uchi-komi.

I wonder how much this kind of drill would aid the real application of the throw?

Using the bag as per the top video is something I do. However, I feel a bigger bag is needed so you have more weight to overcome and so that the belt can be tied at shoulder height. The hanging bits can be used as “arms” and the bit wrapped around the bag can be the "collar".

Not wishing to be overly critical, but the gent in the top clip has his weight in his heels (toes off the ground) and his legs straight when flipping the bag. This means his bodyweight is going backward whereas you need it to go forward when throwing the enemy (or bag) forward. Because the bag is light you can get away with the bodyweight going the wrong way; so the heavier the bag the better as it is more likely to promote good technique.

This video was one of the ones linked to the above and in it you can see how the weight is in the toes with the body going forward. I also use cords like this having being introduced to the idea by the judo club I trained at.

Another way to use the bag (without the belt) is to hold it up, impact it and then throw it. These are useful for throws where the body is gripped. From a fighting perspective, you can also practise following the bag to the floor and impacting it some more. Be sure to take the chains off first as I have found the bag can use them to fight back on occasions :-)

None to this comes close to practise with a partner, but as a supplement to partner training and as part of a varied bag work session such drills have a place I feel.

All the best,

Iain

One reason I like a Thai bag for bagwork is they tend to be fairly small in diameter (and long for low kicks of course). This means you can grip around them and elbow as you might if gripping a neck or head while neck wrestling (thai plumb position). It's not exactly the same but at least there's some element of a controlling grip involved as well as striking.