Futari Garami in Saigon

Today I had my first opportunity to practice futari garami here in Saigon.

Futari garami is the practice of free technique although I have never heard it called that anywhere else. Elsewhere it is always called jiyu-waza and it is practiced at all levels. The dojo here only begins practicing free technique when folks are getting ready for first kyu.

They are having me begin with two uke and working only with shomenuchi. In fact, they only want uke to attack with the right hand. They believe in beginning slowly and building gradually. I suppose it has its merits.

The other requirements are these: we go for thirty seconds with the goal of twenty techniques. I am supposed to pick just a few very quick techniques and keep running through them quickly.

I have not practiced randori or jiyu-waza since coming to Vietnam and didn't do much of it in America either. What I discovered or rediscovered is that I get very excitable and all precision goes out the door. I use way too much force rather than calm finesse, making me prone to error.

Now that I have the go ahead to practice like this, I will be trying to work in a few rounds at the end of each training session. That will be a lot more free technique than I did in the U.S. and I am hoping that I will see some quick improvement.