Dominate the Stand-Up Game: New Judo Classes at Practical Karate Give BJJ Competitors the Edge

In today’s competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu landscape, matches are often decided before they ever reach the ground. While countless hours are spent perfecting guard passes, submissions, and escapes, one aspect of the sport continues to separate elite competitors from the rest of the field—the ability to dictate where the fight begins.

Practical Karate is excited to announce the addition of Judo to its martial arts curriculum. Beginning immediately, Sunday morning classes from 9:00-10:00 AM (Fundamentals) and 10:00-11:00 AM (Tachi Waza) will be taught by internationally experienced judoka Vandric Castro, offering students an opportunity to develop one of the most valuable skills in grappling: high-level takedowns.

Whether you’re a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor looking for a tournament advantage or simply want to become a more complete martial artist, these classes provide the technical foundation and competitive mindset needed to excel.

Why Every BJJ Competitor Should Train Judo

Modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu often emphasizes ground fighting, but every match starts standing. The competitor who controls the opening exchange immediately puts pressure on their opponent.

Under most BJJ competition rule sets, a clean takedown followed by establishing a dominant position such as side control, knee-on-belly, or mount can result in a significant points advantage before the submission battle even begins.

Instead of pulling guard and immediately playing from underneath, imagine beginning every match with:

• A successful takedown
• Immediate top control
• Multiple points on the scoreboard
• Psychological momentum
• The ability to dictate the pace of the match

That’s exactly what Judo training develops.

Elite competitors across IBJJF, ADCC, and professional grappling events understand that strong stand-up skills aren’t simply an accessory—they’re a competitive weapon.

Learn from International Competitor Vandric Castro

Leading Practical Karate’s new Judo program is Vandric Castro, an accomplished judoka who competed internationally throughout his youth career.

Competing against world-class athletes at an early age instilled in Castro an appreciation for technical precision, discipline, timing, and relentless work ethic. His years on the international circuit exposed him to some of the highest levels of Judo instruction and competition, experience that now benefits every student who steps onto the mat.

As an instructor, Castro emphasizes more than simply throwing opponents. Students learn:

• Proper gripping strategies
• Balance breaking (Kuzushi)
• Footwork and movement
• Timing and reactions
• Safe falling techniques (Ukemi)
• Tournament-proven throws
• Effective transitions directly into groundwork

His teaching style is approachable for beginners while providing the technical depth experienced grapplers crave.

Whether you’ve never worn a Judo gi or already compete regularly in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, Castro meets students where they are and helps them continually improve.

Turn Takedowns into Tournament Wins

Many BJJ competitors devote thousands of hours to submissions but only a fraction of that time to standing exchanges.

The result?

• Two athletes often spend the opening minute hand fighting before someone sits to guard.
• Training Judo changes that equation.
• Instead of avoiding the stand-up battle, you’ll begin looking forward to it.
• You’ll develop confidence attacking with explosive throws while learning to defend against your opponent’s takedown attempts.

Perhaps even more importantly, you’ll learn how to chain your takedowns directly into dominant control positions.

Imagine executing a clean throw, immediately settling into side control, earning your takedown points, securing control points, and forcing your opponent to begin the match already behind on the scoreboard.

Those are advantages that can decide close tournament matches.

More Than Throws

Judo is often misunderstood as simply throwing people.

In reality, it’s a complete system built around balance, leverage, timing, efficiency, and control.

Students quickly discover improvements in:

• Athletic balance
• Core strength
• Coordination
• Grip strength
• Explosiveness
• Body awareness
• Confidence under pressure

These attributes transfer directly into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, mixed martial arts, and even everyday movement.

The footwork developed through Judo makes athletes harder to sweep, more difficult to off-balance, and more capable of maintaining dominant positions throughout grappling exchanges.

Perfect for All Skill Levels

One of the biggest misconceptions about Judo is that you need years of experience before you can enjoy it.

Practical Karate’s new program welcomes everyone.

Whether you’re:

• A complete beginner
• A recreational martial artist
• A BJJ hobbyist
• An active tournament competitor
• A wrestler wanting to expand your skills
• An MMA athlete seeking better takedowns

You’ll find instruction appropriate for your experience level.

Classes emphasize proper progression, ensuring students learn safe mechanics before advancing to more dynamic techniques.

Build Your Grappling IQ

The relationship between Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu runs deep.

In fact, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu itself evolved from Judo, sharing many of the same principles of leverage, efficiency, and positional dominance.

Training both arts creates a more complete grappler.

• You’ll begin recognizing opportunities for throws that previously went unnoticed.
• You’ll understand how posture affects balance.
• You’ll anticipate reactions before they happen.

Most importantly, you’ll stop viewing standing exchanges as a necessary inconvenience and start seeing them as scoring opportunities.

Practical Karate Continues to Expand

For years, Practical Karate has earned a reputation for providing high-quality martial arts instruction in a welcoming, family-oriented environment.

Adding Judo strengthens the academy’s commitment to offering students a complete martial arts education.

The new Sunday morning schedule makes it easy for athletes to integrate Judo into existing training routines without interfering with weekday commitments.

Class Schedule – Sundays

• Judo Fundamentals 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
• Tachi Waza (Throwing Techniques) 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Whether you’re preparing for your next IBJJF tournament, sharpening your MMA skill set, or simply looking to learn one of the world’s most respected martial arts, these classes provide an outstanding opportunity to grow.

Take Control Before the Match Hits the Ground

The best competitors don’t leave the opening moments of a match to chance.

• They dictate where the fight goes.
• They control the pace.
• They score first.
• They force their opponents to react.

Judo gives you that ability.

Under the expert guidance of Vandric Castro, you’ll develop the confidence, technical precision, and competitive mindset needed to excel in stand-up grappling while dramatically improving your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu game.

Don’t wait until your next tournament to realize your takedown game needs work.

Join the new Judo program at Practical Karate and discover why the athletes who dominate from the feet often dominate the match itself.

New Judo Classes

• Location: Practical Karate
• Instructor: Vandric Castro
• Schedule: Sundays, Judo Fundamentals 9:00–10:00 AM and Tachi Waza 10:00–11:00 AM
  Master the stand-up. Control the match. Win before the ground game even begins.