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Ju·do
A sport and method of physical training similar to wrestling, developed in Japan in the late 19th century and using principles of balance and leverage adapted from jujitsu.
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The History of Kodokan Judo
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Judo is an outgrowth of
Jujutsu. In the late 1800 during the Meiji period in Japan,
many of the traditional
Jujutsu schools were in danger of disappearing due to the rush to westernize
the country. Professor Jigiro Kano, the founder of Kodokan Judo, was a student of several schools of Jujutsu, including Ten shin Shiny ryu and Kito
ryu. He felt that Jujutsu still had much to offer the modern world in terms
of physical education and personal development, and set out to try to bring
their teachings to a contemporary audience. In developing Judo, Kano had two
criteria in choosing the techniques to include. First, he felt in must be a
technique that could be practiced safely in the dojo. Many of the techniques
of Jujutsu were so potentially dangerous to one's partner, that it was
difficult to practice them in a realistic manner. By choosing
"safer" techniques, Kano was able to place a greater emphasis on
randori or sparing in his training. Second, he strove to choose techniques
that embodied his ideal of maximum efficiency. He felt that by using
strength efficiently allowed a smaller person to overcome a larger one.
Taking the techniques he choose based on these two principles, and drawing
on his own experience in western style education, Kano created Kodokan Judo.
Kano was also the first to introduce the graded belt system so widely used
in the martial arts today. He opened his first dojo (the Kodokan, from which
Kodokan Judo takes its name) in 1882 in a shrine near Tokyo. Supported by a
number of experienced Jujutsu practitioners, Kano's Judo quickly gained
acceptance and spread. Judo found it's way into Japanese public schools, and
into the training of police departments and the military. In the early 1900s
Judo began to spread around the world, as experienced Japanese practitioners
traveled abroad and people in other countries began to learn of it. At one
time, U.S. president Teddy Roosevelt even studied Judo. As the practice of
Judo spread, competition grew into international tournaments, until in 1964
Judo became part of the Olympic Games.
Over the years Judo has continued to develop, with old techniques being refined, and new ones added. As time passed, Kano sent a number of his senior student to study with other masters such as Morihei Ueshiba and Gichin Fuankoshi, and the influence of both Aikido and Shotokan Karate can be seen in some of the kata of Judo.
-- Some Common Judo Terms
Like many martial arts, Judo maintains many terms and descriptions in the
original language of the art, in this case Japanese. Some of the more commonly
encountered are listed in this section (remember that the spellings of Japanese
words do not use a silent "e", so a word like "nage" is
pronounced "nah-gay", not "nay-gh"):
ATEMI
-- atemi is a term found in many Japanese martial arts, and refers to striking
your opponent, often specifically striking weak points in the anatomy. Most
often used as atemi-waza or striking techniques.
ASHI -- ashi refers to the foot or leg. Most often used as ashi-waza or leg
techniques or throws.
JUDOKA -- a judoka is a student of Judo.
JUDOGI -- the judogi is the heavy, reinforced uniform worn during Judo practice.
KAKE -- kake is the actual application of a throw. Also see Kuzushi and Tsukuri.
KANSETSU -- kansetsu refers to a joint lock or locking.
KATA -- kata are a prearranged set of techniques, practiced to improve a
student's technical expertise.
KODOKAN -- literaly the "place for the teaching of the way". The name
of the first Judo dojo and still the name of the world headquarters in Tokyo.
KOSHI -- koshi (also goshi) refers to the hips, most often used as koshi- waza
or hip techniques or throws.
KUZUSHI -- kusushi refers to the act of "unbalancing" you opponent.
This concept is integral to all throws in Judo. Also see Kake and Tsukuri.
MATE -- mate is the signal to stop. Most often used to signal the end of randori
and shiai, or to stop the contestants temporarily after they have gone out of
bounds, etc.
NAGE -- nage refers to a throw or throwing.
NAGE-KOMI -- nage-komi is the term for practicing a throw in which you actually
throw your partner. Also see uchi-komi.
OSAE -- osae refers to a pin or pinning.
OSAE-KOMI -- osae-komi is the term used by a referee in competition to signal
that a contestant has his opponent in a pin.
RANDORI -- randori is the term for sparring.
SHIAI -- shiai is the term for a contest or tournament.
SHIME -- shime (also jime) refers to a choke or choking.
SORE-MADE -- sore-made is the command to stop used at the end of the practice
session.
SUTEMI -- sutemi refers to sacrifice, most often used as sutemi-waza or
sacrifice techniques or throws. Can be further divided into back sacrifice
(ma-sutemi-waza) or side sacrifice (yoko-sutemi-waza) techniques.
TATAMI -- tatami are the mats or padding on which Judo is practiced.
Traditionally they were constructed of rice straw, now they are more typically
made of various types of foam padding often covered with canvas.
TE -- te refers to the hand, most often used as te-waza or hand techniques or
throws.
TORI -- tori refers to the person performing the technique.
TSUKURI -- tsukuri is the action of "fitting in" for a throw. It is
the body movement required to position oneself for the application of a
technique. Also see Kake and Kuzushi.
UCHI-KOMI -- uchi-komi is the term for practicing a throw, without actually
completing the technique. In other words unbalancing your partner and fitting in
without actually throwing them. Also see nage-komi.
UKE -- uke refers to the person being thrown, or on whom the technique is
applied.
UKEMI -- ukemi refers to the skill of falling without getting hurt.
WAZA -- waza is most commonly translated as technique, and is often used in
conjunction with descriptive terms (e.g., nage-waza = throwing techniques).
-- The
Techniques of Judo
Throwing Techniques The throwing techniques of
Judo are compiled in two lists of throws. The original list (compiled in 1895
and revised in 1920) is the Go-Kyu-No- Waza, or five sets of techniques. This
list consists of 40 throws, divided into five sets of eight techniques. The
second and newer list (compiled in 1982) is the Shinmeisho-No-Waza, the
"other" or "new" techniques that consist of an additional 17
throws. Although there are other throwing techniques practiced in many Judo
dojos, these two lists comprise the official "core" techniques of
Kodokan Judo. Judo throwing techniques can also be divided into four separate
categories; hand techniques, hip techniques, foot/leg techniques and sacrifice
(back or side) techniques. Hand, hip and foot/leg techniques refer to throws in
which the primary impetus or focus of the technique comes from the specified
part of tori's body (of course in reality all three are often involved, and
sometimes the choice of term can seem somewhat arbitrary). Sacrifice techniques
are those in which tori himself falls to the ground in order to throw uke.
The
Kata of Judo
The three most commonly seen kata in Judo are the
Nage-no-Kata or the kata of throws, Katame-no-Kata or grappling kata, and the
Ju-no-Kata or kata of gentleness. The first two comprise the randori-no-kata, or
kata of techniques that can be used in sparring and competition. The Nage-no-
Kata consists of 15 different techniques, performed to both the left and right
for a total of 30 throws. In the kata uke attacks tori with either a shove or an
overhand blow, to which tori replies with the appropriate technique. The
Katame-no-Kata consists of consists of 15 different techniques; five pins, five
chokes and five joint locks. The entire kata is performed from a kneeling or
laying position on the mat. The Ju-no-Kata also consists of 15 techniques,
divided into three sets. This kata is intended to demonstrate and practice the
principle of "ju" (gentleness or yielding) basic to Judo.
Demonstration of the randori-no-kata is required for promotion to the lower dan
ranks for both men and women. In addition, women are required to demonstrate the
Ju-no-Kata. This is a hold over of the time when women were not allowed to take
part in tournaments, and was intended to make up for the lack of competition
experience on their part.
Following are a list of the katas practiced in Judo of which I am aware, along
with a brief description of each. Note that the last eight of these are seldom
seen (at least in this country) and few judoka seem to be familiar with them.
Indeed, I have been able to find no information about the last two kata beyond
their names.
*Nage-no-Kata -- The
kata of throws. Includes examples of hand, hip, foot and sacrifice throws.
*Katame-no-Kata -- The kata of grappling. Includes examples of pins, chokes and
joint locks.
*Ju-no-Kata -- The kata of gentleness. Includes a number of attacks and defenses
demonstrating the efficient redirection of force and movement.
*Kime-no-Kata -- The original Judo self defense kata. Includes both standing and
kneeling defense against empty handed, knife and sword attacks using strikes,
chokes, joint locks and throws.
*Kodokan Goshinjutsu (or Goshinjutsu-no-Kata) -- The "modern" Kodokan
self defense kata. Includes defense against empty handed, knife, stick (jo), and
handgun attacks using strikes, joint locks and throws.
*Gonosen-no-Kata -- The kata of counters. Includes 12 counter throws for a
number of common techniques.
*Itsutsu-no-Kata -- The kata of five principles. Is intended for the
demonstration and practice of tai-sabaki (body movement) and the application and
redirection of energy.
*Joshi Judo Goshinho -- The women's Judo self defense kata. Includes a number of
escapes from holds and grabs, some basic striking techniques, and one throw.
*Seiroku-Zenyou Kokumin-Taiiku -- The national exercise based on the principles
of maximum efficiency. Unusual for Judo in being a completely solo kata,
includes a variety of striking and kicking techniques.
*Renkoho -- The kata of arresting techniques. Includes a number of control and
submission holds useful in restraining criminals.
*Kimi-Shiki -- The kata of decision. Includes both kneeling and standing
defenses against empty hands, knife and sword attacks. Stresses the use of body
movement in responding to attacks.
*Koshiki-no-Kata -- The ancient kata. This kata is taken from Kito-ryu Jujutsu
(see "The History of Judo", above) and demonstrates the techniques of
kumiuchi or fighting while wearing armour (yoroi) and is intended to illustrate
the ancient origins of Judo technique.
*Shobu-no-Kata -- The kata of attack or contest.
*Go-no-Kata -- The Kata of force or blows. Includes a variety of atemi-
waza or striking techniques.
