Judo

Judo is a Japanese Martial Art that is derived from Jūjutsu. This Martial Art utilises throws and takedowns to bring the opponent to the ground. The Judo practitioner or Jūdōka would then aim to subdue or force their opponent into submission.

Meaning

Way of Gentleness

Founder

Kanō Jigorō

Country of Origin

Japan

Primary Focus

Joint-locks, Takedowns, Throwing

Orientation

Sport, Self-defence

Type

External

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Brief History

The founder of Judo, Kanō Jigorō, was a well-educated man who possessed an excellent academic background. He was subject to wide-spread bullying at school which led him to pursue Jūjutsu. After many years of searching for a Jūjutsu master, Kanō Jigorō was finally successful in training with Fukuda Hachinosuke sensei.

On the passing of Fukuda Hachinosuke, Kanō Jigorō continued his training in other dojos until he founded his own Kudokan, “place for teaching the way”, to disseminate his learnings in the form of Judo through Kata and Randori. Kanō Jigorō had begun to include more techniques that were composed of proven scientific principles and planned on reforming the declining art of Jūjutsu. His vision for Judo, however, was to focus his training on improving the body, mind and character of his students.

Aspects

Randori – sparring or free practice
Kata – a set of codified self-defence techniques which are executed in a series of movements

7 Kata are recognised by the Kodokan:

Randori no Kata – Free Practice forms which comprise of Nage no Kata (Throwing forms) and Katame no Kata (Grappling forms)
Kime no Kata – Old style self-defence forms
Kodokan Goshin Justsu – Modern self-defence forms
Ju no Kata – Forms of “gentleness”
Itsutsu no Kata – The five forms
Koshiki no Kata - Ancient forms
Seiryoku Zen'yō Kokumin Taiiku no Kata - Maximum-efficiency national physical education forms

The Martial Art in Practice

The objective of Judo is to throw, unbalance or take the opponent to the ground. Once taken to the ground the opponent can either be subdued through a pin or made to submit by applying a joint-lock or choke.

Like its predecessor Jūjutsu, Judo is meant for close quarter self-defence and applying the energy of stronger and bigger opponents against themselves. This idea is logically explained in the following situational flow between a Judoka and an opponent who is stronger:

If the stronger opponent applies maximum force to the Judoka, the Judoka will be unsuccessful in resisting the opponents attack, even when applying all his or her strength in opposition to the opponent;
Instead of opposing the opponent with force, the Judoka would not resist the opponent by withdrawing his or her body and maintaining balance. This would cause the opponent to lean forward resulting a loss of balance.
The opponent would no longer be capable of exerting force in any other direction due to an unstable foundation. The Judoka would then be in an advantageous position to use the opponent’s instability to execute a throw using the momentum created by the opponent.

Judo consists of throws, pins, takedowns, joint-locks and strikes. The primary techniques of the of the Martial Art can be broadly categorised into:

Nage-waza – Throwing
Ne-waza – Groundwork

judo standing techniques

judo sacrifice techniques

judo ground techniques

A defensive technique, known as the “Body Scissors” or Guard is generally employed by the Judoka who finds themselves in a defensive position on the ground. This is done to prevent the opponent above from attacking through strikes and taking full control of the fight.

Over and above these throwing and groundwork techniques, striking does feature in Judo Kata and can only be employed during active self-defence situations.

Concepts

An effective throw in Judo takes place in 4 phases which follow one another in quick succession:

Kuzukshi – Placing the opponent off-balance
Tsukuri – having the body in the correct position to optimally execute the throw
Kake – execution of the throwing technique
Kime – completion of the throw