Judo
Judo (Japanese: 柔道 Jūdō) is a martial art, a sport and a philosophy which originated in Japan. Judo was developed from Jujutsu, and was founded by Jigoro Kano (嘉納治五郎) in 1882. The sport became the model of the modern Japanese martial arts, gendai budo, developed from old koryu schools.
History and philosophy
The early history of Judo and that of its founder, Japanese polymath and educator Kano Jigoro (1860-1938), are inseparable. Kano was born into a well-to-do Japanese family. His grandfather was a self-made man, a sake brewer from Shiga prefecture in central Japan; however, Kano's father was not the eldest son and did not inherit the business, but instead became a Shinto priest and government official, with enough influence for his son to enter the second incoming class of Tokyo Imperial University.
Kano was a small, frail boy, who, even in his twenties, did not weigh more than a hundred pounds, and was often picked on by bullies. He first started pursuing jujitsu (柔術), at that time a flourishing art, at the age of 17, but met with little success---in part due to difficulties finding a teacher who would take him on as a serious student. When he went off to the University to study literature at the age of 18, he continued his martial efforts, eventually gaining a referral to Hachinosuke Fukuda, a master of the Tenjin Shinyo Ryu (天神真楊流) and ancestor of noted Japanese/American judoist Keiko Fukuda, who is one of Kano's oldest surviving students. Fukuda is said to have emphasized technique over formal exercise, sowing the seeds of Kano's emphasis of randori (乱取り), or free practice, in Judo.
Little more than a year after Kano joined Fukuda's school, Fukuda took ill and died. Kano then became a student in another Tenjin Shinyo school, that of Masatomo Iso, who put more emphasis on formal kata than did Fukuda. Through dedication, Kano quickly earned the title "shihan", or master, and became assistant instructor to Iso at the age of 21. Iso, too, took ill, and Kano, feeling that he still had much to learn, took up another style, becoming a student of Tsunetoshi Iikubo of Kito Ryu. Like Fukuda, Iikubo placed much emphasis on free practice; on the other hand, Kito Ryu emphasized ground techniques (matwork) to a much greater degree than Tenjin Shinyo Ryu.
By this time, Kano was devising new techniques, such as the kata guruma (fireman's carry) and uki goshi (floating hip toss). His thoughts were already on doing more than expanding the canons of Kito and Tenjin Shinyo Ryu; full of new ideas, in part as a result of his education, Kano had in mind a major reformation of jujitsu, with techniques based on sound scientific principles, and with focus on development of the body, mind, and character of young men in addition to development of martial prowess. At the age of 22, just about to finish his degree at the University, Kano took 9 students from Iikubo's school to study jujitsu under him at the Eishoji Temple. Although two years would pass before it would be called by that name, and Kano had not yet been accorded the title of "master" in the Kito ryu (起倒流) -- Iikubo would come to the temple to help teach three days per week, this was the founding of the Kodokan (講道館) or "place for learning the way."
The word Judo is comprised of two kanji: "ju" (柔), which means gentleness or giving way, and "do" (道), meaning way of life (the same character as the Chinese "tao".) Thus Judo literally means "the gentle way" or "the way of giving way". Judo takes from jujutsu ("gentle art") the principle of using one's opponent's strength against him. Kano saw jujutsu as a disconnected bag of tricks, and sought to unify it according to some principle: he found it in the notion of "maximum efficiency". Jujitsu techniques which relied solely on superior strength were discarded or adapted in favor of those which involved redirecting the opponent's force, off-balancing the opponent, or making use of superior leverage.
Uniform
Judoka (Judo practitioners) wear white cotton uniforms called Judogi (which means Judo uniform in Japanese) for practicing Judo. The judogi consists of cotton drawstring slacks and a quilted cotton jacket fastened by a belt indicative of kyu or dan rank. The jacket is intended to withstand the stresses of throwing and grappling, and is resultedly much thicker than that of a karateka. Before competition, a blue judogi is assigned to one judoka per match for ease of distinction by judges and referee.
Techniques
The focus in judo is on throwing techniques (nage-waza, 投げ技), with groundwork (katame-waza, 固技) also a major component. Nage-waza is divided in two groups of techniques, standing techniques (tachi-waza, 立技) and sacrifice techniques (sutemi-waza, 捨身技). Standing techniques are divided in hand techniques (te-waza, 手技), hip techniques (koshi-waza, 腰技) and foot/leg techniques (ashi-waza, 足技). Sacrifice techniques are divided into those in which the thrower falls directly backwards (ma-sutemi-waza, 真捨身技) and those in which he falls onto his side (yoko-sutemi-waza, 橫捨身技).
The groundwork techniques are divided into: attacks against the joints (kansetsu-waza, 関節技) known in English-speaking countries as "leg-" and "armbars", stranglehold (shime-waza, 絞技), and holding techniques (osaekomi-waza, 押込技).
A kind of sparring is practiced in judo, known as randori (乱取り), meaning "free practice". In randori, players (known as judoka) may attack each other with any judo throw or grappling technique. Striking techniques (called atemi-waza) such as kicking and punching, along with knife and sword techniques are retained in the katas taught to higher ranking judoka (for instance, in the kime-no-kata), but are forbidden in contest (and usually prohibited in randori), for reasons of safety. Also for reasons of safety, chokeholds, jointlocking - and the sacrifice (sutemi) techniques, which can be very spectacular, are often subject to age and/or rank restrictions; in the United States, one must be 13 or older to use chokeholds and 17 to use armbars.
In randori and shiai (tournament) practice, when an opponent successfully executes a chokehold or jointlock, one "taps out" by gently tapping the mat or one's opponent. When this occurs, the match is over, and the tapping player has lost, but the chokehold or jointlock ceases. Because this allows a merciful exit to the match, injuries related to these holds are quite rare.
A list of Judo techniques
- Throwing techniques (nage waza, 投げ技)
- Standing techniques (tachi waza, 立技)
- Hand techniques (te waza, 手技)
- Shoulder Throw (seoi nage, 背負投)
- One Arm Shoulder Throw (ippon seoi nage, 一本背負投)
- Shoulder Drop (seoi otoshi, 背負落)
- Body Drop (tai otoshi, 体落)
- Shoulder Wheel (kata guruma, 肩車)
- Floating Drop (uki otoshi, 浮落)
- Corner Drop (sumi otoshi, 隅落)
- Scoop Throw (sukui nage, 掬投)
- Belt Drop (obi otoshi, 帯落)
- Double-arm Reap (morote gari, 双手刈)
- Dead-tree Topple (kuchiki taoshi, 朽木落)
- Heel Trip Reversal (kibisu gaeshi, 踵返)
- Minor Inner Reversal (ko uchi gaeshi, 小内返)
- (uchimata sukashi, 内股透)
- Mountain Storm (yama arashi, 山嵐)
- Hip techniques (koshi waza, 腰技)
- Major Hip Throw (ô goshi, 大腰)
- Floating Hip Throw (uki goshi, 浮腰)
- Sweeping Hip Throw (harai goshi, 払腰)
- Lifting Pulling Hip (tsuri komi goshi, 釣込腰)
- Sleeve Lifting Pulling Hip (sode tsuri komi goshi, 袖釣込腰)
- Lifting Hip Throw (tsuri goshi, 釣腰)
- Springing Hip Throw (hane goshi, 跳腰)
- Shifting Hip Throw (utsuri goshi, 移腰)
- Rear Hip Throw (ushiro goshi>, 後腰)
- Hip Wheel (koshi guruma>, 腰車)
- Embracing Lift (daki age, 抱上)
- Foot/leg techniques (ashi waza, 足技)
- Knee Wheel (hiza guruma, 膝車)
- Propping Lift-Pull Foot Throw (sasae tsuri komi ashi, 支釣込足)
- Sweeping Lift-Pull Foot Throw (harai tsuri komi ashi, 払釣込足)
- Advancing Foot Sweep (de ashi barai, 出足払)
- Sending Foot Sweep (okuri ashi barai, 送足払)
- Swallow Reversal (tsubame gaeshi, 燕返)
- Minor Inner Reap (ko uchi gari, 小内刈)
- Major Inner Reap (ô uchi gari, 大内刈)
- Minor Outer Reap (ko soto gari, 小外刈)
- Minor Outer Hook (ko soto gake, 小外掛)
- Major Outer Reap (ô soto gari, 大外刈)
- Major Outer Drop (ô soto otoshi, 大外落)
- Major Outer Wheel (ô soto guruma, 大外車)
- Inner Crotch Throw (uchi mata, 内股)
- Major Wheel (ô guruma, 大車)
- Leg Wheel (ashi guruma, 足車)
- Major Outer Reversal (ôsoto gaeshi, 大外返)
- Springing Hip Reversal (hane goshi gaeshi, 跳腰返)
- Sweeping Hip Reversal (harai goshi gaeshi, 払腰返)
- Inner Crotch Reversal (uchi mata gaeshi, 内股返)
- Hand techniques (te waza, 手技)
- Sacrifice techniques (sutemi waza, 捨身技)
- Direct sacrifice techniques (ma sutemi waza, 真捨身技)
- Circle Throw (tomoe nage, 巴投)
- (ura nage, 裏投)
- Corner Reversal (sumi gaeshi, 隅返)
- Drawing Reversal (hikkomi gaeshi, 引込返)
- Rice Bale Reversal (tawara gaeshi, 俵返)
- Side sacrifice techniques (yoko sutemi waza, 橫捨身技)
- Floating Technique (uki waza, 浮技)
- Side Drop (yoko otoshi, 横落)
- Valley Drop (tani otoshi, 谷落)
- Side Separation (yoko wakare, 横分)
- Side Wheel (yoko guruma, 横車)
- Side Hook (yoko gake, 横掛)
- Embracing Separation (daki wakare, 抱分)
- Outer Wrap Around (soto makikomi, 外巻込)
- Inner Wrap Around (uchi makikomi, 内巻込)
- Springing Wrap Around (hane makikomi, 跳巻込)
- Sweeping Wrap Around (harai makikomi, 払巻込)
- Inner Crotch Wrap Around (uchimata makikomi, 内股巻込)
- Major Outer Wrap Around (ōsoto makikomi, 大外巻込)
- Minor Inner Wrap Around (ko uchi makikomi, 小内巻込)*
- Crab Pincers (kani basami, 蟹挟)**
- Frog Hook (kawazu gake, 河津掛)**
- Direct sacrifice techniques (ma sutemi waza, 真捨身技)
- Standing techniques (tachi waza, 立技)
- Control Techniques (katame waza, 固技)
- Pinning Techniques (osaekomi waza, 押込技)
- (kesa gatame, 袈裟固)
- (kuzure kesa gatame, 崩袈裟固)
- (kata gatame, 肩固)
- (kami shiho gatame, 上四方固)
- (kuzure kami shiho gatame, 崩上四方固)
- (yoko shiho gatame, 横四方固)
- (tate shiho gatame, 縦四方固)
- Strangle Techniques (shime waza, 絞技)
- (nami juji jime, 並十字絞)
- (gyaku juji jime, 逆十字絞)
- (kata juji jime, 片十字絞)
- (hadaka jime, 裸絞)
- (okuri eri jime, 送襟絞)
- (kataha jime, 片羽絞)
- (sode guruma jime, 袖車絞)
- (katate jime, 片手絞)
- (morote jime, 両手絞)
- (tsukkomi jime, 突込絞)
- (sankaku jime, 三角絞)
- (dô jime, 胴絞)**
- Attacks against the joints (kansetsu waza, 関節技)
- (ude garami, 腕緘)
- (ude hishigi juji gatame, 腕挫十字固)
- (ude hishigi ude gatame, 腕挫腕固)
- (ude hishigi hiza gatame, 腕挫膝固)
- (ude hishigi waki gatame, 腕挫腋固)
- (ude hishigi hara gatame, 腕挫腹固)
- (ude hishigi ashi gatame, 腕挫脚固)
- (ude hishigi te gatame, 腕挫手固)
- (ude hishigi sankaku gatame, 腕挫三角固)
- (ashi garami, 足緘)**
- Pinning Techniques (osaekomi waza, 押込技)
- Attacks to Vital Points (atemi waza, xx;技)**
- Anatomical Weapons (ate dokoro, )
- Fingertips (yubi saki, )
- Hand-blade (tegatana, )
- Fist (kobushi, )
- Elbow (hiji, )
- Knee (hiza gashira, )
- Ball-of-foot (sekito, )
- Heel (kakato, )
- Head (atama, )
- Striking Techniques (ate waza, xx;技)
- Blows with the Hand & Arm (ude ate, )
- Fingertip Strikes (yubi saki ate, )
- Hand-blade Strikes (tegatana ate, )
- Fist Strikes (kobushi ate, )
- Elbow Strikes (hiji ate, )
- Blows with the Leg & Foot (ashi ate, )
- Ball-of-foot Strikes (sekito ate, )
- Heel Strikes (kakato ate, )
- Knee Strikes (hiza gashira ate, )
- Head-butts (atama ate, )
- Blows with the Hand & Arm (ude ate, )
- Anatomical Targets (jintai kyusho, )
- (tendo, )
- (uto, )
- (jinchu, )
- (kasumi, )
- (dokko, )
- (kachikake, )
- (suigetsu, )
- (getsu ei, )
- (denko, )
- (myojo, )
- (tsurigane, )
- (shitsu kansetsu, )
- Anatomical Weapons (ate dokoro, )
* International Judo Federation's technique. ** Forbidden by International Judo Federation; not allowed in a sparring by kodokan.
Grading
Judoka are ranked according to skill and knowledge of judo, that grade being reflected in the color of his belt: There are two divisions of grades, the student grades (kyu, 級), and the master grades (dan, 段). In the west, the kyu colors run from white through yellow, orange, green, blue, and brown. Some European countries additionally use a red belt to signify a complete beginner. In Japan, all adult kyu grades wear either white or brown belts. All dan grades may wear the black belt; sixth- through eighth- dans may alternately wear a red-and-white belt, while those ranked ninth- dan and above may wear a solid red belt. Protocol provides for a double-width white belt to be worn by someone who achieves the twelfth-"dan" but so far no one has been promoted beyond the tenth-"dan." A women's belt has a white stripe at its center. Jigoro Kano was the inventor of the kyu - dan grading system, that soon got adapted by other martial arts such as karate.
In competition one judoka wears a blue suit while the other wears white. In some competitions the older system whereby one competitor wears a white sash and the other a blue sash remains in place. In both cases this does not indicate their rank, but is to enable the judges and spectators to tell the opponents apart during a fight. Points are also awarded to white or blue. Assistant judges on the corners of the mat also have a white and blue flag to indicate to which competitor a point should go when it is unclear who it should be awarded to.
In most Western countries, grades up to the brown belt are awarded by the dojo where the student trains, while the first dan (black belt) is awarded after doing an exam supervised by independent judges of the national judo association. Second to fifth dan can be achieved by taking similar exams.
Styles
Jigoro Kano's Kodokan Judo (講道館) is the most widespread style of judo. A sub-style of Kodokan Judo that developed in Japanese inter-scholastic competition is known as Kosen judo (高專柔道), with the same range of techniques but greater latitude permitted for Ne-waza (ground techniques).
Sport
Although a fully-featured martial art, judo has also developed as a sport. Judo became an Olympic sport for men in 1964 and, with the persistence of a woman by the name of Rusty Kanokogi, a sport for women as well in 1992. In the west, the sport aspect of judo probably is the most commonly taught. Men and women compete separately (although they often train together), and there are several weight divisions including an open-weight category which anyone may enter.
The object in a judo-match is to throw your opponent to the ground so that he lands flat on this back. This will score an ippon (一本), a full point that wins the match. Anything else, such as landing your opponent on the hip or shoulder, will be waza-ari (技有), yuko (有效) or koka (效果) (waza-ari being the highest of the 3, koka the lowest) or even no score. Technically speaking, a waza-ari is a half-point, two of which will earn the match. Yukos and kokas are not fractional points in that they do not accumulate to equal a waza-ari or ippon-- in fact a waza-ari beats any number of yukos and a yuko beats any number of kokas. Rather, they are used as tie-breakers if the match ends before an ippon is scored. At match end, if one player has scored a waza-ari and the other has not, the player with the waza-ari wins, but if they are equal in that regard (both with zero or one) yukos are used to break the tie. If they are also equal in yukos, kokas break the tie. Finally, if both players have identical scores, the match is resolved by the decision (majority vote) of the referee and two corner judges.
After the throw occurs and is scored, combat may continue on the ground. Pinning an opponent, with both shoulders on the mat, for 25 seconds (20 if you previously scored a waza-ari, since two half-points will complete your whole) results in an ippon. An automatic ippon is also granted when one's opponent submits (which frequently occurs when choke holds are used). If there is no ippon or submission, the one with the most points wins. Groundfights are of relatively short duration in most high-level competition. The referee normally stops it when no clear progress is being made. Penalties may be given by the judges for being inactive during the match or using illegal techniques and fighting must be stopped if both of the participants are outside the designated area on the mat (tatami).
Sport and beyond
Despite the literal meaning of the name judo, competition judo is one the roughest and most demanding of sports. A World Championship or Olympic match lasts only 5 minutes, but will leave participants exhausted.
Without the kicking and punching so common to other martial arts, judo is often portrayed as friendlier than, for instance, karate. Proponents believe this contributes to judo being underrated as a method of self-defense. They point out that, for example, there is nothing "gentle" about being thrown full force to the mat (or, in a real fight, the concrete floor head first). Even with a relatively soft mat and a considerate teacher, beginning judoka are often winded and suffer whiplash from even relatively friendly throws. Because of this, sportsmanship is extremely important in a sport like judo. Without it, the same techniques used in a friendly match could easily be used to quickly and painfully disable an untrained enemy or criminal. Judo has long been one of the martial arts required by the Japanese police.
In training and competition, people should always do their best to avoid harming each other, although for most serious judoka, judo related injuries -- ranging from simple body pains to broken bones -- are essentially inevitable. Still, without a soft mat and a merciful opponent, judo is as dangerous as any other style of unarmed combat. For many skillful judoka, the ground could be seen as a weapon, which by their skill may be used to strike an opponent with impunity and devestating effect.
External links
- IJF International Judo Federation (http://www.ijf.org)
- Kodokan Judo Institute (http://www.kodokan.org)
- JudoInside.com (http://www.judoinside.com)
- JudoInfo Online Dojo (http://www.judoinfo.com)
- Judo Coaching Website (http://www.judocoach.com)
- British Judo Association (http://www.britishjudo.org.uk/)
- British Zen Judo Association (http://www.zenjudo.co.uk/)
Wikipedia links
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