Judo (Japan): Judo is a martial art which originated in Japan. Judo was developed from Jujitsu, and was founded by Jigoro Kano in 1882. The sport became the model of the modern Japanese martial arts, gendai Budo, developed from old koryu schools. History and philosophy Judo literally means "gentle way". Judo takes from Jujitsu ("gentle art") the principle of using one's opponent's strength against him. Kano saw Jujitsu as a disconnected bag of tricks, and sought to unify it according to some principle: he found it in the notion of "maximum efficiency". With that, he renamed his art "judo", to indicate his view of it as a means of physical and spiritual development, as well as self-defense. Techniques The focus in judo is on throwing techniques (nage-waza), with groundwork (katame-waza) also a major component. Nage-waza is divided in two groups of techniques, standing techniques (tachi-waza) and sacrifice techniques (sutemi-waza). Standing techniques are divided in hand techniques (te-waza), hip techniques (koshi-waza) and foot/leg techniques (ashi-waza). Sacrifice techniques are divided in front (ma-sutemi-waza) and side (yoko-sutemi-waza) techniques. The groundwork techniques are divided in Arm locks (kansetsu-waza), stranglehold (shime-waza), and holding techniques (osaekomi-waza). A kind of sparring is practiced in judo, known as randori, 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 randori, for reasons of safety. Styles Jigaro Kanos Kodokan is the most spread style of judo. Another style is Kosen judo, with the same range of techniques but more 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 Kanakogi, 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 on this back. This will score a waza-ari, or wazari, a full point that wins the match. Anything else, such as landing your opponent on the hip, will be no score or koka or yuko, quarter and half points. The fight can be continued on the ground. If you are able to pin your opponent down with both shoulders on the mat for 20 seconds (15 if you previously scored a yuko) or get a submission you win the match by waza-ari. Ground fights are rare in high level competition. The referee normally stops it very soon since it usually leads nowhere. Penalties may be given by the judges for being inactive during the match or using illegal techniques and fighting must be stopped if one of the participants is outside the designated area on the mat (tatami). Although the name judo means 'gentle art', competition judo is one the roughest and most demanding sports there is. A professional match lasts only 3 minutes, but will leave participants exhausted. Without kicking and punching, judo looks friendlier than for instance Thai-boxing. This makes judo also highly underrated as a method of self defense. There is however nothing gentle about being thrown to the ground with a hip throw followed by your opponent crashing into you with his/her full weight. |
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