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Judo History
Judo, which means
"The Gentle Way", is a Japanese martial art
based upon the ancient techniques of jujutsu.
Dr. Jigoro Kano,
President of the University of Education in Tokyo,
developed judo in 1882.
Dr. Kano, who had studied jujutsu in his youth,
incorporated the best of these ancient techniques into the
new art of Judo. Dr. Kano subsequently founded
the Kodokan in Tokyo, Japan as an place to
teach his new art.
Judo
Techniques
Judo is known for its spectacular throwing
techniques but also includes numerous techniques for
controlling an opponent while on the ground. Judo is
often compared to freestyle wrestling and while the two
share many techniques, Judo retains many dangerous
self-defense maneuvers. A good judoka, one who practices
Judo, will first use timing and leverage to bring his
opponent off balance and execute a throw. Once the judoka
has thrown his opponent to the ground, he will use painful
hold-down techniques, chokes, strangleholds, and arm locks
to control and subdue the opponent. If the opponent does
not surrender, he will either have his elbow joint
dislocated by means of an arm lock or will be rendered
unconscious with a chokehold. A judoka first learns
"ukemi", the art of
falling properly to avoid injury. All Judo practitioners
wear a judogi and a
belt. Judo is practiced on mats for safety.
Judo
Philosophy
The main principles of Judo are
"Maximum
Efficiency"
and "Mutual
Welfare and Benefit."
The goal of maximum efficiency teaches the judoka to use
the least amount of physical strength necessary to throw
an opponent. This is accomplished by proper use of
technique and timing. The goal of mutual welfare and
benefit was an extension of Dr. Kano's belief that Judo
could help the individual become a better member of
society. Dr. Kano felt that the personal discipline that
Judo taught would extend beyond the dojo into daily life
and could allow the judoka to become a more productive
member of society.
Judo as a Sport
In 1964,
Judo became the first martial art to be sanctioned as a
medal sport in the Olympic Games. Judo competitions are
also held throughout the world. Points are awarded for
throwing an opponent, holding an opponent on his back
while on the mat for a designated amount of time, or
forcing an opponent to submit via "tapping out" to an arm
lock or choke or rendering the opponent unconscious with a
choke. A match is won with a "perfect throw" called an
Ippon, two near perfect throws called Wazari, holding an
opponent on his back on the mat for
25 seconds, a combination
of one Wazari and holding an opponent
down for 20 seconds,
or submitting an opponent with a choke or arm lock.
Members of the Notre Dame Judo Club are registered as
amateur athletes in the State of Indiana through the state
judo governing body, Indiana Judo Inc. Members are
offered frequent opportunities to compete. However,
competition is not necessary for membership in the club.
Other
Aspects About Judo
People practice Judo for many different
reasons such as exercise, self-defense, a social activity
and for many practitioners Judo becomes a way of life.
But if you ask most judoka why they train Judo, they will
say that the practice Judo because it is fun. Judo is a
great exercise routine. It promotes flexibility, develops
speed and co-ordination, strengthens the cardiovascular
system, and promotes balanced muscular development. Many
Judo techniques can also be employed as a means of
self-defense. The throws and chokeholds of Judo are
particularly effective if one is forced to deal with an
assailant. Judo ranks are awarded for developing
proficiency in certain techniques and for regular
practice. All judoka begin as white belts. Over time,
they may earn a yellow belt, green belt, three degrees of
brown belt, and finally a black belt
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