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From Samurai to Modern Athlete
Wearing a white wrap around jacket, loose white trousers and a cloth belt, the Judo competitor could be easily mistaken for one of karate. Even the greetings are similar although bouts take place on a large mat area 13 metres squared in size. Of that, the central 10 metres squared is the playing area while the rest is a safety zone to prevent injury.
The History
Judo is a modern sport which originally evolved only around 100 years ago from a samurai sport called jujitsu. Jujitsu was a martial training activity and had many dangerous techniques and even killing forms so was becoming less and less useful in modern Japan. Traditional arts were also losing popularity because of the influx of western ideas and activities. Judo tried to take the best features of Jujitsu while developing a sport that is safe yet competitive.
Judo involves using holds and throws to defeat your opponent by using their weaknesses against them and seems much like wrestling which is perhaps why it has become increasingly popular among other countries and, since 1964 has been an Olympic sport. Once a year, an all Japan Judo Tournament is held.
During the 1800's, as Japan became gradually more Westernised and the sport of Jujitsu began losing popularity. Judo was created from this sport to allow the best features to be kept and the more dangerous or destructive ones to be set aside. From the dangerous practices of Jujitsu, Judo created sparring and competition without injury. Indeed, the two underlying precepts of Judo are 'sei roku zen yo' and 'jita kyoi'. These translate to "maximum efficient use of mind and body" and "mutual welfare and benefit." and emphasise the importance of dealing with confrontation in the rounds and also in daily life.
From the Zen-like underpinnings of Jujitsu, Judo maintained a strong focus on mental as well as physical strength. 'Judo' means "The Gentle Way" and the main focus is self-improvement and self control and, even small competitors can win by learning to use their strength well and to the best advantage.
In 1882 Judo began in a Shinto shrine taught by Jigiro Kano, previously a Jujitsu student, and, by the early 1900Õs became introduced to other countries. Over time, certain aspects of karate and aikido also crept in, influencing the sport. Dr Kano believed that Judo should help you become a better member of society and Judo became adopted and used in training police and as a sport at schools and continues to be used in these areas today.
Judo Techniques
The technique of Judo consists of learning falls so that you do not get injured when sparring and of learning throws and grappling techniques to both attack and defend. The intention is to throw your opponent and then use a holding technique to keep him down. Throws are divided into 4 categories; hand, foot/leg, hip and 'sacrifice' (back or side) throws. The type of throw designates the focus of that throw although of course the whole body is involved. 'Sacrifice' throws involve going down yourself in order to throw your opponent. As well as throwing techniques, there are also three categories of grappling techniques; pinning, joint locking and choking techniques.
A match lasts between three and five minutes or until one opponent defeats the other through receiving more points. Points are awarded for throwing technique and for holding as well as for the equivalent of a 'knock-out' where the opponent is rendered unconscious through a chokehold or an armlock.
Judo was the first of the martial arts to use the belt system for grading. Beginners have a white belt and then move through different grades of yellow belt, green belt, three degrees of brown belt, and finally a black belt. Tests are conducted on each of the techniques to move from class to class.
Judo Tournaments
If you want to watch a Judo tournament, small ones are held annually throughout Japan but the most important events in the Judo calendar are the All Japan Judo Tournament and the Olympic Games. Outside Japan are many other small tournaments as Judo's popularity internationally continues to grow. Competitors at the tournaments are matched according to weight and class (belt level).
While Judo is clearly popular from a competitive perspective, it is also undertaken by people for a huge number of other reasons. Anything from self-defence to good exercise to the social side of Judo is espoused and certainly the techniques are applicable to self-defence, as well as developing flexibility, muscle tone and fitness. As for the social aspect, anything that gets people out from in front of the television has got to be good! You can start at any age and fitness level and males as well as females participate. It is very much an all-round activity.
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