I made the decision many years ago that Judo would be the martial art for
me. I came to this conclusion in Junior High School during PE class. We
were learning to wrestle from our teacher Mr. Shone. Mr. Shone was a big
guy (to a puny Junoir High kid--he was a giant). He must have been
275 lbs and he was stong like an ox. During class he demonstrated a
backward ukemi that he learned in Judo. He leaped up and landed with a
huge slapping thud. It was awsome. That did it for me. If a guy his
size can land on his back without suffering pain and anguish, Judo was my kind of sport.
Judo is physically and mentally demanding. Strength and flexibility are major focuses of Judo along with a sense of balance. Mentally, Judo is very much like a game of chess. You may know all of the moves, but if your opponent is not in position for you to execute a move, you must finesse your opponent into position.
I have never been as
agile and stong as when I study Judo. When a 200+ lbs Judoka moves with grace
and speed, it can be awe-inspiring. But, when a 200+ lbs Judoka gets thrown, it
will make your knees shake. Getting thrown by Ouchi Gari......will take
your breath away.
The Purpose of these pages
I started taking judo (beginnning on 4/23/01) at 29 years old. I work out with the Santa Clara PAL Judo Club.
These pages are a way for me to take notes during my training.
If the information is useful to you, please send me an email (quashnsa (at) yahoo (dot) com) and let me know what you think.
Terms and Vocabulary
Do means "the way of" or "the art of".
Gokyo no waza (it means "five groups of instruction") are the first 40 official techniques that were developed before 1920.
Ju means gentle or giving-way.
Judo means "the giving-way art" or "the gentle way".
Judogi is the Judo uniform.
Kachi is said to announce a winner during shiai.
Kata means Forms.
Kiotsuke, rei is the command to bow.
Nage no Kata (Forms of Throwing) is practicing throws in a controlled step-by-step manner.
Randori (free practice) is sparring to improve your skills.
Rei is a bow.
Shiai is a competition.
Tori is a term used in Kata, it means taker or thrower. See Uke.
Uke is a term used in Kata, it means receiver or "the one being thrown". See Tori.
Ukemi is the practice of falling with minimal injury.
Waza means Techniques.
Wazaari is a half point during a shiai.
Wazaari Awasete Ippon is that call made during shiai when one judoka has scored a second wazaari for the win.
These categories are further subdivided by the action taken or by the part of the body used.
Nage Waza - Throwing techniques
tachi waza - standing techniques
koshi waza - hip techniques
te waza - hand techniques
ashi waza - foot techniques
sutemi waza - sacrifice techniques
ma sutemi waza - supine sacrifice techniques
yoko sutemi waza - side sacrifice techniques
Katame Waza - Grappling techniques
osae komi waza - hold down techniques
kansetsu waza - joint techniques
shime (jime) waza - strangling techniques
Atemi Waza - Striking techniques (never used in randori)
ude-ate - arm strikes
ashi-ate - leg strikes
Randori Waza (free practice)
During this "free practice", it is best to keep in mind that you are not setting out to hurt your training partner.
No Atemi waza can be used during randori and all malice should be wash away when you bow (rei).
Remember that this is a learning experience where each participant is learning from the others actions.
What I have seen is three types of randori: with a partner of similar skill levels,
with a partner of lower skill levels, and with a partner of higher skill levels.
The reason for the three types is to give three types of training. With younger, smaller, or less skilled partners, you should work on perfecting your forms and realize they are practicing their falls.
With people of higher skill levels, you should practice your ability to fall with minimal damage and learn from your partners skillful forms.
Last, partners of similar skill levels should practice their aggressive and gentle skills to be ready for competition.
Shiai (competition)
Tournament Description from JudoInfo.com [1, 2]
Tournament Description form Kodokan.org
Kata is one method of teaching judo; it is like a dance. Each partner has a role to play and all actions are pre-arranged.
This method involves simulated tactics to demonstrate the proper mechanics of a particular waza (technique).
Kata are illustrations of specific attacks and defenses.
Latest Moves
I have moved my class notes to a separate page (notes.html).
Judogis and Judo Supplies
References
Jigoro Kano, "Kodokan Judo", Kodansha International Press, 1994
