Judo
Recreational Judo for Self Defense (ages 13 and up)
Wednesdays 8 pm
Saturdays 4 - 5:30 pm
Principals of Judo
柔道 “gentle or yielding way”
seiryoku zen’yō 精力善用 – maximum efficiency, minimum effort
jita kyōei 自他共栄, – mutual welfare and benefit
jū yoku gō o seisu 柔よく剛を制す – softness controls hardness
About Judo
Judo is practiced by millions of people throughout the world today. It is a fun sport, an art, a discipline, a recreational or social activity, a fitness program, a means of self-defense or combat, and a way of life. It is all of these and more.
Judo emphasizes safety and full physical activity, and is categorized as a modern martial art which later evolved into a combat and Olympic sport. Introduced into the Olympic Games in 1964, Judo is considered a parent to newer martial arts such as Sambo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and is part of the training done by athletes preparing for MMA matches.
Judo became the model for other modern martial arts, particularly Japanese arts. Judo simply involves two individuals who, by gripping the judo uniform or judogi, use the forces of balance, power, and movement to attempt to subdue each other. The objective is to either throw or takedown an opponent to the ground. This does not involve the application of pressure against the joints to throw an opponent, but rather to immobilize or otherwise subdue an opponent with a pin and force an opponent to submit with a joint lock or a choke.
Strikes and thrusts by hands and feet as well as weapons defenses are a part of judo (practiced only in kata and not allowed in judo competition or free practice)
Judo involves no equipment or weapons.
Facts About Judo
• A judo practitioner is called a judoka
• 1882
• Japan
• Created by Professor Jigoro Kano 嘉納 治五郎
• Judo is derived from Jujutsu
• eliminated some of the traditional jujutsu techniques and changed training methods so that most of the moves could be done with full force to create a decisive victory without injury
• development of judo from a bujutsu 武術, martial art to a budō 武道, martial way
• as a derivative of the various martial arts developed and used by the samurai and feudal warrior class
• Forms the Kodokan (place for expounding the way) Judo Institute in 1882 the international authority for Judo.
• emphasized the larger educational value of training in attack and defense so that it could be a path or way of life that all people could participate in and benefit from
Benefits of Judo
• teaches the principle of flexibility in the application of technique
• flexible or efficient use of balance, leverage, and movement
• Skill, technique and timing, rather than the use of brute strength
• One learns how to give way, rather than use force, to overcome a stronger opponent
• provides the means for learning self-confidence, concentration, and leadership skills, as well as physical coordination, power, and flexibility
• develops self-discipline and respect for oneself and others
• develops complete body control, fine balance, and fast reflexive action
• it develops a sharp reacting mind well-coordinated with the same kind of body
• gives a person an effective self-defense system