Judo – Japanese Grappling Martial Arts

Judo is a Japanese martial arts focused on grapplingjoint locks and throwsPunches and kicks are generally not practiced at Judo schools. Judo was created in Japan in the 1880s and grew out of the even older Japanese martial arts of Jujutsu. According to the International Judo Federation, the history of Judo “is the history of the shift from a martial art to a modern sport”. Moreover, Judo is consider a parent to newer martial arts such as Sambo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Common Judo techniques include Nage Waza (Judo Throws), Te Waza (Judo Throws – Hand Techniques), Koshi Waza (Judo Throws – Hip Techniques), Ashi Waza (Judo Throws – Foot Techniques), Sutemi Waza (Judo Sacrifice Techniques), Katame Waza (Judo Grappling Techniques), Osae Waza (Judo Pinning Techniques), Shime Waza (Judo Choking Techniques) and Kansetsu Waza (Judo Joint Lock Techniques).

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Main Elements of Judo – These sections have instructions & videos.

Other Elements of Judo

Judo versus Wrestling

Judo Kata

As part of their training, martial artists also learn Judo katas at many Judo schools. According to the International Judo Federation, “There are seven formal kata in judo, and each technique in each kata is practiced in a precise and prescribed manner. Two of the kata – nage no kata (forms of throwing) and katame no kata (forms of grappling) demonstrate many of the basic principles underlying all the contemporary judo throwing and grappling techniques in current use to-day. As such, they are also known as randori no kata, or the forms of randori, because of the easy translation to randori techniques. All other kata, however, involve techniques that are not seen in contemporary judo practice. The kime no kata, for example, involves techniques of striking, kicking, punching, and techniques with weapons – a short and long sword. Likewise, koshiki no kata is a kata of battlefield attack and defense. It simulates various techniques when you are wearing body armor… Proficiency in some kata, typically the nage no kata, is usually required by many national federations of judo around the world for promotion to shodan, or 1st degree black belt. Many of the other kata, especially katame no kata, ju no kata (forms of gentleness), and kime no kata (forms of decisiveness) are generally required for higher rank promotions.”

References

  1. International Judo Federation, Judo Training – Kata, http://www.intjudo.eu/Etiquette__Knowledge/Judo_TrainingKata_/Judo_TrainingKata
  2. International Judo Federation, KANO and the Beginning of the Judo Movement, http://www.intjudo.eu
  3. Kodokan Judo Institute, About The Kodokan Judo, http://www.kodokan.org/e_basic/index_kodokan.html