Judo : Combat Stories – 09
-by Ishita Mondal
–Reading Time – 4 min Approx
Who said a combat asks for weapon only? You can fight with bare hands and beat your opponent easily defending yourself. Yes, there are techniques for that. Especially, Japanese martial art is an umbrella term for many such techniques. One of them is judo.
Probably, you have heard about the term. Some of you might have seen different institutions teaching and practicing judo as a martial art form. But do you know how rich its history is? From where was it started? Here, we are. Today, we have come to you with a detailed story on Judo.
So, our today’s combat story will explain everything you need know about judo. From its origin, history to its current status as a martial art form- we will ponder over every single factor. Whether you want to know the details out of curiosity or planning to learn the techniques, the information mentioned here will definitely help you. Let’s proceed.
Judo: The Origin and History:
Being a popular form of martial art, Judo is quite famous by its name among sports lovers. However, its origin traces long back. It is a system of unarmed combat which has now turned into a type of sports. Along with training the mind and body, it helps to stay in shape.
It was created by Jigoro Kano in 1882. He learned and practiced old jujutsu. But to reduce the risk factors, he omitted the dangerous moves from the game. And, thus, he developed a new kind of sports which is known as “Kano Jiu-jutsu.”Now, it is called as Judo.
It was the month of February, 1882. Kano established a school at Eisho-ji which is a Buddhist temple. Gradually, he started teaching the moves of judo to his students in that school. Both resident and non-resident students came there. Iikubo, the teacher of Kano, used to come at the school to help him in teaching the judo techniques. Later, the school was named as Kōdōkan which means “place for expounding the way.” The first two students of Kano who were granted first rank grades in Judo, were Tomita Tsunejirō and Shiro Saigo.
The Techniques and Terms of Judo:
Now, coming to the techniques of the martial art form, there is an argument that judo is similar to jujutsu. Let us tell you that although they are similar they are completely two different sports. Kano had a belief that what he had developed cannot be named as jujutsu because it is not sufficient to define it.
The technique is termed as “waza” when it comes to judo. The different techniques used in the sport are-
- nage-waza
- katame-waza
- atemi-waza
Nage –waza is the techniques of throwing while katame-waza is all about grappling. Atemi-waza is not used most of the times which is striking technique. The individual performing the techniques is known as ‘tori’ or taker and the opponent is known as ‘uke’ or receiver.
Nage waza comprises of three steps- kuzushi which is the initial position, tsukuri or preparing oneself for the throw, kake is the execution. In katame-waza, the taker or tori traps and holds uke on the floor. Atemi waza includes disabling the opponent or ‘uke’ striking them at their vital points.
If you are interested to learn more about judo, let’s discuss some terms associated with it. Randori is a term that defines free practice in judo. Randori-no-kata is a game comprising two kata.
Judo as a Sport:
Nowadays, competitive judo is used as a sport. Although since, Kano’s time, judo has been practiced as a sport technique, it has not been so much in use as a contest. Kano’s wish was to see it in the forum of Olympic Games. In 1932 Summer Olympics, judo was introduced informally as a sport by Kano. Later on, in 1964, judo was first hosted as a sport in Olympic Games in Tokyo. However, after that, it was prohibited by the authority. It is still practiced in international contests with certain rules and regulations.
The practioner of this martial art form is known as judoka and the uniform used in the game is called as judogi. A judo teacher is called sensei. The major international body that governs the contests and practices of judo is International Judo Federation. It was founded in 1951.
Interesting Facts you should not miss about Judo:
So, we have come so far with the details of the game. Now, let’s learn some interesting facts about judo. Definitely, you will love it. Here it goes.
- Judo does not include any kicking or punching.
- The martial art form does not involve the technique of putting pressure against the joints.
- The first part of the word, “Ju” means gentle and the second part, “do” denotes the way.
- It improves the static balance and dynamic agility within an individual.
- It teaches to control your mind and learn it to direct where it should go.
- The judo students learn social skills to create and sustain valuable relationships with others.
- Judo has become an international way to communicate as it links people with each other.
- It is practiced today by more than 20 millions of individuals.
The Bottom Line- Judo is not just a Game:
It is a way of living instead of being just a mere game. Once you get into the practice of judo, you will learn to live in a better way with more agility, flexibility, and strength. As it has been proven, judo students are stronger, bigger, and faster than any ordinary individual. So, buckle your shoes and enroll to the judo school today, if it interests you.
-by Ishita Mondal
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