Judo History: A Fascinating Study

Judo History makes a fascinating study and can provide valuable insight into judo techniques. Soon after the end of the Tokugawa period in Japan, the Restoration period was in progress, and the old forms of hand-to-hand combat were replaced by weapons of steel. The masters of the jujitsu art were dismissed from service to their feudal lords, and many turned to public showmanship as a means of making a living. The natural result was a degradation of the art.

About this time, an eighteen-year-old student, soon to become famous among Japanese educators, began his practice of jujitsu under the instruction of Professor Hachinosuke Fukuda, the eminent master of the Tenj in Shinyo-ryu school. The student, who was to become the founder of judo, was Jigoro Kano. After the death of Professor Fukuda, Dr. Kano trained under the new master of that school, Professor Masatomo Iso. Death soon took Professor Iso, however, and Dr. Kano transferred to the Kito-ryu school to study under Professor Tsunetoshi Iikubo.

Dr. Kano began to study jujitsu because of his respect for the prowess of his masters, but he soon began to thirst for a mental knowledge that was lacking in their teachings. This mastery of mental culture could thus produce a pattern of subconscious behavior that would be useful in achieving “mutual welfare and benefit.” He wanted a system that would be rational and logical and would develop the potential of the student’s real personality. The ‘do’ of the word judo symbolizes this philosophy.

In 1882 Dr. Kano formed his system and called it “judo,” the word which has now superseded the term “jujitsu.” The final step in the history of judo came when he founded the Kodo-kan in Tokyo, the institution that was to become the mecca of judo. Dr. Kano explained the new art of judo by pointing out that “gentleness means giving way until the right moment arrives”; that is, not to oppose the brute force of your opponent and thus to be defeated, but to utilize this force to your own advantage.

Suppose that your opponent has a total force of ten units, while yours is equal to three. If he pushes toward you with a force of seven units and your force equals only three, it is futile for you to try to oppose his force, for it will overcome you. But if you give way and harmonize your force of three units with his attacking force of seven, you automatically acquire a force of ten units.

It can thus be appreciated from j that judo history is a highly valuable science as well as an art, and this can be applied to judo technique.

Your hand cannot reach it Nor your mind exceed it.
Zen proverb

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Throws And Other Judo Techniques

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Three of the crucial throws, hiza-guruma (knee wheel) and harai-tsurikomi-ashi (lifting foot sweep) and de-ashi-harai (advanced foot sweep) are outlined in this article. These judo techniques are very important and mastery of them will greatly improve your skill level.

Hiza-guruma (knee wheel)

When you glide down a slope on skis, you bend both knees and lower your waist because this makes it much easier for you to control your balance. If one knee cannot move freely, it will be difficult to balance yourself. The technique of hiza-guruma rests on this principle.

You and your opponent hold each other in right natural posture. You try to make him lean to the left front corner. The moment his weight rests on his left leg, which is bent a little at the knee, you put your left foot, with the toes turned in, to your left front corner near his right foot, and break his posture to his left front corner.

With your right hand, which holds his left sleeve, pull toward your right in a circular motion, at the same time putting the sole of your right foot on the outside of his left knee. Your left hand helps the pull of your right hand by lifting his right arm. His knee will then rotate around your foot, and he will fall to the mat.

KEY POINTS:
a. Pivot to the right with your left toes turned inside in order to make the rotating motion easier.
b. Pull your opponent’s sleeve.

Harai-tsurikomi-ashi (lifting foot sweep)

You can use this judo throw to great effect against any opponent.When both knees are bent, they serve to change and control the balance of the body. Therefore, for instance, when your opponent leans forward toward the left, you attack his left knee with your right foot. But when he stands without bending his knees, it would be useless to attack the left knee. In such a case you should attack his left ankle instead of his knee, since the arm of the moment of force becomes longer. If you understand this rule, you will be able to understand harai-tsurikomi-ashi very well.

You hold your opponent by his right and left sleeves. When he is about to lean to his left front corner, you pull strongly with your right hand in the direction of your right back corner and push him to his left front corner with your left hand while letting your body pivot to the right. At the same time you sweep between his knee and the outer part of his ankle with the sole of your right foot. He will then be swept and thrown forward.

KEY POINTS:
a. You should pivot to the right with your left toes turned in to make your rotating motion easy.
b. Your left hand pushes your opponent’s body up and forward so as to help the pull of your right hand.

De-ashi-harai (advanced foot sweep)

Imagine walking on a frozen road in the winter. Stepping carelessly, you sometimes slip and fall on your back on the road. What causes this to happen? The reason is that there is little friction between your feet and the icy road. If you have noticed this, you will easily understand the principle of de-ashi-harai.

You and your opponent hold each other in right natural posture. When he advances inward with a larger step than usual you place your right foot at the back of your left foot. The moment he rests almost half his weight on the advanced foot, you sweep the ball of your left foot against the heel of his advanced foot just below the tendon of Achilles, at the same time pulling him to his right front corner. He will then be thrown.

Here are the key points:
You should apply these techniques the moment your opponent has placed almost half his weight on his advanced foot and is just about to put his entire weight down. When you sweep his advanced foot, you push his left shoulder with your right hand so as to make his upper body turn up. Practise each judo throw carefully to improve judo technique.

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