- Judo, or properly, Kodokan Judo, is a world wide activity that is practiced by millions as sport; studied for its self-defense attributes, or for its overall practical fitness benefits. It has been an Olympic venue since 1962.
- Judo in an unarmed form of combat based on the older jujitsu.
- Judo, when taught properly, is a safe study that produces positive results in body mechanics and increased self-confidence without arrogance.
- Judo is Japanese Martial Way that was created in 1882 with its techniques grafted from three different jujitsu schools. The founder of the system was a leading Japanese educator, Professor Jigaro Kano, who was also a jujitsu master.
- Ju-do translates into The Way (do) of Flexibility (ju).
- Judo ranks are internationally sanctioned by relatively few organizations. This is especially important when considering an instructor, as all authentic judo ranks can be verified as well as any claimed judo proficiency certificates.
- Judo is taught in a wide variety of environments: commercial martial arts schools, YMCA, high school & university, community centers, etc.
- Judo recognizes that there are three main elements to unarmed fighting: Throwing, Grappling and Striking and teaches all three in either randori and shiai (Free Practice and Contest) and kata (Pre Arranged forms).
- What is the history of judo?
- Judo was synthesized from 3 different jujitsu schools by Professor Jigoro Kano, who, in 1882 opened a small dojo (practice area) and called his art, Kodokan Judo.
Translated to English, Kodokan is A Place to Study the Way. In his lifetime, Kano always insisted that the word Kodokan be used with the term, Judo, so properly said, the art/way that Kano founded is titled Kodokan Judo. - What does it mean to be a judo black belt?
- Judo utilizes what is called the “kyu-dan” ranking system which was invented by Professor Kano and now used broadly by other martial arts and ways. Kyu-dan translates as “not ranked and ranked” students. Kyu grades are all those who do are not ranked. The symbol of the dan ranks is a black belt.
In judo, a black belt indicates an advanced student, an expert, or a master, depending on the “rank” or “degree” of which there are ten. 1st degree is the beginning of the BB ladder. Time between BB ranks is measured in years. 4th & 5th degrees are considered expert ranks, 6th thru 8th degree holders are considered masters. There are extremely few genuine 9th degrees in the world.On January 8, 2006, the first 10th Dans in 22 years were named. Prior to this event there were no living genuine Kodokan Judo 10th Dans. The highest ranking members are: Ichiro Abe (83 years), Toshiro Dago (80 years) and Yoshin Osaka (79 years).There are no formal 10th Dan promotional requirements and these ranks were awarded by the President of the Kodokan, Yukimitsu Kano. Their contributions to judo are truly significant. They can be researched individually. The number of genuine rank holders decline dramatically with each step, especially after the first two degrees.
- What are “non-ranked”?
- Technically, they are called “grades” or “classes” (like school) and there are 6. The adult US belt colors from beginner grade to most senior are: white, yellow, orange, green and then three brown belt grades. With normal (2-3 times weekly) practice, it usually takes approximately three to four years to progress through the grades from white to senior brown.
- What is needed to practice judo?
- A gym or tumbling mat is sufficient for all but the most serious competitors. A judo uniform has to be worn for practice once a person decides to pursue it. This is for safety as well as uniformity. Warm up clothes with full pants are suitable for evaluation or start up sessions. Adequate room size is necessary for safety as well.
- Is judo an effective self defense?
- Absolutely.
- What is the difference between jujitsu (techniques of flexibility) and judo (way of flexibility)?
- Judo is a method of practicing and learning the technical methods of jujitsu in a controlled manner. Judo also claims to have a purpose beyond technique (jitsu), which is that by its study the practitioner can eventually contribute something of value (not necessarily judo) to the world.
- What is the difference between judo and karate?
- Judo is a Japanese martial way that evolved from jujitsu; technically it is really another way of practicing jujitsu.
Karate began in Okinawa and had its origins in various Chinese boxing methods. Both are extremely popular. A lot of karate schools use the kyu-dan ranking system (similar to judo). There are many different styles of karate just as there are many different styles or schools of jujitsu. - How would the technical aspects of judo be best described? Is it throwing, or grappling or striking or what?
- The technical principal of judo is flexibility and is described by the founder is: “Make best use of your power (abilities).” That would obviously cover all the above and more.
- What are the overseeing organizations of judo?
- The United States Judo Association, the United States Judo Federation and US Judo Inc are the three leading US organizations. Each association recognizes rank that is awarded by the other two and all are working towards standardization of testing procedures. A lot of judoists, especially in the BB ranks, belong to all three.
For competitive purposes and international rankings, The International Judo Association oversees all the individual countries, and this has links to US Judo Inc and subsequently to all the other US national groups. In addition to these groups, there are groups with specific interests in judo, either traditional teaching, kata or self defense.
Japan developed a feudal form of society during the early middle ages that was dominated by the various Shoguns who paid homage to an emperor, although the real power rested with these various warlords. Their class was known collectively as samurai. The professional warriors within the group were known as the bushi. The bushi over the years created a code of chivalry and behavior that they called bushi-do, or the Way of the Bushi. We continue to use some of their martial arts terms such as Bu-jitsu and bu-do; or warrior arts and warrior ways, are the same terms the ancient bushi used.
There were many types of bujitsu taught. The study of the sword or ken-jitsu was the primary one. In addition to kenjitsu, the other weapons taught were: spear, halberd, bow and various other weapons and techniques of combat.
Ju-jitsu or the techniques of flexibility had many ryu (schools) that were normally sponsored by a governing warrior family. Classical jujitsu study normally incorporated weapons smaller than a sword or included staff or club in their study in addition to unarmed fighting. Remember, this was a study for professional warriors who would seldom be without a blade of sorts on their person. Because of the dangers involved, classical jujitsu was largely taught using kata or prearranged forms. Tests or contests in those days were really duels and would easily end up in the death of one of the competitors.
When the bushi consolidated in the early 1600′s, the samurai wars began to wind down and the need for certain styles of training began to be lessened and jujitsu’s techniques and study methods began to considerably change. Jujitsu was also probably influenced by Chinese striking techniques somewhere during this time.
In the middle of the nineteenth century, the royal family and the samurai close to the emperor began to take control from the regional samurai and created the first true national government. This is known as the Menji Restoration. Eventually there was an edict passed that among other things, the samurai lost their right to carry swords in public. A national army and navy were created, modeled along the lines of the European and American forces. A police force was created as well. This was an especially difficult time for the bushi; if they did not join the national army they had no place to use their skills. There was a revolution and the samurai were defeated.
The ryu now had little reason to exist and jujitsu especially was considered old fashioned or something for the lower classes. To survive, the senseis had to turn to other fields, their students drifted away and many jujitsu senseis (teachers) even competed in fixed matches in music halls. The old ways were well on their way to disappearing.
The founder of judo had teaching licenses from the Tenshin Shinyo Ryu, (a combination of the older Yoshin and Shinno Shindo Ryu) and later, the Kito style. Besides jujitsu, Kano had a solid grounding in kenjitsu. The latter was expected as he was from a samurai family. The teaching licenses he earned meant that he was a master of the style.
Kano was a modernist in many ways and embraced logic in all things, including the martial arts. He was however, very traditional in other way and wanted to preserve as much as he could of his country’s rich martial arts background. In addition to these personality traits, he also was extremely ethical and believed that all persons should contribute their efforts to the common good of all humanity. This was his “Way” or “Do“. The Japanese word is a translation from the Chinese, Tao which has exactly the same meaning: Way.
In 1882, he opened the Kodokan (The Place to Study the Way) with nine member/students. We have to be careful of the word “student”. Early members of the Kodokan were normally skilled or perhaps even masters in various jujitsu ryu before they joined Kano!
Kano was a remarkable man for his or any age. He spoke and taught English among many subjects. He became eventually a leading educator and was one of the most respected individuals in Japan. Professor Kano was reputed to be polished and urbane.
The teaching methods of the Kodokan were quite different for the age. Kano stressed the study of ukemi or falling exercises. Prior to this, ukemi was seldom if ever studied and jujitsu opponents were free to throw each other on any type of surface.
Kano practiced on tatami mats which absorbed some of the shock of the throw, at least much better than hardwood. He also had the students grasp each others clothes on many techniques rather than limbs. This created a safer entry rather than wrenched limbs. It also had a basis in reality as most combative encounters happen when clothed.
It is very interesting to understand that other forms of combat were originally taught at the Kodokan, strengthening its initial similarity to jujitsu. Dagger, stick and sword were part of the curriculum and thought by those jujitsu masters who came to the Kodokan.
It is a matter of argument among martial arts scholars with relation to Kano’s desire to share judo with the world. He was most definitely a highly educated man and appears to have pacifist or at least non-military leanings that were so popular in Japan at the time. One school of thought is that he really viewed his art as a Japanese one that was intended only for Japanese of high moral quality. That seems to be at odds with an older Kano who traveled the world teaching and explaining judo to the world at large. Whatever his intentions, judo spread throughout the world and since 1962 has been an Olympic sport.
As mentioned before, there are many styles of jujitsu. It is a very Japanese art in both substance and attitude when thought in the classical method. Jujitsu’s unarmed curriculum is identical to judo on the surface, in other words, jujitsu recognizes striking, throwing and grappling as the three components of unarmed fighting. What differentiates jujitsu schools from judo and each other is the amount of emphasis that is placed on one or more of the three elements. That is an arguably over simplification, but it is the one that makes the most sense to me.
Beyond the emphasis on one or more of the three elements, the methodology of attack and defense varies between schools (ryu). Judo is not alone in its quest for a higher moral purpose, no matter how much judokas like to believe they are unique in that regard. Many schools have similar strivings and some, such as Danzan Ryu have healing elements along with their highly effective methodology of unarmed combat training.
Jujitsu has had a rebirth of sorts thanks to the various mixed martial arts training and initially the excellent work done by the Gracie family of Brazil. These highly gifted martial artists promoted the Brazilian tournament fighting of Tudo Vale (mixed arts) where their Gracie Jujitsu proved a formidable winner in many years of competition. Gracie Jujitsu came to Brazil when the Kodokan dispatched teachers to various parts of the world where there was a large Japanese immigration.
Maeda, Sensei taught the elements of early twentieth century Judo/Jujitsu to Carlos Gracie who in turn passed this on to his sons, most of which, especially Helio Gracie became legends in Brazil. Maeda had a strong background in mat work or ground fighting and his influence is plainly seen in Gracie and all Brazilian jujitsu today where the crucial element is to take the fight to the ground as quickly as possible.
Jujitsu today in the West has created a vibrant return. There are a number of recognized national and international organizations for jujitsu, including: the United States Ju-jitsu Federation, the American Judo and Jujitsu Federation, and Jujitsu America to name a few.
Judo Atemi Pressure Points (PDF, 613 KB)
All of us in the martial arts are partial to the ryu or form that we study. That is natural because at the very bottom of our partiality is the fact that we (1) enjoy the study/practice (2) are reasonably good enough at it to be noticed by our peers in the study.
A wise sensei once told me that a person should never denigrate another person’s ryu. This is a statement that has been with me forever. I believe that all martial artists should learn every day from each other and each other’s systems. I further believe that none of us (and that included Kano, Funakoshi and Ueshiba) have or will ever achieve perfection in the arts and ways. I know that sounds sacrilegious to some with regard to the founders of judo, karate and aikido, respectively, but I believe that the founders and masters of their systems understood this and strove so much to understand their “way”, that they achieved a level of expertise and understanding that is beyond most of us in three lifetimes; but perfection is absolute and life’s activities are far from absolute, instead they shift and vary much like a judo shiai where flexibility and adaptation are crucial to success, much the same with everyday activities.
© copyright E. C. Dearing 2005 & 2006