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Judo is a sport in which a person uses balance, leverage and timing to pin
an opponent.
It is a sport of Japanese origin and means "the gentle way". Judo
techniques depend on the contestant’s yielding to an opponent’s attack
until the right moment to strike back. Using such subtle techniques, it is
easily possible to defeat a heavier, stronger opponent.
Judo is
ranked among the most important sports in Europe, Japan and the United
States. The sport is taught at high schools, colleges, military schools as
well as various private clubs.
The history of the game
Judo
developed from an ancient Japanese method of unarmed combat called Jujutsu,
also spelled Jujitsu.
Jujitsu is an ancient method of self-defense practiced by that class of
Japanese warriors called Samurai. The techniques involved in this type of
combat included choking, kicking and twisting an opponent’s arm. Many of
these methods could cripple or even kill.
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In
1882, a Japanese educator named Jigoro Kano transformed jujitsu from an
art of deadly combat to a sport called judo,
by adopting the best techniques while eliminating the dangerous ones.
He considered the art a form of mental discipline and a method of self-defense;
for which he meticulously organised the various techniques involved in the
sport into an orderly system and formulated strict codes of etiquette.
Kano preached “Maximum Efficiency with Minimum Effort” and “Mutual
Welfare and Benefit”.
Judo
became so popular among the Japanese in the early 1900’s that it was
soon included as an important subject in the school curriculum. Judo
gained popularity in many other countries as well. President Theodore
Roosevelt of the United States became one of the first to acquire a brown
belt.
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Judo
however gained importance as a sport only after the end of the Second
World War in 1945. It became increasingly popular in the United States
after this period. Perhaps one of the greatest achievements of the sport
was its inclusion as a major event in the Olympic Games in 1964.
The
training
Judo
is practiced in a gymnasium called a dojo,
whose floor is covered with mats. Contestants wear a pajama-like costume
called a judogi, which consists of a white cotton jacket and pants and an
appropriately colored belt. They compete in bare feet.
Belts
of various colors signify the levels of judo achievement. The United
States Judo Federation officially recognizes three belts – white, brown
and black. Beginners use a white belt; intermediates use brown while the
experts use black. Many clubs award other colors for intermediate levels
of achievement. These include yellow and green, for degrees within the
white belt.
Judo
may be learnt for exercise, relaxation and self-defense. What is important
is practice and good instruction – not a person’s age, strength, size
or weight.
The
beginner level requires at least 36 hours of instruction spread over a
twelve-week period. During this period, students, also called judoka
learn to fall safely. They perform exercises that strengthen the muscles.
Once they learn to fall in all directions and from all positions without
injuring themselves, they practice the foot sweep, hip throw, rear throw,
shoulder throw and some other hand techniques. Judoka learn the Japanese
names for each movement. An important part of the training comprises of
learning judo etiquette, including ceremonial bows and proper ways of
sitting on the mat.
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Techniques
There
are three basic groups of judo techniques: |
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Nagewasa, which
involves basic throws that are classified according to the
part of the body used.
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Katamewaza, which
includes techniques of choking, holding and pinning.
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Atemiwaza,
which involves techniques of kicking or striking various parts
of the body to cause injury, paralysis or even death. These
methods however, are used only in self-defense, never in
contests.
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Contests
Kata
and Randori are two
types of judo competitions. In kata, judo techniques are rendered
in a particular order where contestants are judged on style and
precision. In randori, contestants may use any technique and are grouped by age, rank or
weight.
A
referee and two judges watch most matches. A referee starts and
stops the match, which lasts from three to seven minutes, enforces
rules and awards points for the correct performance of techniques. A contestant wins a match by one point or two
half-points. If no one
scores, then the referee and the judges decide the winner. |
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