Judo

Judo is an extreme and quite dynamic combat sport that demands both, broad physical skills and great mental discipline that originated in Japan. The sport comes from a simple foot position, which involves a series of techniques that allow you to lift and throw your opponents, place them and achieve the opponent's submission. The word judo is derived from the term Jujitsu, which means the art of attacking others or defending oneself using only the body.

Related topics

Karate, taekwondo

What is judo?

Judo is a sport within martial arts that involves self-defense using the body's strength to defeat the opponent by neutralizing him and placing him on the ground by immobilization, strangulation and dislocations.

About judo

Judo is a sport practiced on several mattresses based mainly on a series of casts or “nage-waza” and hand wrestling. It includes different immobilization techniques, hangings and levers in order to achieve success. Some blows and immobilizations of the opponent’s joints are necessary to win the battle. It consists of developing mental, moral and personality skills, as well as the adequate physical training that the athletes who practice this sport must have.

Judo history

The origin of Japanese martial arts started with the martial art system known as takeouchi-ryu, founded in 1532, and this technique is considered the beginning of Jujitsu. In 1882, Dr. Jigoro Kano, who is recognized as the father of Judo, conducted a study regarding the ancient forms of self–defense and managed to bring together the best parts and techniques of these forms in a sport known as Kodokan Judo. The term Kodokan is broken down into ko, which means conference or method, do, which means path, and kan, which means place.

Professor Kano adopted the superlative parts of all Jujitsu schools, got rid of the parts that were not significant, and Kodokan Judo was recognized in a few years as one of the best techniques. The categorization of Kodokan Judo as a sport was completed around 1887. Kodokan had three general objectives: physical education, total mastery of the contest and mental training. Judo became one of the official events at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964 and was widely supported by judo lovers and sports promoters around the world.

Techniques and keys

Some techniques and keys are as follows:

• O-soto-gari: It is an initial technique within the group of leg It is done by tripping from behind, one hand must pass over the shoulder and with the other the athlete grab the handle, unbalancing the opponent back, lifting back the leg with which we are doing the tripping.
• Harai goshi: The attacker (tori) stands face to face with the defender (uke) and rests one of his arms on one of his shoulders, and the other attacker places it under the arm of the defender. The attacker passes the first arm behind the defender’s neck and at the same time, pulls his arm with the second arm, inclining it towards himself; then the attacker extends the leg closest to him to trip him and, leaning forward, turns the defender sideways with his back to the floor.
• Hon Kesa Gatame: A lying immobilization in which Uke’s right side, with its back to the ground, Tori takes Uke’s head with his right arm and blocks Uke’s right arm under his left arm, opens his legs to the fullest and lowers his head.
• Yoko Shio Gatame: Tori kneels on Uke’s right side. In that position he holds his right shoulder and head with his left arm, passing it behind Uke’s head. Tori controls Uke’s hips by moving his right arm into his legs.
• Dislocation of the knee: The left hand grabs the right heel of the opponent by the outer edge and places the right instep of the opponent in the hollow of his own left knee. Immediately, the right hand grasps the opponent’s leg on his thigh tightening tightly, by the heel, forcing the joint.

Judo rules

• Every wrestler must wear kimono and belt.
• To defeat, the opponent must touch the ground with both shoulders and hips.
• The opponent can be defeated by immobilizing him for more than two seconds.
• The opponent can be defeated by knockout.
• A fighter can surrender, through the application of a wrench.
• Surrender must be indicated by hitting the ground or the body of the opponent with the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot.
• When there is surrender, the attacker must leave the wrench and release the loser.
• The judoka assumes no responsibility in the event of any injuries during the combat.
• Each side in combat must have two competent witnesses, or a total of four, to testify that the rules are complied with.

Categories

• Super lightweight: Up to 60 kg and 48 kg (female and male for all categories)
• Semi-light weight: Up to 65 kg and 52 kg
• Lightweight: Up to 71 kg and 56 kg
• Semi-average weight: Up to 78 kg and 61 kg
• Average weight: Up to 86 kg and 66 Kg
• Semi-heavy weight: Up to 95 kg and 72 kg
• Heavy weight: More than 95 kg and more than 72 kg

Belts

They are known as “obi” and represent the degree that athletes have in judo. The belts of advanced practitioners are called “Dan” and those of beginner students are known by the name of “Kyu“. At the beginning of judo, the corresponding color of the belt is white; as you advance, you get yellow, orange, green, blue, brown and black. Whoever obtains a black belt acquires the title of 1st Dan; this color corresponds to grades 1 to 5th Dan, then red/white from 6th to 8th Dan and red for 9th and 1st Dan.

Tatami

A tatami is a type of carpet that is placed on the floor where judo competitions are held. They are traditionally made from rice straw and are manufactured in standard sizes, with a length exactly twice the width, an aspect ratio of 2:1. Generally, on the long sides, they have fabric edges, although some tatamis have no edges.

Equipment

The dress used in judo is called judogi, and it is composed of a belt called obi. The dress derives from Japanese culture in the 20th century. Colors may vary, but the most common is white. They are made of cotton or fibers that are strong.