How to Perform Judo

Developed in Japan in the late nineteenth century, Judo is a Japanese martial and combat sport. Unlike some other martial arts, the goal in judo is to subdue one's opponent sufficiently by throwing them or forcing them to submit. It's notable for this competitive element, but is somewhat less violent than other martial arts. The direct translation of judo is "gentle way."

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. First off, understand that the technique of judo mostly involves defeating one's opponent through the application of indirect force. This means that instead of directly hitting or kicking someone, a person using judo would use their opponent's own strength against them. It's somewhat similar to wrestling in this way.

2. Find a judo school if you are serious about fully training. It's always safer and more beneficial to learn a specialized skill from a professional.

3. Learn the basics of the art form before you try putting it in to practice. The most important thing to learn are breakfalls, which help you land softly when taken down.

4. Spar with someone who is of equal caliber to yourself. Sparring (randori) is one of the most common forms of training in judo. Sparring consists of two phases: standing and ground. During the standing phase, the objective is to get one's opponent on the ground. In the ground phase, the objective is to make one's opponent submit by various methods (choke holds, leg locks and more).

Tips & Warnings

• The founder of Judo, Jigoro Kano, was a student of jujutsu and developed new moves and techniques which eventually became a new form of martial art. He wanted to be able to strengthen the character and the minds of people along with their martial arts skills, and thus sought to reinvent jujutsu.
• The word "do" literally means "way." This word differentiates judo from many other martial arts. It suggests a philosophical outlook rather than an intent to kill, as in ancient martial arts forms.

Resources

• A website where with detailed descriptions of judo moves and techniques.

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