Judo Knowledge Bits

• • What is the English translation or the meaning of the word Judo?

  • Gentle Way

  • What is the purpose in learning Judo?

  • The development of character, mind, and body so that one can contribute something of value to the world.

  • What are the other main principles in learning Judo?

  • The principle of cooperation (jita kyoei), working for mutual welfare and benefit. The principle of maximum efficiency (seiryoku zenyo), using the least amount of effort to achieve the greatest results.

  • Where did Judo come from?

  • Modern Judo is a martial art based on the traditional Jujutsu fighting and self-defense techniques of Japan.

  • What is the difference between Judo and jujutsu?

  • Judo is the modern scientific application of selected jujutsu techniques that may be practiced for self-development, physical education and sport. Jujutsu retains more dangerous self defense techniques, while Judo can generally be practiced with full force and complete safety. 

  • When and where did Judo begin?

  • Judo was first officially taught at the Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo, Japan in 1882.

  • Who created Judo?

  • The father of Judo is Professor Jigoro Kano (1860-1938). He studied jujutsu at an early age and founded the Kodokan to teach the art of Judo.

  • What is kuzushi?

  • Kuzushi is breaking the balance of an opponent

  • What is tori and uke?

  • Tori is the person executing a technique such as a throw, while uke is the person receiving the technique.

  • When did Judo become an Olympic sport?

  • Judo, the first Asian martial art to become an Olympic medal sport, has been an official Olympic event for men since 1964. Olympic Judo competition for women was added in 1988.

  • Martial Arts: A Way To A Better You
    Judo was founded by Jigoro Kano as a practice that make the practitioner a better person.
    "I regard it as a principle of life, art and science. In fact, it is a means for personal cultural attainment."
    
    

  • Jigoro Kano stated the principles of judo in 1934 as:
     

  1st. ‘Whatever be the object, the best way of attaining it shall be the maximum or the highest efficient use of mental and physical energy directed to that aim.

  2nd. ‘The harmony and progress of a body, consisting as it does of different individuals, however few or many the number of those individuals may be, can best be kept and attained by mutual aid and concession.'

• Adult martial arts
  Martial Arts should not only provide exercise, they  should develop character. Judo will help you develop your discipline, strength, stamina, toughness, self-defense, and confidence.
  Physical Benefits of Martial Arts

  • Increased cardiovascular fitness

  • Improved muscle tone

  • Increased energy

  • Greater flexibility

• Mental Benefits of Martial Arts

  • Lower stress levels

  • Higher self-esteem

  • Emotional satisfaction 

  • A great way to connect with your children when they are training in judo

  • Better concentration and focus

• Kids martial arts: Judo
  More important than building a better athlete, sports should build a better person. Kids Judo and Ju-jitsu classes in particular develops discipline, manners, punctuality. strength, stamina, toughness, and confidence. This are traits that are essential to success and respected by society. Society also respects a person who wins with humility and loses with grace.
  
  One of the unique aspects of Judo and Ju-jitsu training is the respect for others that is taught and required in the Dojo. In time, this respect grows into a heightened level of self-confidence and discipline. While Judo and Ju-jitsu are Martial Arts, and therefore a combat sport, the fighting we do at our school is actually a form of preparation for life's many challenges. In life, as in Judo and Ju-jitsu, we do not always win. So sparring and competing within the rules, teaches us persistence, resolve, and perseverance. We also learn that it is not winning that is always important, but the time and effort dedicated to the training, and finding the courage to compete, that separates our practitioners from others.
  
  Our students also learn the lesson of responsibility, or more specifically, taking responsibility for one's own success or failure. They learn that if they want to succeed in grading, promotions, or competition, they must turn up for class, pay attention to the Sensei, learn their techniques, and then apply them.

• As a martial art there can be some concern as to injury.  A survey of the medical literature shows that for children, judo is one of the safer sports they can practice.

The table below is built from data in the two cited studies below.  A little math done to make the numbers per 100 practices/games.

practice game

soccer     0.5 1.8 per 100

baseball (boys) 0.6 2.4 per 100

martial arts 0.4 1.3 per 100

Citations below

Marirose A. Radelet, Scott M. Lephart, Elaine N. Rubinstein, Joseph B. Myers. “Survey of the Injury Rate for Children in Community Sports” Pediatrics September 2002, VOLUME 110 / ISSUE 3
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-10-795