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South Mountain Martial Arts
91 Main Street, Madison New Jersey 07940-1849
(973) 822-1977
What is Judo?
Koryu Judo
Throws (Nage Waza)
: Require that the opponent be thrown with some degree of force, more or less on their back. The more skillful the technique, the greater the force of the throw, and the more squarely the opponent is thrown on his back, the higher the score that will be given to a throw. The largest score - ippon - will end the match.
The scoring of matches has changed periodically, throughout the history of judo, in order to increase the safety of the sport. In the very beginning, throws that did not incapacitate the opponent simply didn’t matter. Because this method of conducting matches was very hard on the participants, a system of scoring the potential trauma of hard throws, on matted surfaces, was developed. Although the force and accuracy needed to achieve an ippon has been decreasing over time, the basis of the scoring system has remained intact
Tai Otoshi (Throw) to Kesa Gatame (Hold), to Ude Hishigi Juji Gatame (Arm Lock).
Okuri Eri Jime (Choke) with
Yoko Shiho Gatame (Hold).
Wing Reversal to Juji Gatame (Arm Lock).
Dr. Jigoro Kano, educator, statesman, & founder of the art of judo
There are plenty of sources of information on judo. (See our link page for some good sources.) Judo is physical, fun, addictive, and yet not common in the US. It is heavy on sweat and light on hype. Other countries seem to appreciate this more than we do. In fact, outside of the US, judo is one of the most popular combat sports in the world. If you are lucky enough to have a judo school in your area, you owe it to yourself to investigate this art. South Mountain Martial Arts is an ideal place either to begin or to continue your judo education.
Sport judo, the form of the art that is prevalent today, is a method of grappling in which four major categories of techniques can be used to win a match; throws, immobilization holds, chokes, and armlocks. At South Mountain Martial Arts, each judo class includes extensive training in both standing techniques and the older, classical ground techniques which have made judoka some of the best submission grapplers in the world.
The Four Main Types of Sport Judo Techniques
In early judo, all manner of locks were employed, on the neck, spine, arms, and legs. Although only elbow locks are allowed in modern sport judo, many of the locks of early judo are still used in the study of judo for self-defense.
All four methods of winning a match are complementary. Avoiding techniques of one type often leaves a player open to attacks from of another type. Understanding this concept is one of the keys to mastering judo
Arm Locks (Kansetsu waza):
Involve extending or twisting the elbow joint in a safe manner to achieve submission. These techniques are only allowed to be performed in matches between two players who are both of sufficient age, belt rank , and personal development to apply them responsibly, and to react to them in a reasonable fashion. Like chokes, these techniques are as safe as other contact sports activities when applied responsibly.
Chokes (Shime Waza)
: Involve constricting the opponents neck in a way that does not risk injury to the neck, or trachea. The goal of a choke is submission. When well taught, and practiced under appropriate supervision, chokes are as safe as other contact sports activities. Young children are not permitted to use chokes in judo practice. Please view the links page for judo sources describing these techniques, their safety, and the physiology involved.
Holds (Osaekomi Waza)
: Involve holding the opponent approximately on his or her back. This is similar to a near-fall position in various grappling sports. Scoring is based on the time that this position is maintained. An ippon is achieved (match ends) when a hold is maintained for 25 seconds. As holds are often used as platforms for chokes or locks, they are a very important part of judo grappling, and not just an end in themselves.
