Techniques & Practice

 

What are they?

While Judo includes a variety of rolls, falls, throws, hold downs, chokes, joint-locks, and strikes, the primary focus is on throwing, and groundwork. Throws are divided in two groups of techniques, standing techniques, and sacrifice techniques. Standing techniques are further divided into hand techniques, hip techniques, and foot and leg techniques. Sacrifice techniques are divided into those in which the thrower falls directly backwards, and those in which he falls onto his side.

The ground fighting techniques are divided into attacks against the joints or joint locks, strangleholds or chokeholds, and holding or pinning techniques.

A kind of sparring is practised in judo, known as randori, meaning "free practice". In randori, two adversaries may attack each other with any judo throw or grappling technique. Striking techniques such as kicking and punching, along with knife and sword techniques are retained in the kata. This form of pedagogy is usually reserved for higher ranking practitioners (for instance, in the kime-no-kata), but are forbidden in contest, and usually prohibited in randori for reasons of safety. Also for reasons of safety, chokeholds, joint locking, and the sacrifice techniques are subject to age or rank restrictions. For example, in the United States one must be 13 or older to use chokeholds, and 16 or older to use armlocks.

In randori and tournament (shiai) practice, when an opponent successfully executes a chokehold or joint lock, one submits, or "taps out", by tapping the mat or one's opponent at least twice in a manner that clearly indicates the submission. When this occurs the match is over, the tapping player has lost, and the chokehold or joint lock ceases.

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Kata (forms)

Forms as known as "Kata" are pre-arranged patterns of attack and defence, which in judo are practised with a partner for the purpose of perfecting judo techniques. More specifically, their purposes include illustrating the basic principles of judo, demonstrating the correct execution of a technique, teaching the philosophical tenets upon which judo is based, allowing for the practice of techniques that are not allowed in competition, and to preserve ancient techniques that are historically important but are no longer used in contemporary judo. Knowledge of various "Kata" are required for rank promotion.

So far there are seven "Kata" that are recognised by the Kodokan today:

• Free practice forms (Randori no Kata), comprising two kata:

1. Throwing forms (Nage no Kata)
2. Grappling forms (Katame no Kata)

• Old style self-defence forms (Kime no Kata)
• Modern self-defence forms (Kodokan Goshin Jutsu)
• Forms of "gentleness" (Ju no Kata)
• The five forms (Itsutsu no Kata)
• Ancient forms (Koshiki no Kata)
• Maximum-efficiency national physical education kata (Seiryoku Zen'yū Kokumin Taiiku no Kata)

There are also other kata that are not officially recognised by the Kodokan but that continue to be practised. The most prominent example of these is the "Go no sen no kata," a kata that focuses on counter-attacks to attempted throws.

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Randori (sparring)

Judo emphasizes a free-style sparring, called "randori," as one of its main forms of training. Part of the combat time is spent sparring standing up, called "tachi-waza," and the other part on the ground, called "ne-waza." Sparring, even subject to safety rules, is much more practically effective than only practicing techniques on their own, which is what jujutsuka were used to doing. Using full strength develops the muscles and cardio-vascular system on the physical side of things, and it develops strategy and reaction time on the mental side of things, and helps the practitioner learn to use techniques against a resisting opponent. A common saying among judoka is "The best training for judo is judo." Which can go for any subject one is training or practicing in. If you are becoming an artist you draw, if you are becoming a teacher you teach, if you are becoming a judoka you practice judo.

There are several types of sparring exercises, such as "ju renshu" which is where both judoka attack in a very gentle way where no resistance is applied); and "kakari geiko" which is where only one judoka attacks while the other one relies solely on defensive and evasive techniques, but without the use of sheer strength.

Here are more various recognizable techniques/practices in judo:

• Te-waza: Hand throwing techniques: Return to top

1. Ippon seoinage: One arm shoulder throw
2. Kata guruma: Shoulder wheel
3. Kibisu gaeshi: One-hand reversal
4. Morote gari: Two-hand reap
5. Obi otoshi: Belt drop
6. Seoi nage: Lifting shoulder throw or back carry throw
7. Seoi otoshi: Kneeling shoulder drop
8. Sukui nage: Scoop throw
9. Sumi otoshi: Corner drop
10. Tai otoshi: Body drop
11. Uchi mata sukashi: Inner thigh throw
12. Uki otoshi: Floating drop
13. Yama arashi: Mountain storm

• Koshi-waza: Hip throwing techniques: Return to top

1. Daki age: Hugging high lift. (Forbidden in competition.)
2. Hane goshi: Spring hip throw
3. Harai goshi: Sweeping hip throw
4. Koshi guruma: Hip wheel
5. O goshi: Full hip throw
6. Sode tsurikomi goshi: Sleeve lifting and pulling hip throw
7. Tsuri goshi: Lifting hip throw
8. Tsurikomi goshi: Lifting and pulling hip throw
9. Uki goshi: Floating half-hip throw
10. Ushiro goshi: Rear throw
11. Utsuri goshi: Hip shift

• Ashi-waza: Foot throwing techniques: Return to top

1. Ashi guruma: Leg wheel
2. Deashi harai: Advanced foot sweep
3. Hane goshi gaeshi: Hip spring counter
4. Harai goshi gaeshi: Hip sweep counter
5. Harai tsurikomi ashi: Lift-pull foot sweep
6. Hiza guruma: Knee wheel
7. Kosoto gake: Minor outer hook
8. Kosoto gari: Minor outer clip
9. Kouchi gari: Small inner reap
10. O guruma: Large wheel
11. Okuri ashi harai: Foot sweep
12. Osoto gaeshi: Big outer reap counter
13. Osoto gari: Large outer reap
14. Osoto guruma: Big outer wheel
15. Osoto otoshi: Big outer drop
16. Ouchi gaeshi: Big inner reap counter
17. Ouchi gari: Major inner reap
18. Sasae tsurikomi ashi: Propping and drawing ankle throw
19. Tsubame gaeshi: Swallow counter
20. Uchi mata: Inner-thigh reaping throw
21. Uchi mata gaeshi: Inner-thigh reap counter

• Sutemi-waza: Sacrifice techniques: Return to top

• Ma-sutemi: Front sacrifices: Return to top

1. Hikikomi gaeshi: Pulling in reversal
2. Sumi gaeshi: Corner reversal
3. Tawara gaeshi: Rice bag reversal throw
4. Tomoe nage: Circle throw
5. Ura nage: Rear throw

• Yoko-sutemi: Side sacrifices: Return to top

1. Daki wakare: High separation
2. Hane makikomi: Springing wraparound
3. Harai makikomi: Hip sweep wraparound
4. Kani basami: Crab or scissors throw. (Forbidden in competition.)
5. Kawazu gake: One-leg entanglement. (Forbidden in competition.)
6. Osoto makikomi: Big outer wraparound
7. Soto makikomi: Outer wraparound
8. Tani otoshi: Valley drop
9. Uchi makikomi: Inner wraparound
10. Uchi mata makikomi: Inner thigh wraparound
11. Uki waza: Floating drop
12. Yoko gake: Side prop
13. Yoko guruma: Side wheel
14. Yoko otoshi: Side drop
15. Yoko wakare: Side separation

• Katame-waza: grappling techniques: Return to top

• Turtle turnovers: Return to top

1. Daki Wakare

• Osaekomi-waza: Pins or matholds: Return to top

1. Kami-shiho-gatame: Upper four quarter hold down
2. Kata-gatame: Shoulder hold
3. Kesa-gatame: Scarf hold
4. Kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame: Broken upper four quarter hold down
5. Kuzure-kesa-gatame: Broken scarf hold
6. Tate-shiho-gatame: Horizontal four quarter hold
7. Yoko-shiho-gatame: Side four quarter hold

• Shime-waza: Chokes or strangles: Return to top

1. Do-jime: Trunk strangle. (Do-jime is a prohibited technique in Judo, and is considered a "slight infringement" according to IJF rules, Section 27: Prohibited acts and penalties, article 21)
2. Gyaku-juji-jime: Reverse cross strangle
3. Hadaka-jime: Naked strangle
4. Kata-ha-jime: Single wing strangle
5. Kata-juji-jime: Half cross strangle
6. Katate-jime: One-hand strangle
7. Nami-juji-jime: Normal cross strangle
8. Okuri-eri-jime: Sliding lapel strangle
9. Sankaku-jime: Triangular strangle, triangle choke
10. Sode-guruma-jime: Sleeve wheel strangle (Eziquiel/Ezekiel choke)

• Kansetsu-waza: Joint locks: Return to top

1. Ashi-garami: Leg entanglement. (Forbidden in competition.)
2. Ude-garami: Arm entanglement or "figure-four" key lock
3. Ude-hishigi-ashi-gatame: Side-lying arm bar
4. Ude-hishigi-hara-gatame: Side-extended arm bar, lower stomach against opponent's elbow.
5. Ude-hishigi-hiza-gatame: Knee arm bar.
6. Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame: Back-lying perpendicular arm bar.
7. Ude-hishigi-sankaku-gatame: Triangular strangle, using the legs.

• Atemi-waza: Body-striking techniques: (Although taught within "kata" and sometimes used within informal randori, striking techniques are forbidden in standard judo competitions.) Return to top

• Ashi-ate-waza: Leg striking techniques: Return to top

1. Mae-ate: Front knee
2. Mae-geri: Front kick
3. Naname-geri: Front crossing kick
4. Taka-geri: High front kick
5. Ushiro-geri: Backward kick
6. Yoko-geri: Side kick

• Ude-Ate-waza: Arm striking techniques: Return to top

1. Empi-uchi: Elbow blow
2. Kami-ate: Upward blow
3. Kirioroshi: Downward knife hand blow
4. Naname-ate: Front crossing blow
5. Naname-uchi: Slanting knife hand blow
6. Ryogan-tsuki: Strike both eyes with fingertips
7. Shimo-tsuki: Downward blow
8. Tsukiage: Uppercut
9. Tsukidashi: Stomach punch with fingertips
10. Tsukkake: Straight punch
11. Uchioroshi: Downward strike
12. Ushiro-ate: Rear elbow strike
13. Ushiro-sumi-tsuki: Rear corner blow
14. Ushiro-tsuki: Rear blow
15. Ushiro-uchi: Rear blow
16. Yoko-ate: Side blow
17. Yoko-uchi: Side blow

• Uke-waza (blocks and parries): Return to top

1. Tenkan: Outside turning

• Ukemi (receiving techniques or breakfall techniques): Return to top

1. Mae ukemi: Forward roll
2. Ushiro ukemi: Backward roll
3. Yoko ukemi: Sideways fall accompanied by hard slap of tatami (mat).