KODOKAN JUDO

 

Judo is an exciting Olympic sport with more than 2.5 million practitioners worldwide. Second in global popularity only to soccer, Judo boasts more fans and participants than boxing, wrestling, or track-and-field racing.

 

The techniques of old school Kano Ryu Jiu-Jitsu, (later renamed, Judo)  heavily influenced the development of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Russian Sambo, Chinese San Shou, Shooto Jujitsu, Pancrase and Filipino cobat mixed martial arts. 

 

The effectiveness of Judo in mixed martial arts competition is unrivaled. A long list of combat sport champions have attributed a knowledge of Judo to their success. Names include; Ronda Rousey, Karo "The Heat" Parisyan, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Muhsin "The Technician" Corbbrey, Rick "Ghengis" Hawn, Dong Hyun Kim, Hector "Lightening" Lombard, Satoshi Ishii, Kazuhiro Nakamura, Hidehiko Yoshida, the amazing Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou ("the African Assassin") and many others.

 

The Forgotten Samurai-era Jujitsu Roots of JUDO

In the early development of Judo which dates back to the mid-1880's, Professor Jigoro Kano borrowed techniques and principles from different Samurai warrior era Jujitsu systems he had studied.

In other words, the techniques that you see in modern Judo are drawn from Samurai hand-to-hand fighting styles such as;

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• Kito-Ryu Jujitsu

• Tenjin ShinyoRyu

• Kushin Ryu

• SekiguchiRyu

• Takenouchi-Ryu

• Yagyu-Shingan Ryu

• YoshinRyu

• ...and the Juki Ryu method.

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Because of its roots, Judo has an inseparable connection to the martial art of JuJitsu.

 

 

Filipino Combatives and the Judo Connection

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A by-product of the Philippine Japan war (1941-1942) was a merger between the arts of Judo and Doce Pares Eskrima. Shortly after the war Filipino Eskrimadors integrated Judo techniques into into their own Eskrima/Arnis, Dumog and Kali systems. This is why many old school Filipino masters often refer to their art as, Combat Judo, (the same as  the arts of Balsakan, Buno and Dumog).

 

Our Interpretation of Judo

We teach traditional Kodokan Judo based on the official syllabus of Judo techniques as they existed in 1895. There are a total of 67 body throws referred to as (nega-waza). There are 29  ground fighting techniques referred to as ('katame-waza'). Katame-waza consists of hold-down restraint pins, strangulations, joint twisting, and counter bending techniques designed to restrict the opponent's freedom of movement. These techniques are divided into three groups: "Osae waza" (hold-down techniques), 12 different "Shime waza" (strangling techniques), and "Kansetsu waza" (Joint lock techniques).

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Each technique can be performed from various angles depending on body  position which opens the door to unlimited possibilities.

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Finally, Judo contains as plethora of devastating striking techniques referred to as atemi-waza. Strikes include punches and kicks, eye gouging, strikes to the groin, chops to the throat, collar bone, neck and stomps to the head of a downed opponent and other vital points on the body.

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One could argue that Judo is certainly one of the most comprehensive fighting system known to man.