Theory of Break-Falling and Postures of Judo

UKEMI NO HOHO  ( Theory of Break-falling ) Ukemi No Shurui ( type of break fall ) Ushiro ukemi (backward break fall) Yoko ukemi (side break fall) Mae ukemi (front break fall) Zenpho kaiten (rolling break fall) Yoko Kaiten (side rolling break fall) Mute ukemi (break fall without hands) In order to avoid hurting the body, it is necessary to strike the mat with the arm and hand. This must be done just before the back or shoulder reaches the mat, not afterwards. When break-falling, a good curve should be made of the body, from the hand right down to the back and this line should be kept stiff. The head must be kept bent forward. Both legs should be kept almost straight and about the distance apart as in the natural posture. When striking the mat the arm should be kept stiff and straight, and the palm of the hand downwards. JUDO NO SHISEI ( the posture of Judo ) There are two groups of Judo postures:- 1. The natural postures ( Shizentai ) (a) Front natural posture (b) Right natural posture (c) Left natural posture 2. The defence postures ( jigotai ) (a) Front defence posture (b) Right defence posture (c) Left defence posture THE NATURAL POSTURE ( Shizentai ) The Natural posture is the basis of Judo. All Judo movements and techniques start from this posture, and it must, therefore, be fully understood. It is the perfectly natural standing posture which brings perfect relaxation from life's problems which lead to emotional strain. The mind should be completely open and alert and not tense; aware of everything and not sticking to a specific line of thought. This is because when one takes up the natural posture, the body and mind are discharged or released from all things except an awareness of life. This posture is a perfect harmonisation with nature, which is when everything is how it should naturally be. The foot position of the natural posture is about the same distance apart as the shoulders (about 18 ins). The feet point directly forward. The hip and knee are neither bent nor stiff, but relaxed; the weight is put completely on the hip, i.e., not leaning in any direction from the hips. The knee is almost straight but neither stiff nor bent. Both the hands and arms should hang relaxed by one's side. The palm is kept inside; the head is kept to the front. When practising Judo with an opponent, you should not look at his eyes nor at any other specific point, instead, keep a general view with his body as the central figure. If a person looks at only one part of his opponent's body. he will have concentration on only that part and is, therefore, unable to take in the smaller movements on the other parts of the body. THE DEFENSE POSTURE ( Jigo-Tai ) Jigo-tai is the posture of defence and can safely protect one's body and attitude from the attack of an opponent. In Judo practice, attack is the best method of defence and defence leads to the counter throw. Jigo-tai should not only be thought of as a posture of defence, but also as one from which one can counter the opponent's action. During the movements of Judo, one should always be attentive for the opportunities to change defensive actions into attacking actions, and to move from the attack into defence. The opportunities for attack and defence are always at the same moment. The posture of defence is as follows:- 1. The position of the feet. The feet must be placed as in the natural posture and must definitely not be placed any wider than this. If the feet are placed any wider than in the natural posture, the balance is more easily offset, the posture is weaker, and movement more difficult. 2. The position of the Knees. For good defence the knees should be neither open nor closed. The legs should be bent to an angle of about 140 degrees. 3. The posture of the body. Above the hip the body is kept stiff and straight; the weight of the body should be pushed down to the front at an angle of about 45 degrees. The kyu-Shin-Do posture of defence is different to that of any other Judo theories. The generally accepted defence posture of today was developed by Jigoro Kano 77 years ago, and is derived from Japanese Sumo Wrestling. It is inadequate as a practical defence posture, because the feet are placed too wide apart, the knees are too open and the centre of gravity is too low. The advantages of the Kyu-Shin-Do defence posture over the current Kodokan defence posture may be listed as follows:- 1. The movements are easier. 2. It is quicker to move into and to leave. 3. It is stronger. 4. It is more simple. 5. Counter throws can be achieved from it more often. THE HISTORY OF JUDO Every race or nation has had techniques and knowledge of self-defence and the arts of fighting armed and unarmed. Fighting arts are an instinctive demand by every being of the human race; thus many sports of today have developed from ancient fighting arts, e.g., rapier and sabre fencing, archery, boxing, javelin and discus throwing, wrestling, and in fact it can be said that all sports at some time had military connections in a nation's history. Judo originated in Japan and was not only created just as a fighting military art but also as a form of spiritual and mental training which, from it's earliest stages, was naturally influenced by Japanese customs, habits and environment. These influences are illustrated by the many formalities connected with Judo, such as the bow before and after practise or instruction. I will now describe the different periods in the Japanese history of Judo: The periods are:- 1. CHIKARA-KURABE B.C.1500 to A.D. 720 2. SUMAI-NO-JUDAI A.D 721 to A.D. 1140 3. YOROI KUMIUCHI NO JIDAI A.D. 1156 to A.D. 1526 4. JU-JUTSU NO JIDAI A.D. 1598 to A.D. 1881 5. JUDO NO JIDAI A.D. 1882 to A.D. 1963 The period of CHIKARA-KURABE This period was B.C. 1500-720 A.D. when the Japanese nation is thought to have come into existance;we therefore call this period the Kemi-yo-no Jidai. Meaning the period of their God. The translation of the Chikara-Kuabe will be found in the "Nihon - Shoki"(being the first ever written book on Japanese history). This book contains a chapter called "Chikara-Kurabe" and will be found very interesting to readers and explains the simple art and technique of wrestling. Chikora in Japanese means strength and Kurabe means superior. Chikara-Kurabe is really the game of competitive strength. The period of SUMAI This period was called the Nara Heian Jidai A.D. 721 - 1140, and is very important in Japanese history, Mr. Sukuno Nomi and Mr. Kuehaya Tagima were engaged in the skill of killing one or the other by the Sumai technique which was considered a very rough and wild game, of kickings, choppings and throws. Japanese wrestling was first invented and introduced by Mr.Sukune Nomi and many Japanese wrestlers are grateful to him as being the creator of Sumo. YOROI KUMIUCHI NO JIDAI This was the period when the Japanese Samurai became the influential class in Japan. Controlling all the political movements in the country. At this time many different families took the royal seat, having deposed the previous royal family. The period includes the end of the families of Fujiwaras, Heike, Genji, Hojyo and Ashikaga. The samurai began to study Bushido or the philosophy of life, more deeply: but the fighting techniques involved the use of helmet, Armour and many different weapons. There was a great deal of fighting between the chief families and the samurai before a battle, the champions of either side would fight a duel and if the result was considered a fair one, the result of the battle was decided. If, however, there was any disagreement, the battle proper would commence. Before fighting, each of the two champions would introduce himself to his opponent and relate his family's history, his previous victories and speak of his father and teacher. After that, they would fight and the winner would have to behead his opponent. The Armour during this time had been improved greatly and, therefore, it was different to kill an opponent. The warriors had to aim for a few weaker points on the Armour, and because of this factor, more skill and technique was required to kill an opponent. It was at this time that the fighting arts were greatly improved upon, and many new theories introduced. JUJUTSU-NO-JIDAI This period was towards the end of the Ashikaga reign and during the time of the families of Oda, Toyotomi and Tokugawa. During this period a school of Ju-Jutsu was started by Hisamori Takeuchi who crated his own theory from the techniques of Yoroi-Kumiuchi and called it "Takeuchi-Koshi-No-Mawari" This was the first theory of Ju-Jutsu. In the period of Oda, Sumo(Japanese wrestling)was independent from Yoroi-Kumiuchi, and a branch of professional Sumo was made. During the period of Tokugawa there were many schools of Ju-Jutsu, many good teachers, and over 300 different theories of Ju-Jutsu. JUDO-NO-JIDAI Jigoro Kano was born in 1860 in the town of Himeji in West Japan. He studied three different Ju-Jutsu theories - Kito-Ryu Ju-Jutsu, Tenjin - Shinyo - Ryu Ju-Jutsu and Yoshin - Ryu Ju-Jutsu. He then created his own theory of Judo and called it Kodokan. Nippon-Den Kodokan Judo is the full title of his method of Judo; Ko meaning teaching Do meaning the way, Kan meaning hall, because Kodokan means that he instructed the way of life by his own Judo. He had a good education in Japan, and opened a school for Judo called the Kodokan in 1882 at the age of 23 years. He was on the Japanese Olympic Committee and when he attended the Games he was Chairman of the Olympic Games to Japan. Judo is now an international sport and is entered as an official event in the Games, and think he will be very pleased to hear this in the other world.