• Judo is known by many people as a martial art in which a person throws his/her opponent. Judo does not involve any striking with hands, feet or otherwise. But, judo techniques include more than throwing. Judo techniques also include groundwork, similar to wrestling. Judo players 13 years old and older learn choke techniques and those 17 years old and older learn arm bar techniques. Another very important aspect of judo is the practice of kata, formalized judo movements in which two players work together rather than in combat.

• However, judo itself is much more than a collection of martial techniques. Judo’s founder, Dr. Kano, was a Japanese educator who intended judo to be an educational tool. Apart from the emphasis on respect and discipline inherent in most Japanese martial arts, Dr. Kano’s two principles are "maximum efficiency with minimum effort" (or "best use of energy") and "mutual benefit and welfare". The first principle teaches one to pay attention to one’s surrounding, adapt to the situation, and use the most efficient means to accomplish an end. Often this means using your opponent’s energy without wasting your own. The second principle teaches that everyone benefits when everyone is looking out for and respecting each other. Please stress to your child the importance of respect during class, if not throughout life. Dr. Kano believed that judo helps develop these characteristics for use in life in general.

• Because of Dr. Kano’s focus on respect, safety, and efficiency, judo includes techniques that are more basic, but as important as, the actual throws. In fact, one cannot really participate in judo until mastering basics such as bowing, standing, sitting, walking, and falling. Learning each bow, each stance, each walk, each fall and each method of sitting is a significant accomplishment in itself. Please complement your child as he or she progresses. The following is intended to assist you in understanding why certain items are covered during practices and items that might be good subjects for discussion.

• 1. Bowing. Please ensure that your child bows (standing) upon entering the dojo, immediately before entering the mat, immediately after exiting the mat, and upon exiting the dojo. (At the YMCA East Branch, the dojo is considered to be the partitioned area in which the mat is located.) These bows should be standing bows (as discussed below) and should be directed toward the center of the mat. These bows help the judoka ("judo-kah", judo player) focus on the respect that fosters learning and safety. The two types of bows in judo are:

a. Ritsurei ("ree'-tsoo-ray", standing bow). The judoka stands with arms straight down and hands on the outside of the thighs. Heels are together with big toes about 3 inches apart As the judoka bends forward at the waist, the hands move down and forward to the front of the thigh above the knee. As the judoka returns back to upright posture, the hands move up and backward back to the outside and side of the thighs. Throughout the bow, the head keeps in line with the back, but the eyes always look forward.

b. Zarei ("zah-ray", kneeling bow). The judoka stands with arms down. The judoka slowly drops to the left knee, then to the right knee, then crosses the feet and sits back on the heels. For males, knees should be two fists apart. For females, knees should be together. Hands rest on the front of the thighs. The left hand should make a circular motion out in front of the judoka and rest on the mat in front. The right hand follows similarly. As the hands go down, the judoka bows at the waist about 60°, keeping the head in line with the back, but with eyes looking forward. The judoka then rises in reverse order.

Again, your assistance in encouraging your child to perform proper standing bows when entering and exiting the dojo and the mat will be greatly appreciated.

• 2. Sitting. Judoka are supposed to sit on the mat in only two ways.

a. Seiza ("say'-zah", formal kneeling). The judoka kneels and sits on her heels. The toes should be "live"; that is, the toes are curled so that the bottom of the toes rather than the top are touching the mat.

b. Anza ("an-zah", informal sitting). The judoka sits cross-legged, with feet tucked under thighs.

c. Kyoshi ("kai-oh'-shee", formal high kneeling). This is not a typical form of sitting, but does occur in certain circumstances. This is how an archer would kneel with one knee down and the other knee up.

Under no circumstances should the judoka sit so that the sensei can see the bottom of the feet. This is considered very disrespectful in judo. The judoka should be silent whenever the sensei is speaking or presenting. Raising hands and asking questions pertinent to the sensei’s lesson is always encouraged.

• 3. Stances. Which stance is more efficient for different goals?

a. Natural posture is shizen hontai ("shee-zen hon-tai'") also referred to as shizentai ("shee-zen-tai"), migi ("mee-gee", right) shizentai, or hidari ("hee-dar'-ee", left) shizentai. In shizentai, the feet are placed about shoulder width apart, the knees are bent slightly with the body straight and weight evenly distributed. In migi-shizentai the stance is almost the same as in shizentai except the right foot is placed slightly forward, while in hidari-shizentai the left foot is placed slightly forward.

b. Jigo hontai ("jee-goh hon-tai'")or jigotai (defensive posture) is used when trying to make it difficult for one to be thrown. In Jigotai, the legs are spread wide and the body weight is placed low by bending the knees.

• 4. Shintai (walking action) is divided into two basic types: ayumi-ashi (natural walking), each foot moves in turn ahead of the other; and, tsugi-ashi, one foot follows but does not pass the other. In both actions, the feet slide over the mat. Different methods of walking are needed depending on the task at hand.

• 5. Judo inherently involves throwing and being thrown. Learning how to fall safely and under control is very, very important. A considerable amount of time will be spent learning Ukemi ("oo-keh'-mee", breakfalls). Ukemi are specific methods of safely falling backwards, to each side, forward like a log, and forward rolling. Judoka need to learn to trust their bodies, rolling in a controlled fashion, not try to catch themselves, slap the mat with the palms of one or both hands at a 45° angle to the body (to release energy), and keep the head protected. When your child performs front rolling ukemi, look for a fluid circular motion, with the head looking back at the trailing foot, exposing the forward shoulder. The judoka rolls from the forward shoulder along a line diagonal to the waist on the other side of the back. The roll should not be over the head nor should it be a log roll side over side. The trailing leg should remain straight and point toward the ceiling halfway through the movement.

• Your child might not think much of learning how to bow, stand, sit, walk, or fall. However, each is very important to the respectful, safe and proficient practice of judo. Your encouragement and complements are critical to your child’s realization that each is important in its own right and not merely as a means to another end.

This information was collected from http://www.amerikanjudo.org/phandbook.html