(This is an updated version of an article I wrote for a local paper in June, 2012)
What judo teaches you
Judo is a practical fighting system for self-defence purposes, especially for children and women.
Let's start with children. When I was a young man getting my first taste of competitive judo training in Los Angeles (during my college summer semester break) I overheard a conversation my coach had with a father who was considering enrolling his son for judo lessons.
The father explained that his son was getting bullied and beaten up
in school, and he wanted that to stop. My coach told him something
profound that still resonates with me after all these years.
He said, "I can't guarantee your son will never get beaten in a fight – because that depends on many factors – but I can guarantee you he will never accept bullying from anyone again."
What he meant by that is that the son will never back down or cower in fear but instead, will stand up to bullies. You see, although judo contests are run according to weight classes, during practice, you train with everyone including those who are bigger than you. If you happen to be a small-sized person, most of the time, you will be training against those bigger than you.
Size does matter. Someone bigger is naturally a lot stronger and more powerful. But judo players are acclimatised to fighting bigger opponents. So size doesn't faze them.
Let's move on to women. On more than one occasion, I've heard women say things like, "I want to take up a martial art for self-defence purposes, but judo is so rough. I prefer something softer." My response to that is: "Do you think a mugger or a rapist will be soft when he attacks?"
Judo is rough because it's a full-contact sport. Points are scored by throwing, armlocking, strangling or pinning your opponent. A match is won when you throw your opponent completely on their back. As for armlocks and strangles, if the opponent doesn't submit (tap out to indicate defeat), you break their arm or cause them to pass out, respectively. As for pins, you have to immobilize them for 20 seconds.
What does a thuggish assailant try do as he attempts to subdue his
victim? He will try to immobilise her, twist her arm and
strangle her. Guess what, judo players train for that in every practice
session because these are all typical scenarios that happen in a judo
contest.
Judo is not a punching or kicking sport. It's a grappling sport where opponents grip each other's uniforms to execute their attacks. How is this helpful?
Think about it. When an assailant attacks a woman, does he punch or kick her? No, most of the time, he would grab her. When a woman suddenly gets seized, she would usually probably freeze in shock. A judo player gets manhandled all the time, so a female judo player will react accordingly without even having to think about it.
There are many physical benefits to learning judo but it also trains you in one very important psychological aspect. In judo, you fall down a lot, and no matter how good you become, you will still get beaten from time to time. What you do when that happens is you get up, again and again and again. And that, perhaps, is the most important reason for learning judo.
KL Judo Centre
Tel: +6016 6262004
Click here for the club website.
Click here for the club's Facebook Page.
What judo teaches you
Judo is a practical fighting system for self-defence purposes, especially for children and women.
Let's start with children. When I was a young man getting my first taste of competitive judo training in Los Angeles (during my college summer semester break) I overheard a conversation my coach had with a father who was considering enrolling his son for judo lessons.
He said, "I can't guarantee your son will never get beaten in a fight – because that depends on many factors – but I can guarantee you he will never accept bullying from anyone again."
What he meant by that is that the son will never back down or cower in fear but instead, will stand up to bullies. You see, although judo contests are run according to weight classes, during practice, you train with everyone including those who are bigger than you. If you happen to be a small-sized person, most of the time, you will be training against those bigger than you.
Size does matter. Someone bigger is naturally a lot stronger and more powerful. But judo players are acclimatised to fighting bigger opponents. So size doesn't faze them.
Let's move on to women. On more than one occasion, I've heard women say things like, "I want to take up a martial art for self-defence purposes, but judo is so rough. I prefer something softer." My response to that is: "Do you think a mugger or a rapist will be soft when he attacks?"
Judo is rough because it's a full-contact sport. Points are scored by throwing, armlocking, strangling or pinning your opponent. A match is won when you throw your opponent completely on their back. As for armlocks and strangles, if the opponent doesn't submit (tap out to indicate defeat), you break their arm or cause them to pass out, respectively. As for pins, you have to immobilize them for 20 seconds.
Judo is not a punching or kicking sport. It's a grappling sport where opponents grip each other's uniforms to execute their attacks. How is this helpful?
Think about it. When an assailant attacks a woman, does he punch or kick her? No, most of the time, he would grab her. When a woman suddenly gets seized, she would usually probably freeze in shock. A judo player gets manhandled all the time, so a female judo player will react accordingly without even having to think about it.
There are many physical benefits to learning judo but it also trains you in one very important psychological aspect. In judo, you fall down a lot, and no matter how good you become, you will still get beaten from time to time. What you do when that happens is you get up, again and again and again. And that, perhaps, is the most important reason for learning judo.
KL Judo Centre
Tel: +6016 6262004
Click here for the club website.
Click here for the club's Facebook Page.
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