WEEK 6: JUDO – HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE

                                   WEEk 6

TOPIC:       JUDO – HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE:

Judo is a combat game founded by the Japanese. It is a complicated and skillful form of wrestling designed for self-defence without the use of weapon. It was originated and developed by Prof. Jigoro Kano, in 1882 in Tokyo, Japan. He developed Judo from a more dangerous and deadly martial arts, called Ju-jitsu in a school called Kodokan, which he established. He introduced his own type of fight techniques called Judo (Gentle art) which is mud.

In 1902, Judo was introduced to the United States of America. The first world Judo Championship was held in Tokyo, in 1956. Judo was competed for, in the Olympic Game in 1964, in Tokyo, Japan.

JUDO ART IN NIGERIA

Judo sort was made possible in Nigeria by a group of Japanese coach who gave coaching courses in Judo are in Lagos in 1972. Judo was left in the hands of private clubs like Ikoyi, Apapa and police clubs. Nigeria first participated in Judo, in 1973. All African Games, held in Lagos in 1993, the association was re-named Nigerian Judo Federation (NJF).

NATURE OF JUDO

Judo is an individual game and a martial art that is performed on the mat. It is done in a building called Dojo. To start the contest, contestants face each other at a distance or 4m, take a standing bow and begin the fight when the referee calls “Hajime”. Each tries to defeat each other using different skills in Judo. Once the contest is over and the referee has awarded the result, the Judokas has to take a step back bow to each other. Various techniques like:-Strangulation, lock, choke or hold down are applied. This is to place the opponent in a position to submit or to behold for a terminal thirty seconds. A score of Ippon or Full point of 10 tennis obtained by well executed throwing techniques less points like Waza-ari (7points). Yuko (5 points). Koka (3 points) could also be scored, dependent on the quality of attack and degree of fall of opponent.

The contest last for 5 minutes for men and 4 minutes for women. Two corner judges, a centre referee and a timekeeper officiates the game.

IMPORTANCE OF JUDO

The following are the importance of Judo:-

1.   Judo art enhances physical fitness.

2.   It develops mental alertness.

3.   It improves social interaction.

4.   It builds confidence.

5.   It also improves the co-ordination of the eyes, hands and legs

RULES OF JUDO

1.   The Judokas should be properly dressed by wearing Bose jacket and baggu trouser without shoes.

2.   An Ippon (Full point) is awarded for a submission from an arm lock

3.   Half point (Waza-ari) is scored if this opponent is thrown by using Judo techniques which is the option or opinion of the judge.

4.   The referee calls “Hajime” to start the contest.

5.   The contest duration is 5mins for women and 10mins rest period.

6.   The two contestant must bow to each other before beginning a match.

SKILLS IN JUDO

The following are the skills in Judo.

1.   Stance:- The Judokas assumes erect standing position, with one foot steeped forward bent with trunk inclined a little forward.

2.   Grip:- the Judokas holds the opponent’s sleeve with his  right hand and the opponent’s right lap with his left hand. The grip should be firm to enable him throw the opponent.

3.   Movement: In standing position and holding each other, the judokas try to unbalance each other, to unbalance the opponent, the trunk should be pushed or pulled as fast as possible. The Judokas doing so, moves his feet with short and smooth steps.

4.   Throw:- Throws are used to beat an opponents. There are four different ways through which you can beat your opponent, there are throwing, holding, chocking and arm-looking.

The different types of throws are:-

1.   Position and throw (Tsukuri and Kake).

2.   Pulling the body down and throw (Taiotoshi).

3.   Reaping – throw (Osotogari).

4.   Over the should throw (Ipponseoinage).

5.   Hip – throw (O-Goshi).

6.   Break falling:- This is a way of protecting self when taking a fall from a throw of an opponent. It is done in the following ways.

a.   Backward roll brake-fall

b.   Forward roll break fall (Chugari)

c.   Inprone lying position.

d.   In crouch position.

JUDO FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

1.   Dogo:- This is a building where Judo is done, it is an open spaced buildingdevoid of sharp corner pillars, which has changing rooms with wooden floor, the  contest area is covered with mats, which must be entered bare footed.

2.   Mat:- The Judo mat for international competition is a spongyfoam of smooth green surface. It is 9 or 10cm square, with a thickness of 5 or 6m. it is laid on a wide even floor surrounded by a red or danger square area mat of 1m wide which is the further surrounded by a safe square portion of green mat of 3m wide. The entire area mat is between 14 to 16m square.

The contest area has two start marks of 1m long and 4m apart, marked directly opposite each other.

 3.   Stop watch:- They are four in number, one is used to time the contestants during competition, two of them are used to time the duration of hold down, the last is kept as reserve clock

4.   Scoreboard:- the scores of all the contestants are recorded in an electronic board where the numbers and scores of all the contestants are displayed.

5.   Bell:- it is used to signal the beginning of the contest.

6.   Flags:- There are four flags, they are:-

i.             Yellow flag:- used for stopping the contest.

ii.            Green flag:- used for holding down duration.

iii.          Blue flag:- used for decision making by the judges.

iv.          White flag:- used by judges sitting diagonally opposite each other decision making.

6. Chairs:- Judges sits on the chairs with blue and white flags used for decision making.

7. Red beam bag:- used by the time keeper to indicate the end of the contest by throwing it into the contest area.

8. Judoka’s outfit:-The outfit is a loose way sleeve jacket worn over a trouser halfway the shin, the complete outfit is called Judogi or gi.

9. Belt:-it is a long, flat, released, material, 2m long by 5.5cm wide used to tie the jacket.

JUDO OFFICIALS: The officials in Judo are, a referee, two Judges, and a time keeper.

Evaluation Questions:

1. Give a brief history of Judo (5 lines only).

2. Explain the history of Judo in Nigeria (3 lines only).

3. Describe the following?

a.   Hajime

b.   Ippon

c.   Waza – ari

d.   Yuko and koka.

4.  Draw a Judo mat showing the following.

·        The position of the two Judges, contestants and referee.