Judo is a great modern martial art form that can be taught as a form of discipline and self-defence. If you’re interested in learning a martial art or want something for your child to learn that focuses on defence movements, consider signing up for Judo classes Melbourne-wide from Senshi Academy.
To fully prepare you for the style of Judo, we’ll be going over a brief history, so you can be fully aware of the style and origins when you walk into your first Judo class.
What is Judo?
Judo, meaning ‘gentle way’, is a Japanese martial art style that’s become a popular Olympic sport. It’s a tremendous and dynamic Olympic sport that demands both physical prowess and great mental discipline.
From a standing position, it involves techniques that allow you to lift and throw your opponent. On the floor, it includes techniques that allow you to pin your opponent’s down to the ground and control them. Unlike other sports its focus is not directed at attacking through striking movements but on grounding your opponent through these techniques.
Judos Origins
The martial art form was born in 1882, from a combination of jiu jitsu, a form of wrestling, and a high level of mental discipline. The roots of jiu jitsu lie with dominant traits and inspiration from sumo, a long-established fighting form dating back to the time of Empress Jitō (686 – 697). During these times up until the nineteenth century, Japan was ruled by samurai, a class of professional soldiers. During the reign of samurai various martial art forms were born and developed. In addition to fighting with swords and bows and arrows, the samurai developed jiu jitsu to fight enemies at close quarters on the battlefield. This form evolved into a range of different fighting styles and incorporated into military training.
The era of samurai came to an end in 1868, with a decline in jiu jitsu dojos. Judo’s mastermind, Jigoro Kano was a man in this time that continued with the teachings of jiu jitsu, taking the best things about each jiu jitsu style and creating a single new school, the school of Judo.
Modern Judo
Modern teachings of judo, whilst still following the same fundamentals and teachings of Jigoro Kano’s school, is an artform that requires great balance between your body and mind. Its modern teachings use the same techniques taught by Judo’s father while slightly moving away from attack movements and focusing on ground defence.
Judo was initially learnt as a self-defence technique, with many of its steps being used to hurt another person. The modern teachings of judo take suitable modifications so that students are able to learn the teachings and style of judo without hurting one another. Making the modern form of Judo more suitable for modern competitions and self-defence, which focus on defence movements, holds, throws and takedowns to push your opponent down to the ground and make them immobilised.
Judo teaches you much more beyond the development of physical excellence and athletic ability. Those who have learnt the teachings of old school or modern judo learn how to control their feelings, emotions, and impulses. These students of judo also learn about values of perseverance, respect, loyalty, and discipline.
If you or your child want to learn the grounding art of judo call Senshi Academy today. We offer a range of martial arts classes in Thomastown, North of Melbourne, for adults and children.
