It has been awhile since my last post. I have been busy with work, sick family members, a promotion in Kajukenbo, the holidays and juggling this with training. Trying to train in the midst of normal every day happenings is difficult enough but when it is coupled with family member's illness and of course the holiday season really adds up. I work hard at making time to train and study but for reasons beyond our control sometimes the distractions from training just seem to build up making it difficult to train.
I have tried to compensate with more solo training but even then family matters take precedence at times. I am beginning to think the holiday season is about the most difficult time to train. Thanks giving family gatherings, company Christmas parties play hell on the diet and of course cut into training. Time to train needs to be "stolen" at this time of year because for various reasons it is taken away.
Sam Lonewolf 8th Dan
I have been involved with First Nations Fighting Arts (Kenpo and Kajukenbo) under Sensei Lonewolf for over thirty years now. Not to mention being involved with my community doing many seminars on crime prevention and women’s self defense courses for several businesses, women’s organizations and clubs. I was once certified to train police officers in the self defense and use of force portions of state regulated police training and volunteered more hours than I can count as an auxiliary law enforcement officer.
Most recently I become the State representative for the International Kenpo Karate Academies (IKKA). So things have gotten busy and classes are going well and some decisions have to be made in the future and of course other issues are just a part of life so time for training is harder to manage at times but all one can do is muddle thru it the best one can.
The Body weight exercises have left me sore but I was up again this morning and knocking out more Hindu Squats along with other body weight exercises. I used these exercises to help get back in shape after an illness I suffered from a couple of years ago. (A story I will share at a later time) I have also started a push up training program which I have incorporated into my work out. There is nothing like bodyweight exercises to boost confidence, motivation, and improve athleticism.
A proponent of body weight exercise was athlete turned actor, Woody Strode, who was a top-notch decathlete and a football star at UCLA. During his time in high school/junior college Strode began doing pushups, knee squats, and situps daily. Strode worked up to 1000 reps of each exercise. The situps and squats were done continuously and the pushups were done in sets of 100 and was done everyday, that would take an incredible level of concentration. He tapered back his workouts as he got older, although 500 pushups a day for the most part is not tapering back, but he continued to train hard the rest of his life.
"I’m an old man, but life will never make an old man out of me. As long as you look like you can run on Santa Anita’s race track, even if you take last, you’ve still made the field. People see that horse and wonder what it is doing out there. They don’t know its 100 years old. Well, this is how nature has left me, so it is good." - Woody Strode
I woke up early this morning went outside and began to warm up by stretching and then got into some calisthenics. First up was a set of Hindu Squats. Hindu squats are simply a great excercise for building explosive power and strengthening the lower back, calves, and chest as well as increasing lung capacity. Done properly they can build real power in a short period of time. In order to reap the rewards from Hindu the squat, proper attention must be paid to form and breathing.
A set of Hindu squats was followed by a set of regular push ups and then some Hindu Push ups. Then back to a set of hindu squats followed by knuckle push ups, and palm in push ups. Then I did a third set of hindu squats followed by more push ups. Then I moved on to concentrating on my core with sit ups, crunches, V-ups and back raises.
I then switched to some weight training working with dumbells. I did front and side lateral raises 3 sets of each and then moved on to triceps extensions finishing up with dumbell preacher curls and alternating dumbell curls.
Sam Lonewolf 8th degree black belt First Nations
Barron Shepherd is a 7th degree black belt in Kenpo and Kajukenbo under Sam Lonewolf and a 2nd degree black belt in Judo.
Last week was a good week for training. I am bit by bit getting an overall game plan together. Training smarter. Making sure I am eating right and getting plenty of rest. Taking advice from those who are more knowledgeable in different areas of judo and physical preparation.
This week we trained using techniques such as tai otoshi, Seoi nage and some ashi waza. Tai o toshi was drilled solo as well as in combinations. First using a double stab tai o toshi and then using ashi waza to set up tai o toshi.
Seoi nage was drilled again going off a different varity of grips some off the sleeve others off the lapel. There are a lot of variations of seoi nage. One in particular is Koga's version which I like and work on. It is a some what different variation of seoi nage and uniquely his own.
I spent alot of solo practice time working innner tube uchi komi with this particular technique. Things are needing to get more detailed and I see that but a plan is forming.
It used to be that age 30 was old for an athlete. This has changed. Now, professional athletes routinely peak in their late 30's and remain competitive even into their 40s. There's no magic to longevity in sports, and recreational athletes are as capable of achieving it as the elites. It's simply a matter of taking care of your body when you're young and adapting your training and lifestyle in appropriate ways as you get older. Here are a few choice tips on the latter.
Stretch more and better
Loss of flexibility is a natural effect of aging that can be counteracted through a program of daily stretching. However, quite apart from aging, the repetitive movements involved in practicing any sport for a long period of time results in muscular imbalances that get progressively more extreme. These require targeted efforts to loosen and lengthen only those muscles that have become short and tight, because stretching all muscles equally will only take the imbalance to a higher level. I encourage every athlete, but experienced ones especially, to identify their short and tight muscles and devote special efforts lengthening them through stretching.
Rest and recover more
Unless they continue to perform training sessions that match the intensity of workouts they performed when younger, older athletes cannot hope to perform near the level at which they were able to perform in their mid-20s. And many older athletes find that they can continue to perform these tough workouts well into their 40s. However, they cannot do them as often. Older athletes need to allow themselves more time to recover between their most demanding training sessions. The extra time may be given to outright rest, active recovery, or a combination of both.
Pump those antioxidants
Free-radical damage, also known as oxidative stress, is now known to be one of the primary components of aging. Unfortunately, athletes are even more prone to free-radical damage than non-athletes. For this reason, they need to be especially vigilant in consuming antioxidants, those vitamins and vitamin-like compounds that protect against and repair such damage. Vitamins C and E are especially helpful to athletes, as controlled studies have shown they can dramatically reduce post-workout muscle soreness in the short term, in addition to minimizing long-term oxidative stress.
Practice nutritional recovery
A large body of clinical research has also shown that consuming the right nutrients in the right amounts immediately after exercise can enhance recovery substantially. According to Burke, water, electrolytes, carbohydrate, and protein are needed most to rehydrate the body, restore muscle glycogen, and repair tissue damage. Since most athletes experience appetite suppression after exercise, Try to get all of the needed nutrients by consuming one of the sports drinks on the market that is designed especially for recovery. Choose one with a four-to-one ratio of carbohydrate to protein, as more protein will retard the flow of nutrients into the bloodstream and less protein result in a less pronounced insulin spike, hence slower restocking of glycogen stores.
Train more efficiently
Believe it or not, there are actually advantages to getting older, even for athletes. One of these advantages is accumulated knowledge of one’s own body, particularly as it reacts to various types of training. In other words, the more experience you have in training for a particular sport, the better able you become (supposing you pay attention) to determine which exercises, drills, workouts and training patterns work well for you and which ones are less effective, or downright counterproductive. Use this knowledge to your advantage. Design a training program that minimizes the less useful training and maximizes the stuff that gives you the greatest performance bang for the training buck.
Flex those muscles
The older you get, the more important strength training becomes. One of the more crippling effects of aging for athletes is the gradual loss of muscle mass and strength that it entails. Athletes in sports that don’t require tremendous strength are particularly susceptible, as they tend to try and get by without resistance training. When you’re young, very often you can get away with it, but the older you get, the more important it becomes to train for strength specifically, no matter which sport you’re in.
Go to bed
Another thing that many athletes try and get by without is sleep. In fact, chronic sleep deprivation is an epidemic in American society. Researchers have shown that sleeping too little leads to a host of problems from depressed immune function to decreased mental functioning. Skimping on sleep is also harmful to athletic performance, because during sleep the body secretes human growth hormone (HGH), which is a powerful agent of recovery and adaptation to training. Less sleep means less HGH and therefore less freshness for the next day’s workout. Treat yourself to an extra half hour or hour of sleep each night and you’ll feel ten years younger.
I went into practice tonight feeling real good. This week as started off excellent. I was paid a couple of compliments from others online. It felt really good to receive those compliments and it simply urged me to do better, and train harder. Then to top that off about 45 minutes before leaving to go to judo, I received a call from my judo instructor back in Winter Haven. He reads the blog and he had some real encouraging things to say. All of which I took to heart. Inspiration is great, it feeds the flame.
During our conversation Sensei Tucker said he really liked the fact that I wasnt bragging on my successes but rather working to over come the challenges that a 40 something year old faces when stepping into a competitve arena. Of course he was right this blog is nt about how good I may or may not be, but it is about addressing my shortcomings. Not only on the judo mat but in life. My current struggle on the judo mat is indicative of my life it seems. Constantly working to become not only a better judoka but a human being as well. Addressing not only the frailties in a particular judo technique but personal flaws too.
I walked into judo tonight needless to say on a high note and really evaluating my game and what is needed to improve and make a game plan to do so. Certain aspects in my training need to be addressed as well as the every day things such as family, work and things to do around the home.
As we did uchikomi drills my mind was filled with all the stuff that needs to be worked on and the things in my life that need to be put into perspective. My uchikomi drills are divided, half are throwing techniques to the right side, the other half, on those same techniques but to the left side. I drilled Seoi nage to both the left and right side and with different grips, some throws off the sleeve, some off the lapel. Working both sides gives me the option to ataack on either side and not just relegated to just going to one side or a favorite side. It gives me a better over all game plan. Left and right are equal neither side is favored over the other. Balanced as life should be.
My seoi nage is okay but I have noticed that I am having trouble getting really low on executing seoi nage and so I will have to work on that. It is one of those aspects I need to work on. I am at the age where i must utilize all aspects of training. Diet, conditioning and of course judo skill development all have to come into play I cannot do only one part and leave the others out. All the elements have to be utilized together for the best results.
Toshihiko Koga Olympic champion and a seoi nage specialist
I have begun to do some strength conditioning. Starting off with some innertube uchikomi (described in an earleir post) as a warm up and then moving to some calisthenics such as push ups and crunches. I have also broken out the old ab wheel. and do as many of those as I can. The ab wheel is a great core work out. After s few sets with the wheel. I began to do more inner tube uchikomi. I would do 20 reps of one throw to the right side then do 20 push ups and do another set of uchikomi to the left side followed by push ups and then move onto another throw and start the cycle over again.
There are benefits that one receives from solo training,
Greater efficiency in technique – Obviously, by carrying out extra practise, one can always better themselves.
Train a certain area – You can concentrate on a certain techniques which you can’t seem to get right or a combination which you can’t find the correct balance with.
Develop unique training methods – This is the time when you can develop training methods and routines that are tailored to be specific for you. Other peoples training methods may not be.
One can work fighting spirit – As you are training solo, you learn how to push yourself to achieve greater results, which is the most important aspect of solo training.
Solo training is one aspect of training and should not be the only aspect. It should be supplemental to your time spent in the dojo.
Last night's practice went off with out a hitch. We warmed up and got right into Harai goshi again. We started off with some static uchikomi and then moved to a throw from a static position. Then we began to move around abit first just fitting in doing a few uchikomis and then throwwing on the last one.
Although I am beginning to move around better some of the throws are needing work. I for one am glad that we have spent a few nights these past couple of weeks working on the same throw. I am given a chance to see the throw from another perspective. Sometimes seeing it from a different persons point of view gives one a better understanding.
As each week passes I get more comfortable and feel less and less of an outsider who has a common interest amoung strangers. Things have a way of just taking care of themselves.
Other challenges have arisen however, I have missed a couple of practices due to work. So I am having to work out issues with the scheduling of work so I dont miss practice. When it comes to judo the only way to get better is to practice, practice, practice.
EXAMPLE OF UCHIKOMI
Practice ended with some conditioning drills. We partnered up and then would do some speed uchikomi drills: 10 uchikomis throwing on the last one and then doing 20 push ups, after the push ups you would stand back up and do another round of speed uchikomi and pushups. This would be repeated for 5 sets.
Kano Jigoro's Kodokan Judo is the most popular and well-known style of judo, but is not the only one. The terms judo and jujutsu were quite interchangeable in the early years, so some of these forms of judo are still known as jujutsu or jiu-jitsu either for that reason, or simply to differentiate them from mainstream judo. From Kano's original style of judo related forms have evolved, some now widely considered as distinct arts.
SAMBO
Sambo has a long history and several versions of it's history exist. The Soviets did not exactly share the truth when it came to history. In fact, sometimes, the truth was simply erased for various political reasons or on the whim of certain leaders.
Vasili Oshchepkov a Russian who at age 19 was admitted into Japan's Kodakan by Kano himself in 1911. In 1914, he was the first Russian, the first European judo black belt under Kano. Oshchepkov went on to create Sambo from judo's influence, integrating other combative techniques into his new system.
Oshchepkov had observed Kano’s distillation of Tenjin Shin’yo Ryu jujitsu and Kito Ryu jujitsu into judo, and he had developed the insight required to evaluate and integrate combative techniques into a new system. It was Oshchepkov's unique acumen - the foresight to see Kano's genius in distilling Jiujitsu into a deliberate, educational process.
In 1918, Lenin created Vseobuch (Vseobshchee Voennoye Oobuchienie or "General Military Training") under the leadership of N. Podovoyskiy to train the Red Army. The task of developing and organizing Russian military hand-to-hand combat training fell to K. Voroshilov, who in turn, created the NKVD physical training center, DYNAMO - and Spiridonov was the 1st combatives trainer hired.
In 1921, Oshchepkov served in the Red Army as a commander traveling covertly for special purpose missions into China. In 1923, Oshchepkov and Spiridonov collaborated with a team of other experts on a grant from the Soviet government to improve the Red Army’s hand-to-hand combat system.
Sportive SAMBO included three venues: hand to hand fighting, grappling, and bayonet fencing. Combative SAMBO a comprehensive curriculum address UNARMED H2H conduct.
Oshchepkov was enamoured with the principle of force-on-force training with a fully resistant opponent to have "realism". But just as importantly was Oshchepkov's study of physical training, early kinesiology and biomechanics, from pioneers such as Muller, Buk, and Suren. This heavily influenced this style of SAMBO in later years, posthumously from Oshchepkov.
Oshchepkov was killed during the political purges of 1937 for refusing to deny his education in Japanese judo under Kano. Oshchepkov was arrested in the dead of night, led to a Siberian Gulag and subsequently shot in the head for his fraternization with "Japanese imperialists."
After Oshchepkov's death, Sambo's founder was erased, then replaced and it's history was revised to be a compilation of techniques from various Soviet Republics, instead of being based on a Japanese art, a completely Russian composed combat system and sport.
In their History of Sambo, Dr. Brett Jacques and Scott Anderson wrote that in Russia "judo and SOMBO were considered to be the same thing" - albeit with a different uniform and some differences in the rules. This historical clip from Russia shows the original Sambo demonstrated by one of its forefathers, Vasili Oshchepkov, before his assassination by Stalin during the political purges of 1937:
In United States during the 1960's the civil rights debate raged on around the country, but a handful of men put aside their petty differences and banned together to chase a dream. Under Olympic rules, the host country can add a sport to the games so in 1964 when Japan was selected to host the games, Judo was added to the events. Though this was the first year Judo was an Olympic event the United States still fielded an experienced team made up of Americans from a variety of ethnic, religious and economical backgrounds.
From the beginning, Dr. Jigoro Kano Judo's founder taught anyone who wanted to learn. It was the first time this type of training, normally reserved for nobility, was made available to the masses. Kano sent instructors all over the world to teach people the martial art and expose them to Japanese culture. Unlike before, students of any nationality were welcomed and encouraged to train at the Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo. A special section was eventually set up to help teach foreigners this amazing martial art. Among these foreigners was British police officer William Fairbairn. He would go on earn his black belt in Judo (2nd degree) and would go to teach other police officers and soldiers practical close combat and self defense techniques based of what he learned. Kano would travel the world teaching and lecturing and in 1938 he even sat on the Olympic committee in an effort to bring the Olympics to Tokyo.
The American team embodied the true spirit of Judo and as well served as a snapshot of American society of the day. The team to head to Tokyo in 1964 included African American George Harris, an Air Force veteran who had won a number of important tournaments around the world. In addition to military competitions and he trained at the Kodokan in Japan several times. Another Air Force veteran to join the team was Native American Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who was first introduced to Judo by Japanese friends growing up in California. Like Harris, he continued to practice Judo in the military and trained bomber pilots in combat martial arts as part of their survival training.
Also on the team was James Bergman, a Jew who's Asthma forced him to stay inside so he trained in Judo to keep fit and be able to fight off bullies (an added benefit of this martial art). His dedication would bring him to the Olympics. He would even train with martial arts legend and author Donn Draeger.
Finally, veteran Judo instructor Yosh Uchida a Japanese American would coach the team.
The competition was fierce at the Olympics in 1964, but the Japanese would still dominate three of the four weight classes. The one exception was the 6'7" 320 pound Anton Geesink of Holland who won a gold medal bye defeating Akio Kaminaga in the open weight division. Though victorious Geesink would behave honorably and prevent Dutch fans from fighting with Japanese fans who were shocked by the defeat. James Bergman would be the only American to medal with a Bronze. Though American didn't bring home the Gold Meda,l the team made a good showing and earned the respect of other nations. The United States would not win another medal in Judo until 1976 when Allen J. Coage an African American won the Bronze Medal. Though the United States has yet to win a Gold Medal in Judo, American teams remain competitive in the Olympics and other competitions.
The original members of the 1964 team still continued to contribute to the sport today. George Harris continued to compete though he would not compete in the Olympics again. He also helped found the United States Judo Association and remains active as a board member. Though he has been ill in the last few years he continues to train which he credits with keeping him strong. Ben Campbell also worked to promote Judo with Harris in the USJA and is on the board. Campbell would also work as a police officer, teacher, and be elected as Senator for Colorado from 1993 until 2005. Bergman also teaches, writes, and continues to promote Judo. He remains proud to be a member of America's first Olympic Judo team.
In a time when society was demanding equality for all and that a man be judged by his ability not his race a group of athletes stood up and became a symbol of America. For many the team meant another step forward for civil rights, but to the team it was just being true sportsmen. Sports don't build character, they reveal it and in 1964 the United States showed what could be done if everyone worked together.
Tonight I walked into dojo in a very nostalgic mood. My thoughts predominately on old friends and friendships built in my judo class back home. I have become rather homesick in the sense that I miss the comradery of my old friends who I have known for my entire judo career. I am building new friendships but still feel like much of an outsider to this class. They are more than friendly but I find myself wanting to see a familiar face and hear encouragement from longtime training partners. Strong ties were made during those years and judo is starting to bring back those memories.
We worked on different shime waza (choking techniques). Shimewaza is probably the most difficult area of judo to master. Few judo practitioners will ever attain total mastery of shimewaza. The majority of shimewaza techniques require compression of the carotid artery. Also shimewaza attacks must be precise especially if attacking an experienced player.
The basis for all chokes/strangles is to attempt to render the opponent unconscious. A good strangulation hold should render the opponent unconsciousness without injury or significant pain in a matter of seconds regardless of whom the opponent is. The most basic requirements for applying such an effective strangulation are:
* Make sure your own body always has complete freedom of action so that you are in the best position for the technique you intend to use and you are flexible enough to be able to respond to your opponent's attempts to escape. Your position should be stable so that in applying the technique you can use your entire body. * Lead your opponent into a position in which it is most difficult to put up resistance, and control all of his or her actions. Your opponent must be unstable and under your control as much as possible. Very often this means stretching out your opponent's body backwards. * Train your hands to get an accurate hold the minute you begin a technique, make your choke work in a very brief time, and once you begin the pressure refrain from continually releasing to adjust your position. Your techniques will have much greater effect if you are firmly resolved not to let your opponent get away but to continue until the end without slackening. Constancy of pressure, rather than extreme force, is what is called for. Excessive reliance on strength would indicate a defect in the technique since very little pressure is needed to compress an artery and render a person unconscious.
Uchi Komi with a bicycle inner tube. Take a bicycle tire inner tube , and slice it so that you essentially have a long strip of rubber that you can wrap around the tree, and hold the ends in your hands.
Approximate your preferred grip's hand positioning (lapel and cuff, double lapel, etc), and practice entering as if you were performing specific throws, whilst pulling in the appropriate manner on the inner tube.
Tie your Gi belt at about waist height around a pillar/post/tree of your choice. If it slips down, a bit of duct tape will do to either hold the belt in place, or replace it for the task.
Make sure that your belt is at the correct height in relation to your opponent's (the belt/tape around the tree/post/pillar), and that your weight is distributed correctly. Think about kuzushi as you pull on the arms. Think about your foot placement, positioning, and agility.
Can be done as static Uchikomi, or to breakdown an aspect of the technique.
Obviously not a replacement for actual uchikomi or training with a partner, but a good drill nonetheless.
An introduction to using bicycle innertubes to practice judo techniques, develop form, and build strength.
This is an old video of a Judoka training by using an old bicycle inner tube.
Tonight's practice we worked on a Harai Goshi. Personally Harai Goshi isnt one of my favorite techniques. Harai Goshi usually works better for taller judoka. I am only 5'10" my personal favorite throws are Seoi Nage, Tai Otoshi and I like alot of the Ashi Waza techniques. But working to improve your weaker or least liked throws is goo
Harai goshi is one of the original 40 throws of Judo as developed by Kano Jigoro. It belongs to the second group of the traditional throwing list in the Gokyo no waza of the Kodokan Judo. It is also part of the current 67 Throws of Kodokan Judo, and classified as a hip technique (koshiwaza). Russian Prime Minister and former President Vladimir Putin is known for his Harai Goshi.
Starting from a right-side grip:
Simultaneously: pull the opponent’s sleeve up and towards you with your left hand, pull in with your right arm (gripping back of collar, lapel, or belt), and step your right foot to the front corner of their right foot.
Step your left foot behind your right foot - right between their feet. Bend your knees. Stay low. Stay on the balls of your feet. Make contact with the side of your hip into their hip or upper thigh.
Simultaneously: pivot on the ball of your left foot, lift with your left leg, stretch your right leg to the outside of their right thigh while swinging it up to the ceiling, and twist your body to the left (you’ll end up standing on your left toes with your body and right leg horizontal).
The opponent will fly over your right shoulder.
Keep the grip on the opponent’s sleeve and pull up slightly as they hit the mat. This allows you to maintain control and softens the impact for your partner.
Kuzushi
As with every judo takedown, kuzushi (or breaking the balance) is the most important element to master. When the opponent is off balance, they’ll be easier to throw, which means you’ll spend less energy achieving a stronger throw. For harai goshi, the bulk of the kuzushi comes from giving the opponent’s sleeve a hard pull up and towards you. This will cause them to move forwards and up on their toes - the perfect position for you to get your hips right under their centre of gravity.
Attack With a Low Center of Gravity
After kuzushi, the most important element of harai goshi is attacking with a low center of gravity - lower than your opponent’s. When this is done properly, almost all of the throw’s power comes from the legs rather than the back and upper body. That means a more powerful throw that requires less effort and reduces the risk of injury.
Leg Position in Harai Goshi Blocks the Opponent’s Counter
One of the counters to ogoshi is to simply jump around the opponent and get back to facing them. By getting off of and away from their hip, you take yourself out of the danger zone. The beauty of harai goshi is that the leg is positioned outside of the opponent’s hip, making it much more difficult for them to jump around and get off of your hip.
Some have asked me why I am doing this blog. Rather unexpectedly it has become quite clear to me that my blog is definitely becoming an aide in my training. As a martial artist and competitor I know I make mistakes and the blog is one way That allows me to address them and instill proper technique by writing it down in words It helps in my retention of existing skill sets and new skill sets.
This morning after warmup we started drills for gripping. Gripping is an essential first step to throwing your opponent. The thing to remember is that in judo you can't do much to your opponent without a grip.
Know your throws and look for the grips that are the most effective with your throws. Ideally you want a set of different grips which are comfortable and effective for you. So sort out what your favorite/most effective techniques are and what grip you need for them, then work for it.
Now that we know what grip we want, we need to get it on our opponent. Don't let your opponent dictate grips. If you ever feel uncomfortable with an opponent's grip, get out of it. Ripping it off is usually the first option. You might attempt a lapel/overgrip/collar grip because that's where the attack is going to come from. Grip the sleeve of the opponent's gripping hand with both hands and push down in a sharp motion. If it doesn't immediately break off keep pushing down in a stuttery kind of rhythm until it comes off. Another method of breaking off an overhead grip is to grab the opponent's armpit (on the side they're overgripping) and quickly stiffen your arm while rotating into them and shrugging your shoulder. This will either pop off the grip or weaken it enough that you can reach up and rip it off.
The one thing people tend to do is take the sleeve first. This gives your opponent a handle on you, since they can now easily grip your sleeve and control that arm. Work on your lapel/collar/overgrip/undehook hand first. Use the opposite hand to cross grip and pull your opponent in to make it easier to catch the grip you want if you're going for an over grip or underhook. Once you've got that hand set the sleeve is easy, just reach out and grab it.
You need two hands to control both sides off your opponent. Letting go with one gives them free reign on the one side and you can't block or control them. Be aware when you're both sunk in gripping you need to be doing something with a hand if you're letting go, be it an attack or a change to another girp. Make your opponent react to it so they don't have time to attack. The ideal time to attack is when your opponent only has one hand on you.
For many martial artists, they will say that Bruce Lee got them interested in martial arts or he influenced them in some way. While that may be true for most it isnt in my case. One of my earliest recollections of Judo was back in the 70’s around "78" or "79" I had seen the movie “Breaking Point” starring actor Bo Svenson. "Breaking Point" was my first exposure to martial arts on screen. In "Breaking Point" he played a judo instructor who witnesses a murder carried out by the mob and he and his family are entered into a witness relocation program. There were some memorable fight scenes in the movie that impressed this young 12 year old boy.
Another movie which made an impression was "Judo's Gentle Tiger" and also known as "The Year of the Gentle Tiger". A forerunner to "The Karate Kid", it was shot in the late 1970s, and was later broadcast as a NBC daytime program in 1979. But it was Bo Svenson’s movie "Breaking Point" that was the catalyst for my interest in judo and other martial arts. All other influences would come and go, but, Bo Svenson's would stay and re-inspire years and years later.
By the age of 14, I was in a karate/jiujitsu class which I stayed with for years but the impression Bo Svenson made would linger for a lot of years. My family did not share my enthusiasm for the martial arts. Most of my inspirations came from people I did not know nor did they know me. I guess like alot of kids my inspirations came from the heroes portrayed on the silver screen and T.V. by actors like Bo Svenson.
Recollecting my boyhood movie memories of judo, in 1991 at the age of 26, I would step into a judo class for the first time. Judo was like no other style I had trained in and I was assured of two things by the Judo instructor; Rank would nt come easy nor would it come fast. I was told by the instructor that this would be an endeavor that would take years of hard work. That the lessons learned in judo corresponded with life and as I found out, life somehow made sense on the judo mat.
As I look back, my judo experience was like developing a taste for beer, at first it was unpleasant but after awhile you got used to it and then eventually began to enjoy it. This however would take years of showing up to class. Alot of times I would ask myself, "what am I doing here?" Being too stubborn to quit after several years I attained brown belt. It was nt until brown belt that a love for judo developed.
Finally in 1998, I tested and was awarded shodan. I had never taken as much pride in achieving something as I did when I had achieved my shodan rank in Judo. I hold higher ranks in other styles but the rank I have been most proud of are the shodan and nidan ranks I attained in judo. Then in 2006 I was awarded nidan and had seen Bo Svenson's movie "Breaking Point" again after alot of years. After 2006 work and other endeavors had taken me away from judo. I was involved also with other martial arts and all of these things just took up too much time. Some time after, I was able to contact Mr. Svenson and had asked him of his judo experience and if he was still training at which point he said he was nt and that it was too bad that he was nt involved any longer.
By 2009 I had become disillusioned with the politics of the other martial arts that had taken up so much of my time. I began to distance myself from karate, jiujitsu and running a dojo. Tired of politics, tired of teaching, maybe I was just plain tired of everything. I dont really know. I do know I wasnt happy and no longer found enjoyment in training or teaching. I was just not motivated any longer and felt that there was something that I was missing but just couldnt put my finger on it. So, I closed my dojo and walked away.
I had not stepped foot in a judo dojo in over two years and had closed my dojo earlier this year and was no longer teaching or training. Then a few months ago, out of nowhere Bo Svenson contacted me. He wrote "Nearly a year ago you asked if I was still involved in judo. At the time I wasn't. I am now. This weekend I am competing in the the USA Judo National Championships. I'm THRILLED to be back in the sport! Hope all is well with you."
My childhood hero had managed to inspire me again, but this time I was nt a boy of 12 but a man of 44. Alot of years had gone past since I first saw him play that role of judo instructor and now those few words had lifted my spirits and moved me in a long lost familar direction. Not only had his words affected me but his actions as well, as he stepped back on the mat to compete as he had told me he would.
Memories of judo and the people I trained with, my old sensei, the sounds of judoka hitting the mat, practicing ukemi, getting thrown and the purity of judo itself ran thru my mind. I guess I went back to the beginning, the first influence, the first impressions made on a young boy so long ago. A distant unknowing role model whose few words reaffirmed the purity of a martial art that I had so desperatly needed and couldnt find. A once extinguished fire trying to spark and rekindle.
I am back in Judo but not as an instructor but as a simple student, getting back into the learning process, the developmental process not only of a martial artist or a competitior but a human being as well. The rebirth of a spirit. On the other side of our great country Bo Svenson is busy with movies and Judo training and teaching, still inspiring me as he had done so many years ago from a distance. Yep, life always made since on the judo mat, a point reinterrated by a humble hero of the silver screen in a few written words.
"The Combatants, one is in white, the other in blue, each circles the other. Their hands darting in swiftly, like a boxer’s jab, for their grip, a handful of collar and or sleeve. They break off, then re-engage, and begin a violent whirlwind of motion, a dazzling dance that moves in every conceivable direction around the mat with lightening speed, fury and herculean effort. Bodies twist and collide, somersault thru the air, stumble and crash, as each tries to throw other to the canvas with all the force he can unleash. One’s assertion written in the air with his opponent’s flying body with a vehement desire to score an ippon, the highest score inflicting a symbolic death."
There are two types of judo. One is sport (which is very common in this country) the other is traditional judo (the way it was originally taught). Traditional judo is an excellent self- defense art and has formed the basis for many military combatives and defensive tactics training around the world. The Japanese police have trained in Judo since 1886, when Judo (at the time known merely as Kano Jujitsu) defeated several other established schools of Jujitsu in a tournament.
Various aspects of Judo principles and training methods promote attributes and skills helpful in self-defense:
Training with full power and speed against fully-resisting opponents: builds speed, stamina, strength, and tenacity.
Body and mental conditioning by repeatedly being thrown with significant force.
Training in safe methods to take falls.
Ability to accurately and quickly use balance, distance, and timing against skilled opponents in fully-resistive sparring. Judo practitioners are experts in controlling their opponent's balance whilst maintaining their own.
Sports Judo rules emphasize rapid transition to pins or submissions after a take-down, which builds skills in explosive use of chokes and locks in self-defense situations.
Emphasis in controlling one's opponent during throws allow a practitioner to dictate the angle, direction, and force with which his or her opponent lands on the ground. The consequences could be gentle or lethal, depending on the Judo practitioner's intentions.
I arrived at judo practice tonight somewhat anxious to get started. Training started as usual with warm up and stretching then going to ukemi and turnout drills. After which we began to drill using combinations.
When it comes to combinations there are basically two kinds of combination techniques in judo, renzoku-waza andrenraku-waza. Renzoku-waza is a combination of two or more techniques in the same direction, where the first technique begins to break the opponent's balance and the second technique finishes the job. An example of this kind of combination would be uchimata into harai-goshi, where both attacks take the opponent to his left front corner.
The second kind of combination renraku-waza is a reaction combination, where the first attack provokes a strong defensive reaction, inviting the attacker to switch direction to exploit this defensive effort. For example if you attack with o-uchi-gari, causing the opponent to step back and push off with his arms, you then switches to ippon seoi-nage exploiting his opponent's defensive push to throw him forwards. The switch of direction might just as easily be from left to right as from rear to front. One can attack with right uchimata which the opponent must block strongly to prevent himself from being thrown; You release your left-hand grip on the opponents sleeve and spin under the opponent's left arm with left seoi-nage.
At the higher levels the first attack may become just a threatening feint designed to provoke a defensive twitch, but for the first attack to provoke such a reaction it has to feel dangerous. Your opponent has to be convinced on a subconscious level that if he does not react strongly he will be thrown. Tori’s job then is to convince the opponent, through his grip, footwork and body movements that he intends to do a particular throw and the opponent must be made to react.
My body was no longer sore after all I had a week off of training due to labor day weekend and so we had no practice on Monday of last week since it was labor day. So I was feeling pretty good. I knew in the back of my mind once things got back to normal the soreness would be back so I took alot of comfort in the fact that I wasn't sore.
Watching the instructor of the class it was evident he knew his stuff when it comes to high level judo play. This reassured me that I was in the right place and during training there was talk of upcoming tournaments. I wondered if I would be ready for one of them. My intention is not to just compete, but to win. Anything less would be unacceptable.
After we finished with the combinations, we spent some time on working on techniques that some of the lower belts would be tested on for their next rank on Sunday.
He may head of one of the world's elite superpowers, but to his fellow judo club members Russian President Vladimir Putin is best known for his wicked sweeping leg throw (Haraigoshi).
Although it is little known in the west, Putin is an avid student of judo -- the Japanese art in which students compete to throw their opponents or defeat them on the ground with grappling techniques, such as immobilizations, chokes and submission arm locks.
Putin began studying judo at age 14 and has been studying ever since. During his competitive career, among his many victories Putin placed third place in the Russian Junior Nationals and was Leningrad Seniors Champion. He is now President of the same club where he began, St. Petersburg's Yawara Judo Club.
Several years ago, following an official state visit to Tokyo, Japan, Putin was a guest at the famous Kodokan headquarters of judo. In attendance were many officials including Japanese Prime Minister Mori. Yukimitsu Kano, the grandson of Kodokan Judo's founder Jigoro Kano said, "President Putin started Judo when he was very young, and has continued practice until now. He had a wish to visit the Kodokan institute. We are very happy to have him and welcome him as a judo member."
Following demonstrations of the art, Putin showed his own skills of throwing and grappling. Assisted by a Kodokan instructor, Mukai, Putin demonstrated a variety of leg sweeps, shoulder, and backward sacrificing throws plus two techniques favored by smaller men facing larger opponents -- an inner leg throw that dumps the opponent backward and the basic hip throw that introduces most students to the art. He also performed ground immobilization techniques. Afterwards Putin's assistant, Mukai said, said that President Putin's technique was very good.
Putin was then presented with flowers by a young lady. And to the delight of the audience Putin permitted her to throw him. He was officially awarded a coveted sixth degree black belt.
Not since US President Teddy Roosevelt has a world leader been associated with judo or other martial arts. Roosevelt had been involved in both boxing and wrestling. After witnessing a demonstration of judo by Yoshiaka Yamashita against a wrestler at the White House, Roosevelt began studying the art under this teacher, eventually becoming the first American to achieve the rank of brown belt. While Roosevelt may be the first modern day head of state to actively practice in the martial arts, Putin is certainly the first to achieve an advanced rank in martial arts.
Photos courtesy President Vladimir Putin website and reproduced with permission: www.vladimirputin.4u.ru
About the Author:
Tom Ross is a retired NYC Correction Officer who specialized in the Handling of Security Risk group prisoners. A Yudansha in Shorinjiryu Kenzenkai Karatedo (an Offshoot of the Shorinjiryu Kenkokan founded by Masayoshi Hisataka), he also spent six years studying Jujutsu (classical, modern and Brazilian). Possessing an avid interest in the history of martial arts and traditions he currently serves as the Research Coordinator for FightingArts.com as well as moderating its Martial Arts Talk forum. He additionally serves as the moderator of the Sabaki List (which is dedicated to various martial artists and full contact stylists) and is a member of the International Hoplology Society.
Tonight practice was a good practice we opened with with the usual warm up stretches, breakfalling techniques and turn out drills such as cartwheels and round offs feeling stiff from last week's practices. We then moved into a nage waza drill which consisted of moving multiple directions, begining with going back wards and then setting up our partner for a throw. We did three uchikomis and then the fourth attempt was a throw using our favorite technique. (The term Uchikomi is derived from the Japanese verb Utsu which means "to beat against". Many instructors mistakenly interpret the word Uchikomi to mean "fitting in")
I wondered again, how long it was going to take for everything to at least feel normal again. My timing, footwork and coordination was indeed off and I found myself struggling just get my steps right.
We then moved our opponent back ward moving into three uchikomis and then on the fourth a throw. We ended the drill with moving yet another direction for three uchikomis and then on the fourth a throw. We kept this multi directional drill up for 15 minutes then rested. We repeated this three times. This type of drill was done at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado springs.
I felt that felt as if I was moving slow with no fluidity at all. I almost felt like a fish out of water except for the fact that I knew what to do but just couldn't seem to get my body working in unison with my mind.
We ended with an anaerobic uchikomi drill in which we again partnered up and one would attempt 10 uchikomis sprint across the mat touch the edge and sprint back to your partner and do 10 more and then run the sprint again. We repeated this for 5 sets completing 50 uchikomi.
I had managed to work up a good sweat tonight and again felt like an old wet sack of sore bones on my way home. As much as it was hard work, I was just as anxious for another practice and in a hurry for the rust to wear off and disgusted with my performance despite the encouragement I had gotten from some of the guys at the dojo.
I woke up Saturday morning still feeling every muscle and joint in my body. My back and neck killing me. I have had the past couple of days off work and used them for a much needed rest and recovery from the two a day practice this past Wednesday. I walked into the dojo at 11:30 and to my surprise it was a light practice.
The guys were working on some other types of submission techniques such as leglocks and ankle locks. This was a good diversion and a fun training session. Although it was explained that these were Sambo techniques I think it is interesting to know that at one time before judo was considered an olympic sport that judo did consist of leglocks ankle locks and neck cranks . (Mikunosuke Kawaishi published a book entitled "My Method of Judo" in 1955 in which such techniques were demonstrated.)These techniques however are deemed illegal in competition. However they were a nice break from regular training.
After the leglocks we got back into judo newaza techniques. We began to drill as we had done before we were grappling in 3 minute periods and then changing opponents. I was still not moving as I thought I should be, I was still stiff and sore. It was a great cardio workout and in the end I was exhausted.
The instructor let the class know that Monday we would be doing randori. Randori is a term used in Judo to describe free-style practice or sparring. I left the dojo just wanting my body to stop aching and now wondering how I was going to do at randori Monday at practice.
A judo match takes place between two players, on a mat, and is watched and scored by referees.
Within a judo match, the objective is to score an ippon, which is akin to a pin in wrestling or a knockout in boxing. When an ippon is scored, a match is over. There are three ways to attain an ippon:
Throw the opponent over so that he lands hard on the back.
Hold the opponent on the back for 25 seconds.
Make the opponent submit by a strangle hold or an armlock.
There are hundreds of variations of throwing techniques. Some throws use mostly legs, some mostly arms, some a combination of arms, legs and torso. Some students throw their opponents over their own hips, shoulders or backs. They can also sweep the opponent's feet out from under him or drop down and throw the opponents over their own fallen body.
To pin an opponent, a student can press down from a facedown or side-down position (generally controlling the head and an arm or leg) so that the opponent's back or a shoulder is on the mat.
To obtain a submission, pressure can be applied directly on the elbow of a straight arm, or an arm bent at a right angle can be twisted in either direction (armlock). To strangle, or choke, pressure is applied to the sides of the opponent's neck (not the windpipe) by one or both forearms or by using the opponent's own collar. Strangle holds are only allowed on players 13-years-old or older. Arm locks can only be used if the player is at least 17-years-old.
Although strangles and armlocks may seem dangerous, the players are trained to know when they are in danger and will submit by tapping either the mat, or the opponent, twice, before any damage is done. The referees are extremely alert when one player attempts to apply a choke or an armlock. If the referee thinks the technique is about to cause serious injury, he can stop the match and declare a winner.
There is a long list of things not allowed. Mainly, players are expected to play fair and continuously attack. They are penalized for things like intentionally going out of bounds, refusing to attack (stalling), being too defensive, making rude comments or gestures and performing dangerous acts (like not giving the opponent a chance to submit). The rules are rarely broken except in the tactical areas, such as stepping out or stalling. Penalties in judo are severe; a repeat of any transgression results always in the next higher penalty, the lower one being removed.
Three referees officiate in a contest. Two sit at opposite corners and the third moves around the mat to observe the players. The center referee also controls the bout and signals the results. Each decision is agreed upon by at least two of the three referees.
Although an ippon is the objective, there are partial points scored. In each bout, however, it is the highest quality score that wins. A score is signaled by the referee's arm; the higher the arm signal, the higher the score. For example, an arm straight up signals an ippon.
How can you tell a technique's score? Watch the center referee's hand signal and listen to the call. The higher the signaling arm, the higher the score. The scores, in order from highest to lowest quality are:
Ippon: arm straight up.
Waza-ari: arm out at shoulder level
Yuko: arm 45 degrees out from the side
Koka: arm against the side; hand in a sort of stop or greeting signal
Anippon is awarded for (a) a throw that lands the opponent largely on their back in a controlled manner with speed and force; (b) for a mat hold of sufficient duration (twenty five seconds); or (c) for opponent submission. Awaza-ari is awarded for a throw that does not quite have enough power or control to be considered ippon; or for a hold of twenty seconds. A waza-ari is a half-point, and, if two are scored, they constitute the full point needed for a win.
Yuko is a lower grade of score, and only count as a tie-breaker; it is not cumulative with one another. Scoring is lexicographic; a waza-ari beats any number of yuko, but a waza-ari and a yuko beat a waza-ari with no yuko.
There used to be a fourth score called koka but it has been removed. When the koka was in use it was a lower score that yuko. Like yuko, koka is purely a tiebreaker and used only when competitors had the same amount of waza-ari and yuko. A yuko beats any number of koka.
A fifteen-second hold down scores yuko. If the person who secured the hold down already has a waza-ari, they only need to hold the hold down for twenty seconds to score ippon by way of two waza-ari (waza-ari-awasete-ippon). Throws further lacking the requirements of an ippon or a waza-ari might score a yuko. So-called "skillful takedowns" are also permitted (e.g. the flying arm-bar) but do not score.
If the scores are identical at the end of the match, the contest is resolved by the Golden Score rule. Golden Score is a sudden death situation where the clock is reset to match-time, and the first contestant to achieve any score wins. If there is no score during this period, then the winner is decided by Hantei, the majority opinion of the referee and the two corner judges.
The contest area is a square eight meters long on each side. The outer meter (“danger area”) is red and is inside the playing area, but competitors can only remain in that area for a few seconds before attempting a throw or they will be penalized. There is a three-meter “safety area” in which a player can be thrown as long as the thrower remains inside the contest area.
Sketch of a Mat
There should be one or two scoreboards to show the state of play. Because in Judo it is always the highest quality score that wins, the scoreboard is laid out left to right to show the scores like 3-digit number.
Waza-Ari
Yuko
KoKa
Medical
Shido3
Shido2
Shido1
BLUE
0
3
1
+ +
WHITE
1
0
0
+
Shido3
Shido2
Shido1
Looked at in this way, the score is 100 to 31: White's single waza-ari beats the lesser quality of Blue's 3 yukos and 1 koka. Other features of the scoreboard are as follows:
The Ippon score is not shown on the scoreboard because there can only be 1 Ippon and scoring it ends the bout.
If two waza-ari's are scored by the same person it is considered the same as an Ippon and the match ends.
On the above scoreboard, Blue has two medical timeouts; White has one. If blue needs another medical timeout, the match will end and white will be declared the winner.
The boldface Shido2 on the White side indicates that one of Blue's Yukos was as a result of White's penalty. If White received another penalty, the Shido2 would be removed and the Shido3 would appear in boldface; on the Blue side, one Yuko would be removed and a Waza-Ari would be added. Penalties are explained in more detail in the next section
If an Ippon has not been scored by the end of the time limit, the player with the highest score wins; if tied, the clock score is cleared, the clock is reset to the same match time and the players enter “Golden Score” which means that the first score (or penalty) wins. Golden Score is a new rule in Judo for the 2004 Olympic Games. If the score is still tied after Golden Score, then the referee (1) and judges (2) decide who is the winner using a majority decision. They will each hold a blue flag in one hand and white flag in the other. On the referee's command of “HANTEI” (HAHN-TAY), each will indicate their vote by raising the flag having the same color of the uniform of the winner.
At 11:45am I walked into the dojo feeling like a sack of sore bones. Sensei Martin and his daughter greeted me shaking hands and saying hello. I walked to the back of the dojo to the changing room to put on my gi wondering what was to be in store for me today looking forward to class and dreading it at the same time.
We began our warm up by doing uchikomi using our favorite technique. UCHI KOMIis a traditional skill building exercise of practicing a technique to the point of throwing without throwing your opponent. By not throwing we can practice the entry to a technique many more times than if we were to take our opponent over each and every time.
EXAMPLE OF UCHI KOMI
First we did uchi komi from a static position then we began to do uchi komi on the move. I was really having a hard time, my timing was off and it was coupled with the soreness I was feeling from the previous class and carrying a few extra lbs that I shouldn't be. I felt like I was moving around like a sack of potatoes.
I began to do my uchi komis usingIPPON SEOI NAGE several on the right and then switching to my left alternating back and forth from left to right. Ensuring both sides got equally drilled. Trying to work out the soreness and get my timing back. It was painfully obvious to me that I was indeed missing a step. I was indeed rusty. Despite the encouragement I got from Sensei Martin and his daughter on my performance,I began to wonder about the factors contributing to my mat rust. I knew i could move better and quicker. Yes, it was obvious that time away from the mat surely effected me but I wondered if my age did too. I wondered why was I doing judo in an competitive environment and not a more recreational one.
IPPON SEOI NAGE
The drill was then changed up to moving around and doing 4 uchi komis and then on the 5th attempt throw. This is a great drill for timing and footwork something that I desperately needed. again I began working the right side and then on my next set of uchi komis working the left not favoring one side over the other. I then incorporated changing my grips from going off the tradtional sleeve and lapel to using more unconventional grips and throwing off of them. The soreness began to slowly drift out of my mind as I began to concentrate more on the uchikomi drill.
Our next drills were for newaza working a sankaku jime turnover to a choke. I had worked up a good sweat from the uchi komi drills but the switch to groundwork was a good change of pace. The re familiarization of techniques was indeed good but although I knew the techniques and could do them in my mind getting my body to respond and react as quickly as my mind could was a different story.
EXAMPLE OF SANKAKU JIME
After practice I decided to have lunch, the soreness had crept back in and again my mind was on judo, my performance or lack there of and the factors affecting it and me. Am I being overly critical, I wondered. In my heart I felt as if I was better than my performance, again how much of it is rust, how much of it is age, is it a matter of just getting back in shape or has father time began to be a factor. To early to tell maybe.
EVENING PRACTICE
At 5:00 pm I had grilled chicken and asparagus for dinner. After training for only two days I am slipping into dieting mode and eating right. At 7:30 I walked into the dojo for the second part of the two a day practices. I was aching from the practices and wondering what I was going to be put thru tonight.
The warm up started off with stretching, running and then we went on to Handstands, cartwheels and round offs. These skills are good for teaching the judoka to try and cartwheel out of the throw teaching the judoka to turn out rather than fall on their backs. Also escaping from throws as well as entering into NeWaza from a throw. We finished the warm up with calisthenics.
We then proceeded to do ukemi or break falling techniques and then right into newaza drills. Newaza is ground techniques such as hold downs, turnovers, chokes and joint locking techniques. This morning we worked on turnovers to a choke and tonight we worked on more turnovers to juji gatame. We then did newaza in three minute periods changing partners after each period. I felt I did okay though some were able to get me with techniques that I saw coming but just wasn't quick enough to counter.
I was surprised that as sore as I was I spent very little time dwelling on it. I was just concentrating more on getting thru the workout. When the training come to an end I was indeed relieved glad for it to be over. I began to critique my performance and again wondered how long it would take to get rid of the rust and get my timing back. I could see everything coming at me but couldn't get my body to react in time. I am hoping I will get sharper. I am feeling torn down and my ego has definitely taken a blow getting caught in submission techniques that I feel I shouldn't get caught in and not being able to move or react like I feel I should be able to.
Despite what I was thinking, a part of me enjoys being sore, enjoys the hard work, enjoys being committed to something. Is this a battle against father time? Is this simply my ego? A middle age crisis that maybe I am going thru but dont know it yet? Could it be that I am rediscovering something about myself? Do I need a challenge of some sort to feel some self worth or is it a love for judo? All these things are rushing thru my mind. Maybe it is a little bit of all these reasons. Whatever the reason I have jumped right in with both feet. The two a day practices are going to leave me hurting for awhile I think.
I am a little sore but it feels good. The last thing on my mind last night before I feel asleep was judo. I was mulling over the night's grappling drills. Doing newaza in my head recalling each drill and each match seeing the mistakes and missed opportunities.
My neck is sore, my face is a little marked up from the newaza there is blood on my gi, mine mixed with the others I was grappling with. The muscles used in grappling are an entirely different group of muscles used in anything else. My return to Judo seems like being reunited with a long lost friend. The familiarity was felt as I was putting my old judo gi back on for the first time last night before class.
I cannot believe how good it is to be back doing judo in a competitive environment. I have been so involved with all sorts of B.S. the past two years that I hadn't been able to really enjoy anything. However, life seems to make sense on the judo mat. It is nice to be able to "SEE" your opponent and what he throws at you.
I woke up this morning with a purpose and a clear unclouded head. Undaunted by life's troubles and the crap suffered over the past two years, the competitive juices are flowing. I am at peace and looking forward to stepping back on the mat again Wednesday. A long lost familiar feeling. I haven't felt like this in a long time.
Earlier tonight I walked into a judo class for the first time in two years. I can honestly say it was indeed bittersweet. All of my training had been at the Winter Haven Judo club. However, tonight I walked into a different dojo about 15 minutes prior to class. As I sat and watched the ending of the children's class I found myself searching for a familiar face but I knew one would not be here. I was in a different state at a different dojo training in a totally different judo atmosphere for the first time.
The instructor walked up and introduced himself and then we all lined up for class to start. I had gotten inline with the rest of the students but the instructor had asked me to stand next to him at the front since he and I were the same rank. I however commented to him that I wanted to be treated like everyone else. There were several in attendance all of different rank. As we were going thru warm ups all managed to introduce themselves to me. I was indeed critical of myself and how I would perform.
It had been a long while since I had done any serious judo training and I soon found out this was not a recreational class. The instructor was indeed extremely knowledgeable of high level judo play. His daughter is in a bid to compete for a spot on the olympic team.
After warm up we began to drill TACHI WAZA the instructor had all of us line up and the person in front was to throw everyone in line using their favorite technique. The nervousness of being back in class had long since worn off and I felt more at ease as periodically all would engage me in small talk between taking turns being thrown and throwing. We then moved to newaza working on some guard escapes.
EXAMPLE OF TACHI WAZA
Then we started NEWAZA training going for a couple of minutes and then changing partners and going another couple minutes we kept this up untill everyone had a shot each other. We ended the nights training with some conditioning drills and calisthenics.After the class all began to engage me in conversation once again making me feel very welcome.
EXAMPLE OF NEWAZA
Needless to say for the first time in a long while I really enjoyed myself just training and working on judo. No politics, no hassles, no games, no posers, no B.S. of any kind, just pure Judo. The pure enjoyment of just training and getting ready for competition. I am sure I will be a little sore tomorrow but it sure feels good to be back doing something I love. Wednesday will be a two a day practice. I am sure I will have more to say then.
Campbell was born in Auburn, California in 1933. During Campbell's childhood, his father had problems with alcoholism, often leaving the family for weeks and months at a time. His mother had health problems, with tuberculosis, a highly contagious disease that limited the contact she could have with her children and continued to force her into the hospital for long periods of time. These problems led to Ben and his older sister Alberta spending much of their early lives in nearby Catholic orphanages.
While working in a fruit-packing plant, Campbell picked a fight with a Japanese co-worker, who put him on his back with a judo move."I kept finding myself on the bottom, and I didn't like that,"he said."They invited me to come down to their judo club. In those days, Japanese kids were discriminated against very badly; it was right after World War II. I guess I felt a little bit of the same thing and identified with them."
"In those days, judo wasn't in the Olympics, there were no world championships, no intercollegiate and no high school championships - there was nothing. You were just in it because you enjoyed it."
Worn down from his home life, Campbell quit school and joined the Air Force, eventually landing in South Korea, where his passion for judo intensified.
Campbell obtained his GED while in the Air Force and after returning to the United States, Campbell used his GI Bill and work as a truck driver to attend San Jose State College (now San Jose State University), where he joined the Yosh Uchida coached judo team, a sport he first participated in as a teenager. He received a bachelor's degree in physical education and fine arts in 1957.
Campbell later studied Japanese culture at MeijiUniversity in Tokyo as a special research student from 1960 to 1964, where he trained with their world-renowned judo team in preparation for the Olympic Games. While in Japan, Campbell continued to return to the United States to compete in judo competitions, winning three U.S. national championships and a gold medal in 1963 Pan American Games judo competition.
"I think judo taught me dedication to purpose, to not give up and to fight and to not take a beating and all that stuff. But I knew a lot of terrific athletes who weren't training any harder than me, in golf and tennis and other sports, and they ended up making a full-time living and making a lot of money doing that sport."
"In those days, there was almost a spiritual component," he said. "They believed being good - not winning - was what you should strive for. The training was very hard, very brutal.
"As underclassmen, you had to dutifully do everything upperclassmen told you to do. You scrubbed the floors, cleaned the toilets, washed the upperclassmen's uniforms. You did a lot of things American athletes would never submit themselves to do."
"If you lost, you were required to shave your head. If you threw a guy down in training, someone would kick him in the head or stomach to make him try harder. If he got up and threw you down, they'd do the same to you - with no personal animosity. They'd carry a bamboo stick around, and if you weren't trying hard enough, you'd feel it across your back."
"When I was an upperclassman, I was expected to do that to lowerclassmen. But it made me very uncomfortable because I was an American. I didn't do it very hard; one time my instructor told me I was avoiding my responsibilities."
Campbell won six Pacific Coast titles, a gold medal at the 1963 Pan Am Games, an important Olympics tuneup, and three national championships."I'd come back to compete in our national championship,and then go back to train in Japan,"he said.
Tokyo was supposed to be the first Asian Olympics host city in 1940, but Japan's invasion of China and World War II ended that. Twenty-four years later, the country hoped to use the event to demonstrate the success of postwar reconstruction. As host, Japan was allowed to choose an additional sport. Not surprisingly, it was judo. "The Japanese had such a strong hold on judo in those years, most people expected everyone else to lose,"Campbell said.
Competition was held in four weight divisions, but the open division - Campbell's class - mattered most to the Japanese. The overwhelming favorite was Anton Geesink of the Netherlands, the eventual winner. Still, Campbell dreamed of a dramatic victory, even after injuring his knee at the Olympic trials, the same knee that eventually would betray him before the medal round.
He easily won his first match, but the odds caught up with him in the second, which he calls one of the worst moments of his life."We trained five hours a day, and to have it go out because of an injury . . . it just slipped away,"he said.
During the Closing Ceremony, Campbell was chatting with American swimmer Don Schollander, who had won four gold medals, more than any other athlete in Tokyo, when a U.S. official approached the pair."Don carried the flag into the Closing Ceremonies. I was standing by him, inside the stadium,"Campbell said."One of the officials said, 'Don, you're not going to be going with the rest of the team. You're flying home separately, and you need to leave now. And so they asked me to carry it on the spur of the moment. I wasn't the official carrier, but it was an honor."Despite a limp, Campbell made it to the finish line this time.
Campbell remained involved in judo as an instructor on the national and local levels, and wrote the judo training manual Championship Judo Training Drills, published in 1974.
Campbell became successful in business, ran for the House of Representatives, was elected, ran for the Senate, was elected and served many years. He was a U.S. Senator from Colorado from 1993 until 2005 and was for some time the only Native American serving in the U.S. Congress. Campbell was a three term U.S. representative from 1987 to 1993, when he was sworn into office as a Senator following his election on November 3, 1992. He was only the 3rd Native American to serve in the U.S. Congress in history. He was the second Native American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was also the second Native American to serve in the U.S. Senate. Campbell also serves as one of forty-four members of the Council of Chiefs of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Tribe.
One day, when an attacker came at Senator Quentin Burdick, Senator Nighthorse Campbell used his judo skills to take down the man and protect his fellow senator. In 2008 Ben Nighthorse Campbell was inducted into the USA Judo Hall of Fame.
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He may head of one of the world's elite superpowers, but to his fellow judo club members Russian President Vladimir Putin is best known for his wicked sweeping leg throw (Haraigoshi). 
Putin began studying judo at age 14 and has been studying ever since. During his competitive career, among his many victories Putin placed third place in the Russian Junior Nationals and was Leningrad Seniors Champion. He is now President of the same club where he began, St. Petersburg's Yawara Judo Club. 
Following demonstrations of the art, Putin showed his own skills of throwing and grappling. Assisted by a Kodokan instructor, Mukai, Putin demonstrated a variety of leg sweeps, shoulder, and backward sacrificing throws plus two techniques favored by smaller men facing larger opponents -- an inner leg throw that dumps the opponent backward and the basic hip throw that introduces most students to the art. He also performed ground immobilization techniques. Afterwards Putin's assistant, Mukai said, said that President Putin's technique was very good.
Putin was then presented with flowers by a young lady. And to the delight of the audience Putin permitted her to throw him. He was officially awarded a coveted sixth degree black belt.
