Introduction
The Sport
Judo
Judo (柔道 jūdō, meaning "gentle way") is a modern martial art, combat and Olympic sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano (嘉納治五郎). Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the objective is to either throw or takedown an opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue an opponent with a pin, or force an opponent to submit with a joint lock or a choke. Strikes and thrusts by hands and feet as well as weapons defenses are a part of judo, but only in pre-arranged forms (kata: 型) and are not allowed in judo competition or free practice (randori: 乱取り)
Basic Throws
In Raffles Judo, our training program focuses on developing our students holistically, and consists of three tiers, Judo training being one of them. We teach our students many throws such as Ō goshi and Ippon Seoinage. Here are some basic throws.
Ō goshi (大腰 major hip throw) is one of the original 40 throws of Judo as compiled by Jigoro Kano. It is classified as a koshi-waza (腰技 hip technique), which indicates the central role that the hip plays in the execution of the technique. In this technique, kuzushi (崩し the balance break) is to uke's front. Tsukuri (作り turning/fitting in) involves tori turning his hips, moving them in front and below uke's hips, with tori's tsurite (釣手 lifting (lapel-side) hand)) passing behind uke's back, usually under uke's arm, while minimising the amount of space between tori's back and uke's chest. Tori's hikite (引手 pulling (sleeve-side) hand) pulls uke's arm to the front, maintaining the balance break. Kake (掛け the execution of the throw) involves tori lifting with the hips and bending forward while continuing the pull to the front and down, bringing uke onto the mat at tori's feet.
Ippon Seoinage (一本 背負投) is a throw in judo. It is one of the nineteen accepted techniques in Shinmeisho No Waza of Kodokan Judo. It is classified as a hand throwing technique, Te-waza.
The Raffles Judo Club
We are one of the oldest CCA groups in Raffles Institution. We encourage all levels of participation from the recreational player to the competitor. Our mission as a Judo club is to impart to our members not only the physical skills of Judo, but its philosophy and traditions. Many students seek us out for self-defense training, and that is definitely one of the things Judo provides--not just through concrete skills, but through increased confidence and awareness. We try to introduce students to Judo as a lifetime pursuit, a skilled art requiring infinite perfecting. By introducing traditional Judo etiquette and teaching the Japanese names of the techniques we also introduce our members to the sport's cultural roots. For many of us, the club is a place of stability and community, where people watch out for you, in and out of the club.
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