Judo technique - drop knee

Another variation of shoulder throw also known as seoi nage. When I first started getting involved with Judo, I thought to myself they are like the same thing, to a certain extent that is true. But after practicing with the different techniques and with a partner, it is important to know various ways of shoulder throw to surprise the opponent. Using one way only to perform the shoulder throw will not be that effective to the same opponent if it is used too many times.

Judo techniques - shoulder throw variation

Variation known as hantai gawa no seoi nage. Interestingly, one shoulder throw can developed into different kinds of techniques just like other kinds of martial arts I supposed for example in Taekwondo, roundhouse kick can have different kinds as well such as the standard stationary roundhouse and sliding roundhouse. If you notice the close up, the practitioner must be careful while practicing this technique with the partner, if it wasn't done properly the partner's muscle might be pulled.

Judo techniques - shoulder throw

Just thought it might be interesting to share some of these techniques. For a start the most basic throw is the Shoulder throw also known as Seoi nage which is one of the most common and successful throws seen in tournament. It is a favorite technique of Japanese female superstar Ryoko Tani, who used t successfully while dominating the under 48kg weight class to win six world championship titles and two Olympic gold medals from 1993 to 2004.

Judo not only just an art and sport

Judo is an art where it is actually closely associated with science. The founder Jigoro Kano had explained the effectiveness of the art in terms of sound physics and psychology. It does not mean one who is bigger in size is most likely to win in the art of judo. The main thing about it is the proper technique over excessive force. A good technique actually means the sound application of strength that comply with the natural laws and scientific principles that will help to maximize one's efforts. It is also this emphasis on techniques that allows a smaller person with proper training to defeat a larger or stronger person.

Take for example in physics, newton's laws of motion are critical to how one can keep balance and to unbalance an opponent. Using momentum can in fact be real efficient than using isolated muscles to create the same amount of force. Sometimes it even involves using opponent's force to maximize the power of your throw.

Using science thus can help one improve greatly in judo. Some specific principles include applying one's energy in the direction your opponent is moving and exploit leverage to maximize your strength. Judo is as much sa science as it is an art. As much as one can express feelings, have its own style in this art, the technique of judo must be effective. Using the principles of science is essential if one is too achieve the maximum results.

Introduction to "the gentle way" - Judo

The art of judo and ju-jitsu has a very special relationship between them. It was said that judo is actually developed from ju-jitsu, by Professor Jiguro Kano, the founder. Professor Jiguro Kano graduated from the Imperial University of Tokyo, Japan, in 1881 and wanted to introduce a form of physical exercise to his students. Through the several ju-jitsu schools he attended, he adopted the best principles of the art and developed judo. Judo, literally translated means the “gentle way”. Judo today is one of the most wide-spread martial arts and is a sport event in the Olympic as well. However, the founder Jiguro Kano, envisaged judo as the development of a lifetime art, as opposed to a sport. He felt strongly that it was an art with the purpose of training one’s mind and body rather than to be a public competition.

During his time when people have a different opinion about females not able to learn martial arts due to their physique that would lead to health problems, Jiguro Kano differ from them and has set a precedence of taking in a female student. He then did a research on the impact judo had on women and the results refuted the critics’ claims concerning the negative impact of judo on women. By 1935, judo was successfully taught to women, especially in high school.

Later on judo became popular in other countries such as Great Britain and France with the first international competition held between them. By 1956, judo was being taught widely in Japan especially in schools.

I personally feel that the beauty of judo lies in the ability of able to overcome a much larger opponent using skill, strategy and technique. I have once the pleasure to learn a few techniques from a judo friend who is a champion in one of the tournaments if i could remember, it should be an inter-school tournament. He has showed me indeed how judo can subdued an opponent. I have also seen from a demonstration that a small girl managed to throw a guy who is so much bigger and taller to the ground using a judo technique. The key into winning therefore lies in the principle of utilizing one's and the opponent's body movements which is, applying the techniques of this beautiful art, judo.