Judo is an Art with a confused identity.  It is a very popular SPORT worldwide and has been in the Olympics first in 1964 [as a demonstration event] then in 1972 as a full fledged medal event.  What too many Martial Artists, including Judoka, forget is that the syllabus of Professor Kano & the Kodokan includes far more than the sport face of Judo.
The first issue is that the emphasis on the SPORT of Judo has pushed the full spectrum of Judo off the screen.  The OFFICIAL KATAS of Judo clearly demonstrates the 3 faces of Judo as a MARTIAL ART, not the MARTIAL SPORT which dominates the teaching & practice.  The 3 faces of Judo, and the corresponding KATA are:
 
1. The SPORT phase is the introduction to the ART.  The RANDORI-no-KATA [Forms of Free Practice] consists of the NAGE-no-KATA [Forms of Throwing] and the KATAME-no-KATA [Forms of Grappling].  It is important to note that in the NAGE, there are self defense applications in 4 of the 5 sets.
 
a.    TE-WAZA = Ippon Seionage against a strike to the head
b.    KOSHI-WAZA = Uki Goshi against a slashing strike
c.     ASHI-WAZA = NO SELF DEFENSE
d.    MA-SUTEMI-WAZA = Ura Nage against a slashing strike
e.  YOKO-SUTEMI-WAZA = Yoko-Garuma vs. a slashing strike
 
2. The second phase or level of Judo is the SHINKEN-SHOBU [combat waza] and GOSHIN JUTSU  [defensive techniques] as demonstrated in the KIME-no-KATA [Forms of Decision] and the KODOKAN GOSHIN JUTSU [The Self Defense of KODOKAN].  The KIME consists of traditional WAZA of the Samurai.  The GOSHIN JUTSU, THE NEWEST Kata of Judo deals with more contemporary self defense.  Both Kata show how to protect yourself against unarmed and armed attacks [KIME= sword, dagger, & Bo; GOSHIN JUTSU = dagger, club & gun]
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

3. The “highest form” of Judo is SHINTAI-no-WAZA or mastery of movement.  The emphasis of the ITSUZU-no-KATA [THE 5 FORMS] & the KOSHIKI-no-KATA [THE ANCIENT FORMS] incorporate aspects of the SPORT and COMBAT to create defensive WAZA by redirection of the opponent’s energy, body position [TSUKURI] to create superiority.

 

4. The JU-no-KATA I classify as a transitional exercise.  This KATA demonstrates all the elements of JUDO.  There are applications of SPORT, SELF-DEFENSE, and CONTROL OF MOVEMENT.

 
 
************************************************************************
The current focus on the SPORT phase of JUDO has created several generations of JUDOKA who do not learn [or appreciate] the FULL SPECTRUM of the MARTIAL ART OF JUDO!!!!  When looked at from the traditionalist approach to Judo, you can see a complete Martial Art.  The protocols of TRADITIONAL Judo include Atemi-Waza, avoidance with Tai-Sabaki and highly efficient counter attacks.  It may come as a surprise to many that the combat techniques only utilize 3 throwing techniques [O-Soto-Gari, Uki-Goshi, and Ippon Seionage].  It is through this phase, the Jujitsu roots of Judo become obvious as a variety of SHIME-WAZA [Techniques of Strangulation] and KANSETSU-WAZA [Techniques of Dislocation] are the main techniques ending the combat.
 
Professor Jigoro Kano updated the teaching of Jujitsu into what is now known as KODOKAN JUDO but he had not set out to “invent” a new Art.  As a teacher, and a promoter, he softened some of the techniques for SPORT JUDO but maintained the traditional techniques found in the Tenshin Shin’yo Ryu and the Kito Ryu of Jujitsu.   Shihan created a way of instructing students in a safe and logical way.  I have always looked at the Art in terms of the 3 faces as well as the ranking system Professor Kano developed.
 
Just as WAZA are taught so a simpler, more basic technique can be used to build into more advanced ones.  When I teach a new student UKEMI-WAZA, the techniques start with the student already on his/her back, then sitting, squatting, and finally standing.  It is progressive just as it seems perfectly logical to me to learn SPORT JUDO before focusing on combat techniques [as I pointed out above, there are elements of SELF-DEFENSE introduced in the SPORT phase [see the NAGE-no-KATA] and it is impossible to perform the SELF-DEFENSE\COMBAT forms without having learned at least the basics of CONTROL.  The other main point of the NAGE-no-KATA is it teaches WHY certain throws are used & how they developed!  The most obvious progression of Nage-Waza is in the KOSHI-WAZA section of the NAGE.
 
The 1st KOSHI WAZA demonstrated in the NAGE is UKI-GOSHI, Professor Kanos’ FAVORITE throw.  His students soon enough figured how to neutralize the throw by stepping AROUND the HIP.  Shihan responded by sticking his leg out so the UKE would find the hip extended to the level of the ankle.  A sweeping motion was added and the HARAI-GOSHI was born.  The HARAI is a very powerful throw but, like all throws, has a weakness.  Since TORI is on 1 leg, UKE can break the throw by straightening-up to block the circular motion needed to complete the KAKE.  Kodokan students of Prof. Kano easily adapted to this straightened posture by dropping the hip to the level near the knees while pulling the DORI (sleeve) and lifting the ERI (lapel or collar).  This birthed the TSURI-KOMI-GOSHI (left\pull hip throw).  It took very little time to modify the waza into the SODE-TSURI-KOMI-GOSHI
(sleeve lift\pull hip throw). 
Similar progressions of development & applications are found throughout the NAGE-no-KATA as well as the KATAME-no-KATA [and these make up the RANDORI-no-KATA, the basis for the SPORT of JUDO!].
 
 
 
 
In summary, JUDO is a popular sport practiced all over the world but it is far more than a sport!  It is a complete Martial Art which allows the Judoka to focus on any of the 3 phases.  The TRADITIONAL Judoka is schooled in all phases of the Art including learning from related Arts such as Kendo.  Part of Professor Kano’s genius is the flexibility built into the fabric of Judo.  The syllabus is constantly being updated, techniques evaluated added to or removed from the “official” lists, and rules reevaluated as well.
 
Just as a science major in college allows for the student to specialize in BIOLOGY [for example], a knowledge of CHEMISTRY is required to understand how the Biological systems work.  The student will further specialize in either ZOOLOGY [the study of animal life] or BOTANY [the study of plant life] and the web keeps focusing on the next subspecialty.
 
 
 
 
So why does Judo not get its due as a COMPLETE Martial Art?  Part of the problem as I see it is the popularity of Judo as an Olympic Sport.  This is the FACE of the Art to the public and even other Martial Artists.  Another issue may be the simplicity of the techniques used in COMBAT JUDO.  They are not as eye-catching as techniques from Karate systems of even Aikido.  They are, however, highly efficient and leaves less chance of failure in a self-defense situations.  I competed in SPORT Judo for many years.  Once I was unable to compete, the other phases of Judo allowed me to participate & continue learning.  Having the option of growth kept me in Judo and expanded my understanding of my Art.  My appreciation of Judo has grown as well as I touch on the full spectrum of the TRADITIONAL form of the Art.
 
Judo is a mirror of the HOTEIKAN SYSTEM of MARTIAL ARTS.  The RYU, as developed by our Co-Founders, Soke Hasman & Soke Claudio, and current leader Soke Armstrong, also allows the student to specialize\focus on one core art over the others.  Our difference is that all practitioners are AWARE of the fullness of techniques available.
 
 
Shihan Jay Hager
7th Dan Judo     5th Dan Kito-Ryu Jujitsu
Senior Judo Advisor * The Hoteikan System of Martial Arts