“Judo is a way to effectively use both your physical and spiritual strength. By training you in attacks and defenses, it refines your body and your soul, and helps you make the spiritual essence of judo a part of your very being. In this way you are able to strive towards self perfection and contribute something of value back to society.”
Judo overview
Judo is fun! No matter what grade you are in, Kindergarten through High School, it can be a blast! As a martial art, judo stands out for commonly being taught as a competitive sport, rather than purely as a form of self-defense. It is also less harsh than other martial arts, with a focus on using an opponent’s energy against them. In fact, the term “judo” translates to “the gentle way.”
Unlike taekwondo and karate, there is no kicking or punching in judo. Rather, a common move is a leg sweep, designed to knock an opponent off balance. An off-balance judoka is liable to find himself thrown. A perfectly-executed throw results in the abrupt termination of the match. If successful, this move - called an "ippon" - can end a match in as little as four seconds. Otherwise, the match continues with the athletes standing upright or on the mat grappling for pins, chokes or arm-locks.
Belt colors
The belt system in judo is notably different than other Asian martial arts, such as karate and tae kwon do, in that its highest belt color is actually solid red, not black.
Junior and Senior Members
Judo practitioners are grouped by age, with senior members 16 and older and junior members who are mostly children. It is typical that junior members of judo progress through more colored-belt grades before they reach the first-degree black belt than senior members. In Brazil, a gray belt sometimes is awarded before blue.
Other Martial Arts
While some of the modern martial arts, such as Brazilian jiu jitsu, are considered a refinement upon traditional judo and follow a similar ranking system in their belt colors, their system doesn't include the 9th and 10th dan solid red belt. Brazilian jiu jitsu begins with the white belt being a new student and the black belt the highest level.
What Are the Benefits of Judo?
Judo benefits our kids in multiple physical & psychological ways, including:
Better physical fitness.
Growth in strength and flexibility.
Improved reaction time.
Increased self-confidence.
Stronger mental attitude.
Staying calm under pressure.
Judo Documentary Between Tradition and Modernity