Judo Throws
While most martial arts styles have many different moves and techniques and some even over lap certain techniques stand out above others. Karate isn’t the only style that uses the edge of hand, but it is known for that type of strike. Kung Fu is comprised of over a hundred different styles, but the one practiced by the Shaolin monks of China is the style that comes to mind for many when Chinese martial arts are brought up. The techniques most identified with judo are the judo throws. They’re what make Judo standout among other grappling martial arts like Greco-Roman wrestling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu which is actually a derivative of Judo.
A throw uses a person’s weight and size against them and allows you to move a much heavier opponent off their feet. Basically, judo throws are all about getting someone off balance and then taking what support remains out from under them and bring them to the ground. These throws work when you’re standing up and grappling or clinch fighting. Because there is a lot of pushing back and forth in these situations is when you can make your move and take their legs out from under them.
The Kodokan the home of Judo for over a hundred years lists over sixty official throws as part of the curriculum. It was judo throws that let Masahiko Kimura dominate his match with Hélio Gracie of Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fame. Though Kimura would use a lock called the reverse ude-garami technique to break Gracie’s arm; he threw Gracie repeatedly during the match not letting him take the fight to the ground or strike him.
When Judo was created by educator Kano Jigoro he desired to bring order to the martial arts in Japan, but he wanted it to be an alternative to Jujutsu. What began as a reform of Jujutsu turned into an all new martial art and judo throws were part of it from the beginning. The gentleness of Judo comes from the idea that it doesn’t emphasize strikes like Jujutsu and karate where a practitioner will beat down attacker. In Judo you use an attacker’s natural moment to take them to the ground. That is not to say a Judo practitioner don’t attack first or strike at an opponent, but they will be glad to let an opponent hurt themselves as they move back and forth.
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