Judo Ron 46-The Shiai Route_docx

8/6/2019 Judo Ron 46-The Shiai Route_docx

1/6

Zuihitsu-Random notes on judo by Ronald Dsormeaux

1

The Shiai route: Yakusoku geiko / Butsukari/Randori ( JUDO-RON 46)

Perception of judo competition

In the past years, I was fortunate to practice my judo in several locations. I have discovered thatin many quarters, judokas of all ranks carry misconceptions of judo training practices andfrequently confuse one type of exercise with another. For example, when someone is asked toperform Uchikomis, the tendency is to practice the static types with heavy resistance andseldom entertained doing the Nage-Komi or the more dynamic exercise. When asked to enterinto a Randori, several senior judokas soon get involved in total competition or Shiai mood andforget the basic judo ethical principles of giving appropriate respect and attention inconsideration of their partners age, rank and competency. Too many adherents are leftignorant of the general safety levels to be applied in such training activities which were

formulated in the judos second principle of Mutual Respect and Benefits.

In martial arts and combative sports, one is always eager to test his or her skills against atraining partner even when the latter has become a strong opponent. Are there simple and safeways to train to get to the top? My former judo instructors always made emphasis that onemust learn all the techniques in their finest details, study conscientiously how and when toapply them and always train with devotion and courage. They recommended seeking andworking with a variety of partners and always maintaining both the initiative and freedom of movement. With some retrospectives, I can now say that their recommendations wereinstrumental in forming a pattern where I could ensure that my training process and similarly

that of my colleagues was leading us to perform better at Shiai or competition. We found thatour participation was enhanced by knowing that if we properly followed theirrecommendations, we would also benefit from the true values of judo. By being better preparedand more inclined to contemplate other events beyond the Shiai we could anticipate somesuccess in our pursuit of higher judo ranks.

Legacy from past teachers

I was fortunate to witness how their training methods were adjusted to meet our goals anddesires while they still maintained the proper alignments with the original judo principles asoutlined by Jigoro Kano Shi-han in 1882. I have learned from Sensei Mikinosuke Kawaishi,

Bernard Gauthier and others who made the emphasis that one must first seek technicalexcellence and make continued personal and mental improvements while always showingproper respect towards the various training partners. It was a common understanding then andit is still a fundamental principle. When these basic conditions are met, and only then, can youmodify your training goals to seek either a total victory or superiority over any or all competitorswho dare to challenge you.


2/6


2

Judo has always remained a trilogy: Shin Gi Tai ; the mental energy forging the technical skillsproperly expressed through the body. Judo is also seen as having three complementary facets: aphysical and social education system, a sporting activity, and the continuity of an ancient martialart.

More to competition training that meets the eye

When we refer to judo as a combative sport, we can quickly think of three levels of entertainment. The first combat atmosphere can be defined as the training practice where theindividuals simulate a confrontation rendezvous with his or her partner. It is accomplished withvery limited interference, such as when practicing Uchikomis or often referred as Kakari renshu(repetition training) which consist of making repetitive applications of a technique on a partnerwho anticipate the action and receive the technique with different resistance. This exercise has

for purpose the practice of breaking the balance, shifting the body, making contact andexercising a strong Waza at different speed without completing the throw.

The second form of contact training ambiance can be described as the dynamic and limitedopposition by both partners who define their respective roles during a short encounter. This isreferred to as Yakusoku and we shall address that exercise hereunder. The third conflictingsituation into which the judoka will embark is the Randori. In the latter, both players will try tooutsmart and oppose the other with all their technical skills.

Format for Shiai/competition

Judo is of course perceived by most practitioners at the mudansha level (lower ranks) as aconfronting sport between individuals. They are likely referring to the Shiai or true competition.The latter is not to be considered a training platform but as a salient experience where offenseand defense tactics and skills are prominent. First, the players try to identify the intentions of the other and attempt to discover the signals which will give away the mental strength orweakness of the opponent. It is followed by visual confrontations and mental challenges. Then,there is the struggle for the Kumi Kata (seizure) on the costume which is followed with thevarious body contacts trying to position and impose oneself upon the other and then, theresistance to or the acceptance of the falls. All these persistent dangers are perceived with allthe senses by both players: noise of feet movements, breathing rhythms, costumes stretching,

changing grips, directions and speeds etc.

Such challenge may become very intense in that each player is trying to maintain proper balancewhile making use of the many natural laws to quickly overcome the other. For a short time-lapse, the contestants are in harmony, they push and pull freely, they are working for thecontrol of the critical space from which to launch their special technique and there seems to beno other time measurement nor obstacle capable of stopping the energy towards their goalexcept the abrupt reality made by the call of the IPPON (point) pronounced by the judge.


3/6


3

The Kodokan dictionary describes such encounter as Shiai or a judo match / bout which isgoverned by specific rules for the purpose of awarding various points that will determine avictorious player. i

Simple and soft forms of training for competition

Other aspects of the study of judo will bring the students into a more relaxed and sereneatmosphere. This involves the gradual study of the Gokyo techniques, the execution of formalKata, the acquisition of auxiliary training skills and the learning of the lexicon associated witheach application. With progress, the students are exposed to various static repetitions (UchiKomi), Tai- Sabaki or displacement skills, Nage- Komi (throws on the move). Tactics andstrategies are introduced next in the training activity called Yakusoku geiko.

Yakusoku geiko or renshu is defined by the Kodokan Judo Institute as a controlled or agreedupon practice where techniques are repetitively applied or received by either partner, as agreedupon by both before the training practice begins. This activity has been introduced in varioustraining programs in the early 1960 as a mean to make a closer study of the techniques in givensituations and lead the students toward a greater use of mental agility in their understanding of all the underlying principles and technical essences. In this form of light training, students can goon the offensive or practice defensive skills at random.

In this kind of training exercise, the students get a chance to better understand the theories andare able to practice several combinations of attacks, counters and escapes associated with avariety of technical applications being applied without the fear of being blocked by a non-cooperative partner. The students thus evolve in a controlled environment where they can beexposed to difficult situations, forced to analyze quickly the surrounding conditions, hastily forma plan of attack, give an appropriate response and or execute a personal solution with savvy. Asthey proceed with their experimentations, they can mutually change the rules of engagement tomake the exercise more demanding and strenuous. All along, they are exploiting their potentialenergies in preparation for the upcoming advanced forms of combat: the Randori and Shiai.

The wise teacher

It is important for judo teacher to understand the goals and desires of his study groups before

launching them into the advanced combat situations. His role is to partake and transmit theknowledge and the composite savoir- faire associated with the whole judo concepts. He or shemust ensure that the students are placed in the best learning situations to observe, analyze,challenge, execute and learn to transform all the acquired data and concepts to their needs.

In their three to four hours training sessions per week, most students will demonstrate theirdesire to learn, to practice and gain new expertise and feel useful in the development of others.Many students are in the class to keep fit or because they like the actions and the challengesand are not necessarily there to win medals and trophies. Most students are interested in funplay, challenging opportunities and pushing their capacities to the next level.


4/6


4

They have no desire to confront others for the sake of showing superiority. For most of them,the learning of basic combative skills and the acquisition of the understanding of what judocompetition levels are, including a limited exposure to them, may suffice to their needs. Ageneral soft and safe training formula may well contain some of the following facets:

1. Get familiar with and try to enter the combative zone with a certain degree of confidence and freedom of action.

2. Learn to seize the opportunities being offered by a partner and try to anticipate theright moment for action.

3. Understand balance/equilibrium and displacement and make greater use of totalbody energy.

4. Learn to confuse and surprise the other with speed and a variety of techniques.5. Attack the weak points and seek vulnerable areas for added opportunities.6. Train all the senses to capture and exploit moments of anticipation.7. Solve conflicting situations as fast as possible.8. Master ones physical and mental capabilities before considering overtaking an

opponent.9. Never be discouraged when facing difficulties and keep trying.10. Seek technical quality and appreciate others contributions towards excellence.

It is Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo who wrote ii: Students should practice judo not for the purpose of competition but rather to become able to use it to attain a greater purpose in life.

The chosen few

Within a general class, the teacher may discover a minority of students (maybe 10%) who alignthemselves towards all levels of the combative sport and seek the challenges of competition togain prestige and rewards. They are prepared to give more than six to eight hours of additionaltraining time per week if necessary. Those can be guided locally and individually and participateinto more strenuous and sustained training activities involving special Randori and Shiai. Thebetter gifted students can also be referred to the regional, provincial and national judo trainingcenters for more sustained coaching.

The Randori is of course the preferred training mechanism to reach excellence in future

competitions. It should not be done exclusively and to the detriment of other trainingmechanisms and must certainly be accompanied with other forms of training activities whichpermit further exploration, adjustment and correction of errors needed to improve the technicalskills necessary to reach any podium.

Let us be reminded of the wise remarks by Jigoro Kano on the subject. During Randori, stay relaxed and move freely. People have forgotten that Randori means fighting in earnest. They aretoo defensive and do not stand straight. You should train as much as possible by maintaining anatural stance without tensing your body, particularly your arms and legs .iii


5/6


5

Randori, the instrument of choice

We often hear the term Butsukari. This expression is taken from the Japanese verb Butsukaru:

to crash or collide with, to run into, meet with or fall onto someone or something. It is anexpression used frequently by Mikinosuke Kawaishi Sensei 7th Dan in his personalcorrespondence and bulletins during the period 1960-65. The late judo master encouraged allhis senior members to perform Butsukari as often as possible during our daily practices. Youbetter try Butsukari as many times as possible and every day. This is the only way to improveyour competition techniques. Of course you must apply combination tricks with your special Waza iv Other judo academies used the term Randori to describe the guerilla-type of trainingthat this exercise contain. The Kodokan Judo institute of Tokyo makes reference to the conductof Randori as a free practice or free sparring in which both participants practice attacking anddefending using freely applied throwing and pinning techniques.

Michel Novovitch 8 th Dan a senior European judo teacher has described the Randor i in his book Judo Zero Gravity v as the moment of integral effort. Whereby judoka attempt to throw the partner or to control him by making use of their best technique, physical strength, speed and by using their ability to take advantage of all opportunities. He often remarked that one can reapall the benefits of judo practices without contemplating to compete in real Shiai since it is in thepractice of Randori that a judoka can really measure his true potentials.

He, like so many others teachers, stressed the importance of first attaining mastery overoneself, and then to make intelligent use of your abilities and skills to better cope with any

incoming opponent.

These experts have favored the practice of Randori as a training activity full of learningsituations, where one can experiment with different sensations and various intensity levels. It isa form of combat where one can play the various guerilla-type styles tactics of surprise and rusewith the understanding that at the end of the training period, there is no winner being declared.Only self-improvements are derived from it. It is truly a match of personal skills performed ingood spirit and with intensity while having due care and respect for the other partner.

For all of them, Randori contains the full range of cognitive, emotional and physicalperspectives associated with dealing with various unknown factors. By being able to feel, to see,

to understand, to comprehend, to judge and act according to ever-developing situations is aspecial moment to seek in order to develop greater strength of character, sagacity, sang-froid,courage, satisfaction and pride in having performed to the best of ones abilities.


6/6


6

Conclusion

To be able to overcome the strengths of others during a fleeting moment is satisfying, but

knowing and being able to muster his energies and strengths during future encounters isdisplaying real judo savvy.

We close this essay with the words of Jigoro Kano: Feeling proud of yourself after winning by inconveniencing your opponent does not fulfill the spirit of judo. In so far as possible, you should accommodate your opponent and compete is such a way as to allow him to use his Waza on you

freely. If you do not win by using superior Waza to those of your opponent or by turning hisWaza against him, this cannot be said to be a true victory. In practice, if you think only about winning from the start, you will never be able to do so. In order to develop the strength to win

someday, you must be satisfied with practicing losing for a time. Even if you are at risk of losing,

you must take the offensive try various Waza and train hard. vi

I wish you a good training session.

Ronald Dsormeaux

Hart House, University of Toronto

August 2011

References

i AWAMURA T, DAIGOT, K ODOKAN NEW J APANESE -E NGLISH DICTIONARY OF JUDO , TOKYO,2000, PAGE 115

iiJigoro Kano, Mind over Muscle , compiled by Naoki Murata, Kodansha, Tokyo, 2005, page 132

iiiJigoro Kano, Mind over Muscle , compiled by Naoki Murata, Kodansha, Tokyo, 2005, page 138

ivKawaishi M, Personal letters and Bulletins of Kawaishi Academy - Ronald Dsormeaux, April 1961-1965

vNovovitch Michel , Judo Zero Gravity , Publiday-Multidia, Casablanca, Maroc, 2003, page 104

viJigoro Kano, Mind over Muscle , compiled by Naoki Murata, Kodansha, Tokyo, 2005, page 133

Note: This article contains some copyrights by the author and it is registered with the Canadian Public Archives ElectronicDocumentation Bank. It c an only be reproduced for non-commercial purpose.For additional information contact: [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

Documents

Judo Ron 46-The Shiai Route_docx