Warming Up, Techniques and Practice

Whatever their seniority, all experienced plays will almost habitually go through variable stretching routines and practice break-fall in a warming-up process before starting their rest work on the mat. How much time an instructor devotes to exercises and body-building routines in a class must depend upon how often the classes are held and how long each lasts. Generally, however, in order to maintain a supple body and to build up...

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UKEMI (the art of break-falling)

Many beginners take up judo having thought of it only in terms of themselves performing the throws rather than being thrown, but for every judoka throwing, another must obviously fall. How to fall safely and to avoid or at least minimize any shock or injury on contact with the mat, therefore, are very much a part of the art of judo and must rank highly among first things to be learned by a newcomer.  Ukemi is the term used to describe...

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Balance and Movement

A judoka stands in shizentai (natural posture). Whenever a judoka stands upon the mat, a straight leg (or legs) is not recommended. A supporting straight leg locks the joints and can in itself prove tiring. Being caught on a straight leg by an opponent in either practice or contest can not only be defeating but injurious too. Shizentai (natural posture) is the basic posture in Judo, and there are three positions. In shizen-hontai...

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