There are three basic grappling techniques in Judo. They are the judo technique holddowns, strangles and elbow locks and twists. All these judo technique should be learned by the student of judo. He should also know defensive methods in grappling. These are explained in this article.

1.Osaekomi-waza (holddowns)

This Judo technique is used to immobilize your opponent when he is lying on his back on the mat. They include kesagatame (collar hold), kata-gatame (single shoulder holddown), kami-shiho-gatame (four-quarter holddown), kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame (modified four-quarter holddown), and yoko-shiho-gatame (side four-quarter holddown).

2.Shime-waza (strangles)

This judo technique allows you to strangle your opponent into submission. Both hands press against either the windpipe or the carotid arteries to stop the flow of blood to his head. If you do this, he will be forced to submit because of the lack of blood supply or else fall into unconsciousness.

Shime-waza include such techniques as navni-juji-jime (normal cross strangle), gyaku-juji-jime (reverse cross strangle), kata-juji-jime (half cross strangle), okuri-eri-jime (sliding collar strangle), kata-ha-jime (single wing strangle), hada-ka-jime (bare-hand strangle), and ryote-jime (two-hand strangle).

3.Kansetsu-waza (elbow locks and twists)

This technique lets you bend, twist, or lock the elbow joint of your opponent’s arm in order to bring him to submission. Kansetsu-waza include juji-gatame (cross armlock), hiza-gatame (knee-elbow lock), ude-gatame (straight armlock), and ude-garami (entangled armlock). Besides mentioning these pressure holds on the elbow joints, we may point out that even though locks on the other joints, such as the ankles or wrists, are effective, they are not allowed in the sport of judo. Because of the obvious danger if the other joints are involved, the rules of the Kodokan prohibit the locking of any joint except the elbow.

Defense methods in grappling

Let us make an experiment. Put both your hands and knees on the mat. In this posture you can use the waist and abdominal region at will to defend yourself from an attack from the rear. Now have someone straddle your back and attempt a strangle from the rear. He probably cannot succeed as long as you hold this posture, since all your muscles will cooperate to defend you from the back strangle.

The force of the waist and abdominal region, which enables all your muscles to cooperate, comes from the power of your legs, which press against the mat. On the other hand, your opponent cannot use his whole force to choke you when he is in his present posture.
Your defensive power is therefore larger than his offensive power.

Never give him the opportunity to flatten your body against the mat, for in this posture you can use neither the force of your legs nor that of your waist and abdominal region.

The same thing can be said of all strangulation techniques. If only you are free to push the mat with one of your legs, it will be impossible for your opponent to strangle you. By pushing the mat effectively, you can set your body in a posture that will allow the power of the waist and abdominal region to operate in defense against the attack.

Become proficient in the area of grappling, master these judo techniques and you will be successful very often.

Judo Basics

When Dr. Jigoro Kano developed judo from its original martial art form, he wanted something more than skill in judo technique. He theorized that what was needed was a blend of the finer techniques of jujitsu with a form of mental training or philosophy as its driving force. Do or “the way” therefore came to signify the mental training that the judoist needs in order to make practical use of the judo philosophy in personal contacts, daily experiences, and career relations. In judo the method of falling is an art in itself.

Mastery of ukemi, or the art of falling, is essential not only for the execution of free and quick movements but also for the prevention of injury when you are thrown. The key point of ukemi is to make your upper and lower extremities strike the mat simultaneously just before your trunk makes contact. You can then utilize your shoulder, thigh, and knee joints as shock-absorbing. If you succeed in doing so, you can break your fall by dissipating the impulsive force.

In mastering ukemi you first learn how to strike the mat with both your arms and hands to prevent your head from hitting it when you fall backwards. Strike the mat as vigorously as possible with both arms and hands.

For the next step in judo basics you must learn to make one arm and hand strike the mat sideways to the left. The left hand and arm strike the mat toward the left. Repeat the practice alternately right and left in daily workouts.

Next learn to make one arm and one hand, one leg and one foot, and the sole of the other foot strike the mat simultaneously as you fall. After you have learned these judo basics and you have an understanding of the many ways of striking the mat, you advance further to the practice of the forward roll.

Here your arms and feet strike the mat as your body rolls forward in a motion like that of a somersault. In the next step in judo basics you advance your right foot forward a little, then put your right hand on the mat turned in. Push the mat with your left leg, and your body will roll forward, completing a forward somersault.

Your right elbow, shoulder, trunk, right side of the waist, outside of the left leg and foot, and sole of the right foot touch the mat in this consecutive order. To be perfectly safe in practicing judo techniques make sure you have a thorough knowledge of ukemi.

Three of the crucial throws, hiza-guruma (knee wheel) and harai-tsurikomi-ashi (lifting foot sweep) and de-ashi-harai (advanced foot sweep) are outlined in this article. These judo techniques are very important and mastery of them will greatly improve your skill level.

Hiza-guruma (knee wheel)

When you glide down a slope on skis, you bend both knees and lower your waist because this makes it much easier for you to control your balance. If one knee cannot move freely, it will be difficult to balance yourself. The technique of hiza-guruma rests on this principle.

You and your opponent hold each other in right natural posture. You try to make him lean to the left front corner. The moment his weight rests on his left leg, which is bent a little at the knee, you put your left foot, with the toes turned in, to your left front corner near his right foot, and break his posture to his left front corner.

With your right hand, which holds his left sleeve, pull toward your right in a circular motion, at the same time putting the sole of your right foot on the outside of his left knee. Your left hand helps the pull of your right hand by lifting his right arm. His knee will then rotate around your foot, and he will fall to the mat.

KEY POINTS:

a. Pivot to the right with your left toes turned inside in order to make the rotating motion easier.

b. Pull your opponent’s sleeve.

Harai-tsurikomi-ashi (lifting foot sweep)

You can use this judo throw to great effect against any opponent.When both knees are bent, they serve to change and control the balance of the body. Therefore, for instance, when your opponent leans forward toward the left, you attack his left knee with your right foot. But when he stands without bending his knees, it would be useless to attack the left knee. In such a case you should attack his left ankle instead of his knee, since the arm of the moment of force becomes longer. If you understand this rule, you will be able to understand harai-tsurikomi-ashi very well.

You hold your opponent by his right and left sleeves. When he is about to lean to his left front corner, you pull strongly with your right hand in the direction of your right back corner and push him to his left front corner with your left hand while letting your body pivot to the right. At the same time you sweep between his knee and the outer part of his ankle with the sole of your right foot. He will then be swept and thrown forward.

KEY POINTS:

a. You should pivot to the right with your left toes turned in to make your rotating motion easy.

b. Your left hand pushes your opponent’s body up and forward so as to help the pull of your right hand.

De-ashi-harai (advanced foot sweep)

Imagine walking on a frozen road in the winter. Stepping carelessly, you sometimes slip and fall on your back on the road. What causes this to happen? The reason is that there is little friction between your feet and the icy road. If you have noticed this, you will easily understand the principle of de-ashi-harai.
You and your opponent hold each other in right natural posture.

When he advances inward with a larger step than usual you place your right foot at the back of your left foot. The moment he rests almost half his weight on the advanced foot, you sweep the ball of your left foot against the heel of his advanced foot just below the tendon of Achilles, at the same time pulling him to his right front corner. He will then be thrown.

Here are the key points:

You should apply these techniques the moment your opponent has placed almost half his weight on his advanced foot and is just about to put his entire weight down. When you sweep his advanced foot, you push his left shoulder with your right hand so as to make his upper body turn up. Practise each judo throw carefully to improve judo technique.