When taking a closer look at each of the martial arts out there, you might find yourself wondering what each one of them is good for. Most newbies to the world of martial arts are actually looking for a self-defense mechanism, they just don’t know it. Only after getting ensconced in the art do they start thinking about whether it’s good for self-defense or not. They want to dedicate themselves to the discipline of course, but being able to protect yourself is right up there on the list of desired outcomes when learning a martial art. I’m here to take the guesswork out of the process of choosing a martial art! I have recently been putting some time and effort into investigating the various martial arts out there and just how effective they would be in a real fight or a self-defense scenario. Today, Judo is up for a little investigation.
Is Judo effective for self-defense and real fighting? Yes, Judo is highly effective in self-defense and a real fight. The skills taught in Judo focus on powerful, smart, and strategic ways of taking an opponent down using both force and balance to your advantage. Even in a real fight with an experienced street fighter, a Judo practitioner will be able to take the opponent to the ground and get them to surrender/submit or face serious injury.
The thing about Judo is that it is a smart sport. It’s not just about brute force or strength like some of the other fighting styles you might have encountered. It’s about outsmarting your opponent and if you are in a street fight or being mugged by someone who has no understanding of Judo, you are certainly going to be the victor. For this very reason, many students who are looking for a martial art with a strong self-defense element choose to learn Judo. Is Judo the martial art for you? Perhaps this article will help you to decide that for yourself. If you want to learn more about why and how Judo is effective in a self-defense scenario, read on.
Why Is Judo Effective In A Real Fight?
Why is Judo considered effective in a self-defense scenario and a real fight? What sets it apart from other fighting styles that are only good in the dojo and have no real value on the street? I would love to answer this question for you! As already mentioned, Judo is both smart and strategic. As you become more skilled in the art, you will be taught various techniques that make you a formidable force in a street fight. For instance, you will learn Tsukuri, which is the skill of using balance to throw an opponent to the ground with just the right amount of force. Kake is another skill you will learn, which is the skill of forcefully completing the throw to the ground in such a way that the opponent has no option but to give up. To put it as simply as possible, Judo will teach you to take down, grapple, submit, and defeat your attacker. There’s no strategy more effective and straightforward than that, is there?
Was Judo Designed For Self-Defense or Real Fighting? | History of Judo
You might be wondering if Judo was ever intended to be used for self-defense and real fighting. That would be really telling, wouldn’t it? All we have to do to answer that question is to take a look at the history of Judo and its creator.
A quick online search tells us that Judo was born in Japan in 1882 and that now, it has come a long way. After all, it is an official Olympic Sport
As it turns out, Judo was created by combining Jujitsu (which is a form of wrestling) with extreme mental discipline). It’s interesting to note that the roots of Jujitsu actually lie in Sumo! Japan was ruled by the Samurai between the 12th and 19th centuries and this is when martial arts were developed to their finest in Japan. At the time, the Samurai soldiers had various forms of martial arts fighting with swords, bows, arrows and other weapons. During this time, the soldiers decided it was a good strategy to develop Jujitsu, which was for close combat on a battlefield. Over the years Jujitsu evolved to include hand-to-hand combat and from there, Judo was developed by Jigoro Kano. He didn’t want the art of Jujitsu to be forgotten and so developed his own version of it.
Just that brief little bit of history of Judo tells us that Judo was in fact designed for self-defense and close combat. This makes it the perfect martial art to protect yourself with in a real fight!
Basic Moves in Judo That Are Highly Effective in Self-Defense
There are several techniques in Judo that will teach you how to fight against someone who is unarmed, armed with a knife, and armed with a gun. Some of the basics that you will first learn can really help you in a self-defense situation or if you are attacked on the street, in a bar, or even in your own home. Below are a few that you can expect to learn.
1. The Two-Hand Hold (Ryote Dori)
This move is typically learned with a partner to play out possible real life scenarios. For instance, you would step forward with your left foot while the opponent grabs both your wrists and attempts to kick with the right knee in the groin area. You would then avoid the kick by taking a step backwards with your left foot, force your right hand against your opponent’s weak thumb, which of course, causes the grip to loosen. You would continue your motion to strike the attacker on the temple. In such a scenario, this would give you time to grab the attacker’s wrist from the top and twist it to the right. This forces the hold into an arm lock and wrist lock which leaves the attacker no option but to give up or have his arm broken.
2. Left Lapel Hold (Hidari Eri Dori)
Again, this is taught with a partner. In this move, the attacker will grab your left lapel and push you back while stepping forward typically with the right foot. You would hold the opponent’s hand with your left hand and step back with your left foot while pulling the attacker off balance. As the attacker loses balance, you strike at the attacker’s eyes with the back of your right hand. Next, grab the opponent’s right wrist from the top with your right hand and place your left hand on the attacker’s elbow while stepping backwards with your right foot. You end the attack by forcibly pushing the opponent to the ground using the force of the wrist and elbow joint lock that you have him in. You can control his body down to the ground with your left knee. The same move is learned for the right lapel hold move.
3. Single Hand Hold (Kata Ude Dori)
Another move that is learned with an opponent is the single hand hold. In this move, your opponent will approach you from the right rear and grab your right arm while lifting you to your toes, while trying to take you away with him. As you walk, you deliver a right kick to the left knee and use the unbalance you have caused to quickly get into an arm lock with the right arm. You can then force the attacker down and leave him no option but to quit.
4. Rear Choke (Ushiro Jime)
Again, you will learn this move with a partner. Your attacker will put his right arm around your neck from the rear. This is called Hadaka Jime. You will be taught to tuck in your chin and pull the arm down from your throat forcefully. You then step forwards with your right foot while turning to the left so that you can duck below the choke. This forces the attacker’s arm into an arm lock. Do this by placing your right hand on the opponent’s elbow and using your left hand to grab his wrist.
All of these moves may seem complicated to read about, but I’m sure these YouTube clips adds some great visuals for you. Perhaps you can try getting yourself into the same movement patterns to see if Judo is something that makes you want to learn more.
Judo Belt System
While self-defense is one of your main focuses, when learning a martial art, earning the belts and working your way through the system is one of the exciting parts. Many want to know what Judo belts there are during the training process and how long it takes to master the art. For self-defense basics, you don’t need to be a master of Judo, but will take at least a year. To obtain a black belt in Judo will take around 3 to 6 years depending on how committed you are to your training. If you train 3 days a week, every week and practice as much as you can, 3 to 6 years should be sufficient time. Some people, who don’t train very often, can take up to 10 years to obtain a black belt.
There are 2 main groups of belts in the Judo system; Kyu grades and Dan grades. The Kyu grades (Mu-Dan-Sha) are the belts for the beginners. There are 6 ranks in these grades, starting with a brown belt. After the brown belt, you get the blue belt, then green belt, then orange belt, then yellow belt, and lastly the white belt. At this stage, the practitioner must take a test to ensure that they are ready to move onto the Dan grades which are the black belts.
The Black belt group (Yu-dan-sha) has 10 ranks within it and it starts with a first degree black belt. Some black belt holders might wear a red and white belt if they have a 6th, 7th, or 8th degree black belt. This just sets them apart from other black belt holders. A plain red belt can be worn by black belt holders that have a 9th or 10th degree black belt. These aren’t often worn just for training, but are worn at special events to show their true ranking. Black belt judo practitioners are typically very well trained in the art of self-defense. Most wouldn’t want to get into a street fight with them!
Clothing, Gear & Equipment for Judo
Professional Judo practitioners wear an actual uniform called a “Gi”. It consists of a tunic, pants and a sash (often called a belt). The belt will change color according to the rank of the practitioner whereas the tunic and pants are always white.
If you are attending your first Judo class, you won’t have a uniform yet. With self-defense in mind, remember that you will need to move your body freely without being hindered. With that in mind, the best clothing to wear is a t-shirt with jogging pants or athletic shorts. Don’t wear anything that has buttons or zippers as these can catch and get in the way.
Some will tell you that Judo is one of the most affordable martial arts to learn because there is absolutely no need for shoes, gloves, pads, or other equipment. Just your body is required to learn the art!
Last Word
When it comes to comparing the various martial arts and trying to figure out which ones are best suited for self-defense and real fights, Judo is right up there with the likes of Krav Maga. It’s a highly effective art that is fairly simple to learn if you are willing to dedicate the time and effort to do so. Judo isn’t something that you learn in your spare time. It is something that you must set scheduled time aside for. Is Judo effective for self-defense and real fighting? The answer is a great resounding yes!
