From: scheid@danzan.EBay.Sun.COM (David Scheid)
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts
Subject: Re: Judo
Date: 5 Jan 1993 17:54:02 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: scheid@danzan.EBay.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: danzan.ebay.sun.com

In article 17@viikki.Helsinki.FI, hannula@viikki.Helsinki.FI (Jaakko Hannula (OPTOIM)) writes:
>Mixed feelings about kodokan's future
>
>As a many years board member of our Yudanshakai I felt very sad
>noticing that even Kodokan has been trapped by the illness. Did 
>the Olympics really manage to do all this? Who cares for a waza anymore?
>It seems that in Europe there are developing small groups who do it
>in the traditional way: we fight and do kata. And do not care for medals.
>
>Are there any similar experiences?

I don't usually post to "world" because of the lack of "world"
participation. However, this is a topic about which I have been writing
since the inception of this Group.

First, my background. I started studying Judo in the 1960's. It was only
after a while that I realized there were different Judo styles. My style
is Okazaki Kodenkan (aka Danzan Ryu). Our curriculum was Kodenkan Kata and
then with advancement to green and 3rd brown, participation in Randori and
Shiai.

We competed against other Judo stylists - many claimed to be Kodokan adherents
although most were distinctively American in that their focus was only on winning,
not technique, not form, not style.

The point system was Ippon and Wasa-ari (point and 1/2 point). Katame-waza
(mat work or Judo wrestling) was allowed only if a Wasa-ari was scored. So
the focus was on Nage-te (throwing skills). There were also restrictions
against individuals who would not grasp or fight completely defensive. They
could be penalized and lose the match. Again, this put emphasis on Throwing.

Well, over the years, the rules have changed and with the rule changes the
emphasis has changed as well. First, (let's blame the Russians :-)) the
rules were modified so that the Russian Sambo players could be included.
Then, other changes were made to allow for Turkish type players. So,
Olympic Judo took a turn away from Kodokan Judo and became truely an
Olympic Sport (read International). The focus in on wrestling and winning.
*Get that Medal!* In the US, we have those who are Medal focused as well.

They further the slide of Judo as a recreation form by their insistence on
their created version of wrestling. The principles of Judo, while they may
be talked about, are not practiced. An old Oriental Maxium is, "one cannot
separate Principal from Practice", so their practice is without Judo principal.
Thus, it is not Judo.

There are now many schools in this country where the old methods and 
principals are being reintroduced. This means that old ways of teaching
and practicing have to be relearned, because most of the teachers who
were taught the traditional ways are either retired or focused on only
a segment of the Art, ie. Kata, self-defense, or Sport.

So, do we have a similiar experience. Yes. I see nothing good about
Olympic Judo. Never have. A good book on the deterioration of Kodokan Judo
is Donn Drager's "The Formal Katas of Judo" published by Kodansha (I believe).
He provides an extensive introduction and diagrams on how the curriculum has
changed over the years (the amount of time spent on segements of activiity).
(It's just a good book to have anyhow!)

The school where I currently practice and teach has a Jujutsu and Judo 
program. I do not participate in the Judo program because it is not what
I recognize nor support. However, when special classes are held, I will teach
different methods of Randori, entering, countering, etc, but always emphasizing
technique, not strength. This doesn't occur often, but at least people get
a chance to see a different perspective. 

And, with the growth opportunity presented by this forum, perhaps over the
next decade others will look back to the past for new methods of practice.

Hope this helps in letting you know you are not alone. Perhaps Dan can
post some of his experiences, as well.

---
Dave Scheid - All Disclaimers Apply


Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts