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SCMP Reporter

Last week we featured taekwondo. Now we will talk about a different martial art which is regarded as a sport as much as a fighting method.

 Many years ago, a judo expert proved a point.

  Using his hips as an axis and a bit of force, the smaller man threw his bigger opponent to the ground.

  This is judo's main point - that smaller people can defend themselves against bigger opponents.

  Judo - which literally means the 'way of softness' - is an Oriental form of wrestling originally developed from ju-jitsu as a form of self-defence.

  It is one of the national sports of Japan, a country which takes great pride in judo.

  Many Japanese regard judo not merely as a sport, but also as a spiritual discipline to help attain self-perfection, with its roots in the code of warriors from Japan's old feudal system.

   All three of Japan's gold medals from the Atlanta Olympics were for judo.

  Japan's Jigoro Kano is internationally acknowledged as the founder of modern judo. He established the sport in 1892 and the Japanese judo world has stuck to his theories.

  Technique, power and stamina are some of the hallmarks of becoming a good judoka or player.

  Alex Wong Shi-yu, sports executive of the Hong Kong Judo Association, says people usually take up judo not only to learn the skills but for psychological training and discipline.

  'It's a very traditional sport and people who learn it learn all about the customs and traditions of Japan,' he says.

  'They learn to bow and greet their teacher. They learn to respect their teachers. Youngsters who learn this sport usually learn to respect their parents as well.'   Wong says it requires much discipline. 'This is one of our selling points which makes judo more appealing to the local masses,' he explains.

  'It is not as rough as, say, karate or taekwondo. It's an athletic sport which has been included in the Olympics and it's not about fighting, so people don't shy away from it.'   Beginners may find judo hard work at first because there are several exercises performed that strengthen the muscles used.

  Push-ups and sit-ups are among the exercises performed and, after several months of training, youngsters who have taken up judo feel fitter and stronger.

  A competition can be won by throwing an opponent and also by holding them down.

  Players wear coloured belts to show what level they have mastered.

  A white belt is worn by the beginner, while black is the highest; a second tier known as 'dan' follows after a black belt has been attained.

  Matches also are won by pinning an opponent to the mat and keeping him or her under control for 30 seconds; or by applying a submission hold such as a twisting lock on the arm or elbow, or a choke hold.

  The opponent signals defeat by twice tapping the mat or his opponent.

  A match, which normally has a time limit of three to 10 minutes, is supervised by a referee who is assisted by two judges.

  Matches begin and end with contestants bowing to the referee and to each other.



Judo way of gentle warrior