Judo4Parents.com Blog

Judo is from Japan, as such the words we use in Judo are in Japanese. This can be difficult for children as the foreign words can be scary and off putting. learning these new words can also be fun and exciting for children, especially if a parent can help them learn.

Below is a list of Judo words that are common in clubs and that helping your child learn can help them progress in Judo and enjoy it too.

Hajime (hah - jim - eh) = Start

This is Japanese for begin, most instructors will shout this when they want a class to start doing whatever activity they have been set.

Matte (Mat - eh) = Stop

This one is really important, it means stop. It is used to control classes but also for safety reasons. An instructor may shout Matte if they see a student getting into a potentially dangerous situation. It’s key that your child knows this one. It means stop, stop right now, not after this throw, NOW!

Rei (Ray) = Bow

In Japanese culture, respect is shown by bowing. Bowing is often compared to the european custom of shaking hands. When the instructor says Rei, it means your child should bow. Bowing is a sign of respect to the person you are training with, or to the instructor, etc. THERE IS NO RELIGIOUS MEANING. This is a common mistake, bowing in Judo is not a form of worship, it is like shaking hands… a sign of friendship and respect.

Tachi-Waza (tah - she - wah - za) - Standing techniques.

Tachi-Waza are the throwing techniques of judo, all those down from a standing position. In a club the instructor may say Tachi-Waza to tell people to do standing Judo practise.

Ne-Waza (Nay - wah - za) - Ground techniques.

Ne-Waza are the techniques we do on the ground, so the term my be used by the instructor to indicate to the class they should wrestle on the ground or practise something on the ground.

Sensei (Sen - say) = Instructor

This word in Japanese describes a teacher, so is typically used to describe (or address) the Judo instructor/coach. Some clubs insist that the instructor be referred to as Sensei.

Randori (Ran - door - e) = Free practise

This is open practise, where the children can try their throws (or groundwork techniques) on one another. In other arts it might be called sparring perhaps. The aim is to try new techniques, to refine your throws in a more realistic situation. It is not a fight! It is not a contest. It should be mutually beneficial, with both partners gaining equally.

Kata (Kah - Tah) = Formal Practise

Kata describes formal training sequences. Very common in martial arts, Kata are set patterns of techniques used to teach/learn. There are a small selection (about of official Judo Kata and a infinite number of unofficial kata, which often are not even described as kata. Any pre-arranged sequence of techniques can be called a kata, they are used to help people learn.

Shiai (She - eye) = Contest

Shiai is contest Judo, be it in the club or at events. Shiai is where your child tests what they have learnt against people who are trying to prevent themselves being thrown. It is where children compete against one another, medals can be won, etc. It is first and foremost an opportunity to try your Judo against a new person, which will help you make your technique even better. It is also where we make some close friends!

More terminology will follow in later posts….

Photo from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/emotionblog/112581077/

Judo, like most things a child does is learned. And like most things your child learns, be it football/soccer, tennis, reading or tying their shoe laces; it is normally a parent that helps them the most to start with.

Judo is no different, despite what some may thing and even say. You as the parent can help your child learn Judo; even if you’ve never done it (or done very little). Ideally, you will have done some Judo yourself, but not having done Judo definitely does not preclude you helping your child start in Judo.

So… How can you help?

First and foremost, you can help keep by encouraging and supporting your child. Judo can be tough, so a encouraging word here and there from Mum or Dad is worth a thousand lessons.

Other things that you can do to help include:

Helping with vocabulary - Use the web (http://www.judoinfo.com is a great site) or buy a book ( amazon link goes here) and help your child learn the basic terms, such as Hajime (start), Matte (stop), Rei (bow) and the numbers up to 10. Learning the names of the throws can help take the pressure of your child when they are in the class.

Help with the techniques - Judo like many things is built on basics. Even the most complicated Judo technique is based on some fundamental principles, you can learn these principles and help ensure that you child is following them.

The three stages of a throw for example are simple to understand and a parent can with very little practice accurately see if they are being applied correctly. The three stages are (and need to be applied in this order):

1. •Balance Breaking - Changes the other persons balance so they are unstable

2. •Body Fitting - Placing your body in a position to act as a lever that makes the other person fall.

3. •Throwing - The actual throwing of the other person.

They need to be executed in that order, or things don’t work. Typically children will not break the opponents balance before trying to throw the other. Sometimes they neither break the balance or fit their body to their opponent. Even without a black belt most parents can see this once they know what to look for and can help their child learn to do it right.

Play with your child - or practice with them. Children learn their baseball skills throwing a ball around in the garden with Mum or Dad (or each other). They learn to read by Mum and Dad first reading to them, then helping them to read. Judo is no different, if you do Judo with them at home, they will learn faster and enjoy it more. You can help them practice hold downs on the living room floor, or let them roll you over with throws on the grass.

These are just a few small ideas on how you can help your child, which do not require you to be a black belt (or even a yellow belt). Hopefully they show you how you can help your child get started.

However….

We would absolutely recommend that parents take at least a beginners course in Judo themselves. You don’t need to reach the upper levels of Judo, but having some experience of Judo will make a huge difference.

You may also consider attending a beginners coaching course in Judo, this will also help ensure that you understand what is relevant and important in Judo. As always, the best person to talk to about helping your child is the club instructor and the national bodies.

Talk to the instructor about joining (or starting) and “for parents” beginners class. There are too few of them out there at the moment, so starting one may be the option you must go for.

Catch the Judo “bug” from your child, and help them keep it by being involved yourself.

(The photo is of my friends at the Kokoro Judo Club in Scotland) 

When to start a child in Judo?

This is a common question I hear asked often and also one that has a wide range of answers.

The answer in my opinion is:

“As soon as they can do it.”

Which is intentionally vague. Participation in Judo is really a matter of what the club is capable of and of what your child is capable of. If your child is physically advanced for their age, they may be able to start younger than other children, and vice-versa.

At this point it is important not to confuse starting age with potential. Many high level Judo athletes have started as young children but many others have started as late as their teens and gone on to great things.

The easiest way to tell if your child can start Judo is to take them along to the local Judo club’s most appropriately aged class and see how the children compare to your child. So, look at the sizes of the children. Look at their physical abilities, look also at their language skills, their concentration and attention levels. How do they compare to your child?

Next, talk to the instructor(s), do this if you think your child is not ready and if you think they are ready. The class you are observing may not be indicative of the normal class. The Instructor may be trying to get younger children involved, or less. Let your child meet the instructor and let the instructor “size them up”.

Before you take this step, you may wish to consider the following points as well, but in all cases, nothing compares with taking your child along and seeing for yourself.

Points to consider:

Is your child “potty trained”?

Can your child sit still for several minutes?

Can your child balance on one foot?

Can your child do simple rolls (rolly pollies)?

Is your child physically strong?

Can your child cope with a little “rough and tumble”?

Is your child comfortable playing with other children?

What is your child’s temperament?

Is your child prone to violent outbursts?

Does your child throw “Tamtrums”?

Can your child cope with a 45 minute lesson?

Does your child bore easily?

All the above points neither qualify nor disqualify a child, they are simply considerations to keep in your mind.

The final and most important question to ask yourself and potentially your child is this…

WILL THEY ENJOY DOING JUDO?

If the answer is yes, then the chances are they are ready.

Try a class (or three) and see how it goes. If it does not work out then try again in 6 months or a year, when they have developed even more.