We are not Judoka
Spencer Sense
2/17/2020
Karate, Judo, and jujitsu share a common ancestry, yet each of these arts act as though they’re wholly different. We should be learning from one another and not be attacking this or that aspect of another’s preferred art. A martial artist must evaluate all systems objectively and glean what is useful.
In judo a throw is performed by walking uke forwards and backwards in beautifully choreographed dance (Naga-No-Kata). This is great way to teach throwing technique, but when one enters randori (free Fighting) this fluid type of movement is seldom seen, yet it remains a valid method of teaching the core values and footwork of Judo. In jujitsu training throws are taught from a clinch position or as a counter to a specific type of attack. Jujitsu throws are also delivered in concert with punches and kicks. Many karate systems also incorporate sweeps into their system that are delivered in concert with attacking techniques. The methods of teaching throws and sweeps differ, but each are a valid way of transmitting the nuances of the techniques to future generations. Jujitsu technique permeates karate, yet it is looked upon as an entirely separate art-form, and the throwing arts are seldom taught within the dojo walls. Karate kata is filled with jujitsu techniques, so they too could be transmitted to future karateka. Sadly, the throwing portion of their respected arts have generally been lost. This leaves the martial artist to ponder, why these related systems became so separated?
Each system wants to believe they are the superior brand. The judoka may say the jujitsu practitioner’s technique is wrong, and the jujitsu practitioner may say the judoka’s throws will not work in the real world. The judoka fights for a certain grip on the judogi, in randori, while the jujitsu student may throw a punch, knee, or elbow in the process of working towards a choke, lock, or clinch to facilitate a throw. Many jujitsu throws start from a clinching position. Jujitsu throws can also be practiced from some type of situational attack like a punch or a kick while the judoka practices grasping the judogi and breaking their opponent’s balance by pushing, pulling, and sweeping the opponent’s feet. Without a doubt jujitsu throws are not as elegant as those of the judoka, but perfection in the throw is not one of jujitsu students’ paramount concerns. Putting the adversary on the ground is however a necessity if one’s students are to be able to fight in all three ranges of personal combat. A judoka fights in range two and three while the jujitsu student fights in all three ranges. Karate has been relegated to ranges one and two. The karateka, judoka and jujitsu practitioner train in similar arts, but in our modern classrooms they’re not treated the same. The bottom line is jujitsu, Judo, and karate are distant cousins and should be compared based upon their similarities. A practitioner of one should not simply dismiss the other as inferior.
A student of judo or jujitsu can quickly recognize differences between the two styles. In judo, the completion of the perfect throw is most important. Judo throws are a beautiful thing to behold. Breaking an opponent’s balance has become an art-form for the judoka, and they’re very effective at taking an opponent off their feet. However, in jujitsu, strikes, locks, punches, kicks, and chokes are used to facilitate throwing an opponent to the ground. The jujitsu throw is made with the intent to inflict as much pain as necessary to end the conflagration. There are style points in a Judo match, but there are no style points in jujitsu even in their competitions. In jujitsu the object is to simply place the opponent on the ground and render them unable to continue the altercation. In real combat, throws can be ugly yet still effective. When one watches a Judo match (randori) you will see the finesse and strategy necessary to break the opponent’s balance, but to keep from being thrown the judoka will often move into a posture that leaves them vulnerable to a non-grappling attack. A position, that when used in a life preservation situation, can leave them susceptible to injury. Understand this, a judoka can be a very competent adversary and Judo should never be dismissed as a viable means of self-defense. Its philosophy and practice is simply different than that of jujitsu. Throw an adversary hard enough and the fight is over no matter your style.
When I was younger, I tested my karate skills against a seasoned judoka. He threw me with relative ease, and from that experience I realized that I could not allow him to get his hands on me or I would be at a disadvantage. Later, when I tested my skills against a jujitsu practitioner, I again found myself on the tatami and in rear naked choke. It was then that I realized that I would need to study the throwing and submission arts to be a well-rounded fighter. What I discovered, from my study of jujitsu, was that my karate was already filled with jujitsu technique, yet that technique was never emphasized. I surmise that as the art was passed down instructors emphasized what they liked. Some liked throws while others focused on strikes. It may have been more of a convenience to eliminate the throws because of the need for specialized equipment like tatami to teach that aspect of the art. Isshin-ryu students were originally trained on the hard packed earth, and not too many people like to roll snow white uniforms in the dirt. For whatever reason karate and jujitsu parted ways, but they needed to be combined once again. Therefore, jujitsu is part of the AOKK teaching. Still no student is required to train in jujitsu and can train only in karate if that is their desire. Still, to be a well-rounded fighter one must have an understanding of the throwing and grappling arts.
More modern forms of jujitsu focus on ground techniques and have placed less importance on the throws and takedowns. MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) competition has fueled a mild contempt for the throwing arts. When the throwing arts are dismissed, a student’s range-two fighting ability is weakened. A fighter trained in the three ranges of personal combat is schooled in the throwing arts and will know how to fall if thrown. He will also know how to counter certain throws. A fighter trained in the three ranges of fighting will also know how to defend against a wrestler and understand their favorite types of takedowns. The fighter trained in all three ranges knows how to recognize what system or area of fighting his/her adversary may have been trained. To gain an advantage in combat you must know your enemy.
Jigor Kano sensei removed many of the more dangerous techniques from jujitsu in the creation of Judo. Kano sensei eventually removed atemi-waza (body strikes) from his curriculum. Not only did Kano sensei originally teach how to strike, he also taught how to respond to an attack by a blow in a situational self-defense. The jujitsu he used to distill what would become Judo did however understand the necessity of being skilled with your long- and short-range weapons. Slowly, punching and kicking disappeared from Judo. Kano’s jujitsu was indeed a true martial art. Judo became an ideal way of teaching self-defense in a safe environment, and later developed into a sport enjoyed worldwide. Kano sensei brought jujitsu to the masses in the form of Judo.
In martial arts we need to understand the three ranges of combat. Range-one utilizes strikes and blows from our longer weapons. Long distance attacks come from extended punches and kicks. All fights start from the standing position, so the fighter must be skilled in punching and kicking first. This is the karate, boxing, and kick boxing range. Range-two consists of elbow strikes, knee strikes, short punches, headbutts, and the clinch. The clinch is where one ties-up the opponent with their arms to limit his/her ability to inflict injury. Once you enter range two of fighting it many times ends in a clinch. We still strike in range two, but normally we’re looking to throw our opponent once we have them in our grasp. Additionally, the jujitsu practitioner may use a strike to break the adversary’s balance. This does not mean that we don’t also use more traditional methods, of pushing and pulling, to miss align the opponent to facilitate the throw. We are not Judoka but breaking an adversary’s balance is always key to throwing him/her to the ground. Locks and chokes are also use by the jujitsu student to throw his/her adversary, and this is a major difference between the arts. The judoka does not use a lock to break the opponent’s balance or to facilitate the throw. In Range-three the student becomes a grappler. In this range the student must be proficient in passing the guarding position and administering submission techniques. Ultimately the martial artist’s goal, when on the ground, is to choke their opponent unconscious and exit the danger zone. All fighters need to understand the different ranges of personal combat to maximize their effectiveness in a conflagration. This is key to understanding the AOKK way.
AOKK Jujitsu is an extension of our empty hand martial art. Karate and jujitsu go together like a hand in a glove. Somewhere in our history, as previously noted, the two parts of the same art became separate systems. Many of the throws taught in AOKK jujitsu are found in our kata. Without an understanding of jujitsu, it makes knowing the bunkai (Dissection of Technique) within our karate difficult. Once you’ve studied the grappling side, of the martial arts, the once abstract techniques, of your forms, become viable means of self-defense. If you’re not in search of the meaning held within your form, you’re simply dancing. Below is an example of jujitsu found in the Isshin-ryu karate version of Seisan kata.
Example: In Seisan kata we’re taught a middle block in a low horse stance at one point in the form. Once you’ve trained in jujitsu this moves from a simple block to a more powerful technique that gives the karateka choices.
In this example the jujitsu practitioner sees Tani-otoshi (Valley Drop) with a crossbody arm-bar. This is a much more complex technique, but common place in jujitsu. This throw is also found in Judo, but it is not facilitated by a locking technique. Jujitsu uses the arm-bar to set-up the throw. With this technique the jujitsu practitioner is standing in the end, and his/her adversary is on the ground. They now have the option to leave or continue the altercation. Without a study of jujitsu this portion of our karate heritage would be lost or at best its effectiveness would be minimized.
Briefly we will discuss the importance of recognizing our adversary’s training. To do this one must have an understanding of the three-ranges of personal combat. These are simple rules a fighter should follow. First, never grapple a grappler. Watch an adversary’s fighting stance, and you can determine their preferred fighting system. Second, never box with a boxer, or kick with a kicker, and never throw or grapple with a jujitsu player, judoka, or wrestler. Never fight a kickboxer by kicking. In other words, you want to grapple and kick with a boxer or puncher. Likewise, you want to kick a grappler/judoka while maintaining your distance. If you’re fighting a grappler, use shin kicks, to their lead leg, while moving in and out of range until they cannot push off with the lead leg. Once their momentum is limited start attacking the grappler’s head looking for the knockout. If you’re fighting a boxer or kickboxer, get in close and place them in a clinch. Begin striking with your knees to loosen the opponent’s attachment to the ground, and then throw him/her hard. If possible, in a self-defense confrontation, try to slam the adversary’s head into the ground with the throw. Never fight the other guys strength. Always take them out of their comfort zone, but you cannot do this until you know how they fight.
Rules of Engagement: [These are simple rules a fighter in all three ranges should keep in mind.]
Rule-one: Try to talk your way out of the situation. Always use violence as a last resort, but when left with no other option assume your life is at risk and act ruthlessly in your attack.
Rule-two: Take the fighter out of his/her comfort zone. Never fight their fight.
Rule-three: Never go to the ground intentionally when facing multiple opponents.
Rule-four: If you want to punch an adversary in the leg, punch them in the face first. Distract and attack. Always use strategy in the conflagration.
As you can see there are many similarities between Karate, Judo, Wrestling, and Jujitsu, yet they are different animals. Instead of demeaning each other’s method of self-defense we should be learning from one another. In the end, to be a proficient fighter, one needs to be able to defend themselves in all ranges of fighting. Remember there is no elitist style or system that will turn you into a superhuman pugilist. In the end it is the ability of the fighter that prevails. Not being surprised by something you have not seen helps. Brazilian Jujitsu rocked the fighting world when it was first introduced. Now it is adopted by all jujitsu systems, and more focus has been placed on mat technique than before. Very few real fighters are surprised by BJJ today. Understanding the three ranges of fighting must be coupled with a growing and understanding your potential opponent’s ability. Learn from them and integrate the things that work into your fighting skills. The goal of teaching martial arts is to win an encounter. Surviving is winning and knowing how to fight in all ranges of combat makes that more possible.