| By far the most common misconception | | | | competitive sport scenario, the other from a self |
| associated with randori is the notion that it is just | | | | defense perspective. With the "win-lose" thinking |
| club-based or friendly competition. It is not hard to | | | | entirely removed from the equation, a randori |
| see why this is so and why randori very | | | | mentality will not encroach or threaten in any way |
| frequently degenerates into either Uchi Komi | | | | the mindset necessary to succeed in the |
| (repetitive fitness and fluidity building), or Shiai | | | | aforementioned "contests". Indeed, quite the |
| (score orientated competition). | | | | opposite - for when there is a sudden and |
| Let us state from the outset that the term | | | | compelling need to win, emotions are running high |
| "degenerate" should NOT be taken to mean that | | | | and your well being (or that gold medal) is under |
| these practices (Uchi Komi and Shiai) are lesser | | | | threat, one cannot afford to be thinking about |
| pastimes, but that they are quite distinct and | | | | "technique", there will be quite enough to worry |
| separate activities of their own, with their own | | | | about without the added burden of last minute |
| solid merits. The closest thing to randori, in terms | | | | technical revision. We have an opponent to study, |
| of say tennis or squash is the "hit up", where two | | | | a strategy to implement, courage to muster, |
| players are playing hard against each other, but | | | | emotions and "situations" to be controlled. On the |
| NOT SCORING!! That is to say, the concept of | | | | competition mat, or in the street, one wants all |
| winning and losing MUST be eradicated entirely | | | | one`s resources focused on WHAT to do, or |
| from the mind, in order that technique can be | | | | WHEN to do it, not HOW to do it. |
| polished, and knowledge can be converted to | | | | Contrary to popular belief, the concept of randori |
| instinctive physical ability, or in order that one can | | | | was not the invention of Dr Kano coincident with |
| see the effect of various tactics in a relatively full | | | | the development of judo. Kano did further refine |
| blooded contestual environment, DEVOID OF THE | | | | and define randori principles and he introduced |
| PRESSURE TO WIN. | | | | groundwork randori and the long sleeved judogi |
| We can`t help ourselves, most of us; it is after all | | | | for safety and a wider range of new throws, but |
| human nature to enjoy victory, and so we find | | | | true randori was the dominant training tool of |
| ourselves having a bit of a pull around on the mat | | | | Hachinosuke Fukuda, Kano`s teacher at the |
| with a friend and we execute a nice throw. | | | | Tenjin-Shinyo School of Jujitsu. |
| Someone mutters "nice throw" and we feel quite | | | | Where does this place randori in the larger training |
| pleased with ourselves, and the other guy | | | | regime? Let us consider five major elements of |
| mutters to himself, "dam! - how did I fall for | | | | on-the-mat training and how they fundamentally |
| that?" Sound familiar? | | | | differ - or more precisely how they SHOULD |
| Three things have to happen for this process to | | | | differ:- |
| evolve into randori . . . | | | | Technical instruction - obviously, before we know |
| 1. Mutual Benefit - randori is the perfect | | | | anything about anything we have to be taught |
| opportunity to hone a strong sense of ethics and | | | | the basics, the how-to of a technique. Most dojos |
| unselfish goodwill towards your comrades on the | | | | do plenty of this and many teachers and coaches, |
| mat. Whatever you "give" in randori will be repaid | | | | including coaches of many non martial art sports |
| many times over in good fellowship, respect, trust | | | | may feel that unless they are providing a |
| and perpetually improving skills. | | | | constant stream of technical instruction they are |
| 2. After doing that aforementioned throw, we | | | | somehow failing to meet obligations to their |
| should refrain absolutely from feeling pleased with | | | | students. Boxers are the least guilty of this, their |
| ourselves and instead, wonder what exactly | | | | emphasis is not in knowing a thousand techniques, |
| allowed it to happen. If it was because of a | | | | but in doing a small number extremely well. |
| blatant weak spot in your partners defense, then | | | | Uchi Komi - includes "fit-ins", "throw for throw" |
| he/she should be given the opportunity to | | | | and repetitive combinations, counters or escapes, |
| understand that, maybe you should keep doing it | | | | or strings of hold downs. Osae Komi is principally a |
| until the other has closed the gap and you are not | | | | physical conditioner and technique builder, practised |
| pulling it off any more. Both of you will benefit | | | | without the added burden of philosophical/cultural |
| enormously if this thinking pervades the exercise. | | | | considerations or a resistive opponent. Modern |
| 3. After being thrown, we should refrain absolutely | | | | "western" non-martial sports such as tennis and |
| from being disappointed at falling for it. For therein | | | | squash place great emphasis on the value of |
| lies a GREAT OPPORTUNITY to learn something, | | | | repetition of the essential "parts" of a larger |
| if only our disappointment can be made to step | | | | technique set. |
| aside for a minute and make room for objective | | | | Kata - Often underrated as a training mechanism, |
| egoless study of what happened. | | | | kata in fact helps transfer intellectual knowledge |
| If you are not quite sure what happened, it is | | | | into body knowledge - "learning by doing" - such |
| quite in order and quite common in true randori to | | | | that the mechanics of a technique or set of |
| ask your partner to "do it again" - so that you | | | | techniques and their interrelationship is understood |
| can fall for the same trick again, and again, and | | | | at both a physical and intellectual level. Kata, most |
| again, until something reveals itself to you. If you | | | | importantly, also serves to connect the physical |
| are not prepared to fall for the same trick | | | | to the philosophical or spiritual and cultural/ethical. |
| repeatedly, then clearly you are sliding into a Shiai | | | | "Physical meditation" some have called it - Tai Chi, |
| mentality because you would rather stay upright | | | | Karate and Yoga students are the clear leaders in |
| and "win" than learn why you are able to be | | | | this genre of practice. As with randori, there is no |
| thrown or locked up by this particular partner | | | | concept of winning or losing in kata, nor is there |
| using that particular technique. | | | | any opposing pressure against proper execution, |
| For this reason also, do not be tempted to | | | | outside of the practitioners own internal barriers. |
| "referee" a randori session. One sees this a lot, | | | | It is at the opposite end of the spectrum to Osae |
| two players are supposedly indulging in randori but | | | | Komi, although some katas and particularly Yoga |
| a third player is actually refereeing and awarding | | | | Asanas are also extremely physically taxing. |
| points and penalties, furthering the notion that | | | | Randori - As with kata, there is no concept of |
| someone is going to win this bout. It isn`t a bout! | | | | winning or losing, yet conversely, as with Uchi |
| The third player`s job, if indeed there is a third | | | | Komi, it is highly physical. Randori requires that |
| player, is to be an analyst, not a referee. That is | | | | there be added (measured) opposing pressure. BJJ |
| to say, he/she (very often your sensei or other | | | | players and wrestlers put great emphasis on a |
| "higher belt") is there to help the players with | | | | randori like training regimen or something that falls |
| useful third party tips - "keep those elbows in!" - | | | | approximately between true randori and |
| "keep him moving!" - "relax!" - "try the other side | | | | "moderated" competition. |
| for a change!" | | | | "For real" - Testing the theory - the bit we either |
| Similarly, if one is successfully executing a | | | | hope we never have to indulge in if it is self |
| technique despite your best defenses, let it | | | | defense we are referring to, or, if sporting |
| happen, let yourself be thrown. You failed to | | | | competition, the bit we view with either relish or |
| prevent it initially, so let it happen, let him prove | | | | trepidation, depending on what we think our |
| his point and let yourself observe the complete | | | | chances are! For jujitsukas, self defense |
| process, there are no points to be lost. In doing | | | | pressures can be emulated to some degree in the |
| so, your partner gets a chance to control you | | | | dojo with a shiai like combative sparring match |
| right to the mat and practice his "control" and | | | | under prescribed rules for safety plus "prohibited" |
| kake, an opportunity that does not present itself | | | | techniques; or in the case of judo players, a |
| too often in shiai, or for jujitsu practitioners, in a | | | | standard judo tournament under IJF rules - "Shiai" |
| street self defense situation. The opponent (as | | | | in other words. Whatever the format however, |
| against "partner") will be doing everything in their | | | | most disciplines need some method by which the |
| power to disrupt control and clean kake, of | | | | skills can be validated or put to the test in order |
| course! Only in properly executed randori will | | | | that they may evolve. One could argue that |
| these opportunities to learn present themselves | | | | martial arts grading tests do this if they are |
| and only in randori do you get a good opportunity | | | | sufficiently arduous and challenging, but for many |
| to study your own ukemi and transition into | | | | of us it might be a long time between gradings, |
| ground work. His success is your opportunity to | | | | for others it is the journey not the result and for |
| study, therefore, his success should be something | | | | still others, the "proof of concept" is found |
| you begin to look forward to rather than view it | | | | inescapably in improved wellness and a sense of |
| as your "defeat" or failure. | | | | achievement or fulfillment. There are other ways |
| After being thrown, pause for a second on the | | | | to test the theory besides competition, to be |
| mat, rather than scramble away before | | | | sure. I don`t see many Tai Chi tournaments out |
| groundwork can commence. Eventually your | | | | there but I do see a lot of happy healthy |
| partner will see the opportunity to fall straight into | | | | practitioners. |
| ne waza, practice a smooth transition and thus | | | | So which of the five is missing from your |
| give BOTH of you the opportunity to study this | | | | schedule? Chances are, its randori. "No" you retort |
| process as well. Later, as this improves, these | | | | indignantly, "we put aside time for randori every |
| openings or invitations can be reduced or | | | | training session!".Is it randori? - or is it Shiai? To an |
| eliminated as both of you get better and better | | | | outside observer, there seems to be little |
| at these smooth and speedy transitions. | | | | difference, however those differences, whilst |
| Being a good randori partner is quite an art - and | | | | subtle, are critical. |
| applies with equal importance to both jujitsu and | | | | Yellow and orange belts, ask yourselves, did you |
| judo, for if done properly, presents no threat to | | | | feel you "won" your randori session with the |
| the underlying motivators of these two closely | | | | green belt? If the answer is "yes", then you were |
| related disciplines. Randori, done properly, will have | | | | indulging in Shiai, while the green belt was |
| no dilutory effect on the need of the judo player | | | | randoriing. |
| to maintain a "match" mentality, nor will it weaken | | | | Blue and brown belts, did you feel you got the |
| the jujitsuka`s drivers to "get in quickly, finish it | | | | jump on your sensei this time? Perhaps the black |
| quickly". | | | | belt was using you to study his own weak spots |
| Both philosophies are "win" orientated, one for a | | | | instead of working towards a win. THAT'S randori! |