| It is the traditions and elegant customs of judo | | | | onto the mat. If you bleed from a scratch when |
| that lend it depth and that priceless sense of | | | | on the mat you must stop immediately, notify |
| mutual respect that so many modern activities | | | | your sensei and leave the mat. You may return |
| struggle to achieve. The mere effort of learning | | | | to the mat at the sensie`s descretion after all |
| the etiquette and adhering to it as the very | | | | blood has been cleaned in a sterile manner and |
| foundation stone of judo elevates a player above | | | | the wound securely dressed. Grit on the mat, |
| anything remotely resembling poor sportsmanship | | | | apart from being uncomfortable and unclean, can |
| and it is fair to say that rudeness and general | | | | cause unecessary scratch injuries and abrasions |
| belligerence around dojos and competitive events | | | | on players, another good reason to wear |
| is virtually unheard of. It is arguable that etiquette | | | | footwear whenever you step off the mat. |
| is the one thing that allows a strange paradox of | | | | Conversation on the mat. |
| judo to remain in balance - the paradox being that | | | | Further to the basics of etiquette mentioned |
| fierce competitive spirit can live in perfect | | | | elsewhere there are other aspects of etiquette |
| harmony with great mutual respect, friendship and | | | | associated with competition, refereeing and visiting |
| mutual benefit. Without a fixed and strict | | | | other clubs. Much of the etiquette associated with |
| etiquette, judo would become a slave to the | | | | judo is in fact plain and simple good manners and |
| same forces that push other contact sports into | | | | common sense. Any student in the habit of |
| and out of respectability, fashion and favour. | | | | keeping their ego in check and exercising utmost |
| Etiquette in judo is not negotiable, nor is it flexible | | | | politeness will rarely go too far wrong in any judo |
| or left as a matter of choice by individuals or | | | | club. Speaking without invitation or interrupting the |
| clubs. It is the one element of judo that stands | | | | Sensei`s efforts to keep his instruction flowing, |
| above all the others, including skill levels and | | | | logical and evenly distributed amongst his students |
| technique, knowledge and competitive success. | | | | is probably one of the most common examples |
| With a sincere observance of good etiquette, one | | | | of poor etiquette. Many Senseis, if not most, are |
| can practice one`s heart out and compete with | | | | in fact volunteers for local youth clubs, Police and |
| utter committment and not yet loose any friends | | | | citizens clubs and such like in the same fashion as |
| nor demean ones self in any way. Thus, quite | | | | many coaches of other sports clubs are. Students |
| clearly, good etiquette actually speeds one`s | | | | honour this contribution to the community by |
| progress by constantly suppressing negative | | | | helping to make the entire experience as easy, |
| influences such as ill will between players, | | | | enjoyable and fullfilling as is possible through the |
| disfavour with coaches, reluctance to partner with | | | | spirit and practice of good etiquette. Swearing on |
| you in randori or uchi komi, uninviting atmosphere | | | | the mat is strictly forbidden. Stick to this no |
| in the dojo and such like. If you practice good | | | | matter what environment surrounds the dojo or |
| etiquette, you will automatically find that coaches | | | | what the habit and culture of individual players |
| and senior players will be much more willing to | | | | might be outside the dojo. Do your sensei the |
| give you time and patience and to help you work | | | | honour of addressing him or her as "sensei" on |
| through your personal obstacles. | | | | the mat. You may well be firm friends, work |
| Bowing | | | | mates or even a relative of your sensei off the |
| Westerners are sometimes mistakedly inclined to | | | | mat, but such easy familiarity taken onto the the |
| regard bowing as a gesture of subservience, but | | | | mat only encourages others (especially juniors) to |
| bowing in judo is much closer to a salute and all | | | | forget the formality of showing a little respect |
| players bow to each other regardless of rank. In | | | | and in time the fabric of judo etiquette and its |
| this sense it is much more a signal of mutual | | | | benefits will be corroded. |
| respect rather than subservience. A fuller | | | | Etiquette and its effect on a clubs morale. |
| understanding of this is worth pursuing if one is to | | | | Good etiquette extends to the rigours of practical |
| appreciate the true significance and value of it and | | | | judo. In the rough and tumble of randori, practice |
| why it has survived the world over, even in | | | | or competition your obligation to develop skills |
| countries where bowing is either non existent or | | | | extends to the proper care of your fellow |
| reserved for royal circles. | | | | players. Good "Kake" (the final components of a |
| When to bow | | | | throw) is necessary for a throw to be judged |
| On entering the dojo, on stepping onto the mat, | | | | skillful AND as an etiquette obligation to your |
| to ones partner before commencing practice and | | | | partner - necessary so that he or she is given |
| to one`s opponent before competition. At the | | | | proper opportunity to exercise THEIR part of the |
| beginning of a class there is a short procedure | | | | throw properly - the breakfall (Ukemi). These |
| wherein the students kneel in a line facing the | | | | elements of judo etiquette take some time to |
| Sensei. Usually there is a photo of Dr. Kano at the | | | | develop because they require considerable skill as |
| head of the mat area, known as the Kamiza or | | | | well as good intent. However strict adherence to |
| seat of Joseki. The students turn and bow to the | | | | them allows the members of such a club to |
| Kamiza as the head student announces the salute | | | | practice extensively at "full bore" so to speak |
| "Shoman ni Rai" then again towards their Sensei | | | | with negligible risk of injury and consequently an |
| "Sensei ni Rai" who in turn responds to the | | | | uninterrupted progression to the highest levels. If |
| students. At the end of the class the same | | | | you want your club to thrive and members to |
| procedure is performed in reverse order. | | | | keep coming back, practice good etiquette, its |
| Students bow when leaving the mat, for any | | | | one of the magical elements that sets judo apart. |
| reason. | | | | Etiquette and its effect on competition and |
| In brief:- Ritsu Rei (standing bow) - seiza | | | | technique. |
| (kneeling-seated) - back should never be towards | | | | It is no accident that those few rare clubs who |
| the Kamiza. Only the senior sensei of the Dojo | | | | do not insist on good etiquette also fail to produce |
| can have his back to the Kamiza. | | | | very successful competitors. But how does the |
| In proper reishiki all lesser ranks should always be | | | | application of etiquette speed one`s progress to |
| on the left side of their seniors. | | | | the highest levels? What is its place in the |
| Choosing partners for practice, randori or uchi | | | | philosophy of judo? Why can`t we take a short |
| komi. | | | | cut, skip this bit, and just learn the skills? The |
| It is good etiquette for the lower belt to approach | | | | answer lies in the aspirations of judo`s founder Dr |
| the higher belt and ask for the opportunity to | | | | Jigoro Kano. We should recall here that Dr. Kano |
| partner with him/her. Hence, when the sensei | | | | was an Oxford scholar, president of Tokyo |
| announces say an uchi komi session and invites | | | | University of Education, and a noted world |
| students to pair up, the lower belts should | | | | lecturer. He was already a master of two schools |
| approach the higher belts. | | | | of jujitsu when he began his quest for something |
| When in any Dojo you are to remain seated in | | | | above and beyond a martial art or military skill. Up |
| the correct Seiza (kneeling seated) unless the | | | | until that point, the practice of martial arts was |
| Sensei tells you to sit some other way. The | | | | just that; practice. It is not possible to practice a |
| proper way to sit is either the Seiza, or Anza | | | | martial art without injury unless at least one of |
| (cross legged). At no time is anyone below the | | | | two measures are taken:- |
| rank of Black Belt rank ever allowed to sit in the | | | | |
| Kamiza area of the Dojo. | | | | 1. One practices it as much less than full speed or |
| Sitting on the mats. | | | | full force or (for very dangerous practices) no |
| Do not sit with your legs stretched out in front of | | | | force at all. |
| you, or to lie on the mat in any manner unless | | | | 2. One clads oneself in so much armour or |
| such is part of training (e.g. ground work). Sit in | | | | protective gear that there is no resemblance to |
| the kneeling position or the cross legged position. | | | | the normal circumstance at all. |
| Do not sit with your back towards the seat of | | | | The solution was threefold . . . |
| Joseki. | | | | |
| Randori and technique development with very high | | | | 1. Remove all inherently dangerous actions - |
| ranked judokas. | | | | inherently dangerous in that even when executed |
| Once a judoka achieves the rank of sixth dan, | | | | by a skilled practioner there is still significant risk. |
| the red and white belt may be worn, although | | | | An example would be wrist locks - where even a |
| such people are permitted to continue wearing | | | | tiny error of judgement can mean severe |
| black if they so wish. If you are fortunate enough | | | | damage to a complex and intricate part of the |
| to have occasional contact with such a person, do | | | | skeleton. |
| not subject him/her to a complete throw, an | | | | 2. Device a complete system of defensive skills |
| inescapable holddown or submission technique. | | | | which assume more priority and importance than |
| Etiquette demands that this not be done, out of | | | | the attacks themselves. One must first learn to |
| respect for the rank, not out of any question of | | | | be thrown before learning how to throw. Since |
| "who is better". At this level, "who is better" is no | | | | judo is defensive, there is no presumption that an |
| longer relevant. Consequently, when observing a | | | | "attack" shall decisively end in your favour. Make |
| champion freshly back from the olympics with | | | | the attacker responsible for his or her opponents |
| medal in tow and moving around on the mat with | | | | well being as an integral part of the activity, in |
| a sixth dan sensei, the olympian never quite | | | | other words, judge a player on his or her ability |
| manages to throw the sixth dan, nor does he | | | | to take proper care of their opponent. |
| ever manage to achieve a successful hold down, | | | | In the manner of most examples of true brilliance, |
| even if the sixth dan is of advanced years and | | | | this philosophy is disarmingly simple and best |
| much diminished speed and robustness. Strange, | | | | expressed in the two simple maxims that Dr |
| given that his ability to do so could hardly be | | | | Kano gifted to all students that followed from |
| questioned, but that is the case, and it is good | | | | those earliest days . . . |
| etiquette that makes it so. If in fact the sixth dan | | | | Maximum efficiency |
| actively wants to engage in unconditional randori | | | | Mutual Benefit |
| or shiai, then he or she shall don a black obi (belt) | | | | The first defines judo as a skills based activity |
| to signal to others that the normal convention can | | | | rather than a brute strength event. Natural speed, |
| safely be ignored. In the opinion of some, another | | | | strength or stamina or developed athletic ability is |
| form of this also applies to older black belts of | | | | not detrimental to judo by any means but nor is |
| the lower dan grades. It is entirely possible that a | | | | it the first requirement. Thus judo is available to |
| young ambitious blue or brown belt is significantly | | | | virtually anyone of any age, size, gender or body |
| more competitively skilled and agile or "match | | | | type, given good general health and very |
| ready" than a middle aged black belt instructor | | | | importantly is able to be practiced for years, |
| who hasn`t competed seriously for many years, | | | | decades, indeed for most of one`s life if so |
| or who may, through aging have a touch of | | | | desired. |
| arthritus or other complaint that catches up with | | | | The second maxim compels players to ensure |
| all of us eventually. Allow good etiquette to | | | | that they are in fact enjoyable people to play the |
| override your pressing need to ippon your | | | | game with. The player who does not take this |
| teacher - keep in mind that by the time many | | | | mutual benefit maxim seriously will find he is not a |
| senseis reach 1st or 2nd dan, achieve coaching | | | | highly valued member of his club, will not attract a |
| accreditation and commit considerable resources | | | | variety of other members to practice with, will |
| to running classes and keeping a club healthy, | | | | not therefore learn to defend against a rich and |
| many years and much water has passed under | | | | varied mix of different styles skills and abilities and |
| the bridge and their personal competitive judo | | | | will not be able to practice FULL BORE for any |
| skills often have to take a back seat to these | | | | length of time before someone gets injured - |
| other factors which nevertheless constitute | | | | hardly the optimum path to success. |
| "service to judo". Without this commitment, often | | | | One could be forgiven for thinking that this new |
| at their own expense, there will be no judo for | | | | approach might in some way reduce the value of |
| you or anyone else, so let your sense of | | | | judo as a system of self defence. In fact quite |
| etiquette pay homage to this. In short, if your | | | | the opposite effect resulted. "Full bore" extended |
| first instinct is to always treat all judokas of any | | | | practice in exactly the same circumstances as |
| rank with utmost respect, you will never go too | | | | real competition or indeed in the real world of |
| far wrong. | | | | "street trouble" means the judo player is never |
| Etiquette towards lower ranked players. | | | | presented with situation hitherto not experienced. |
| Nothing gives a student judoka a faster boost up | | | | Constant repetition of completely executed |
| the ranks than considerate older players. New | | | | actions means the skills are not left in a "still |
| players have significant obstacles and anxieties to | | | | untried" state. On the street, the same techniques |
| overcome, and this is best combated by instilling in | | | | applied every week to fellow judo players well |
| them complete trust in your desire to look after | | | | practiced in breakfalling and other defensive skills |
| them. Once they are convinced that your first | | | | will have a very different result. The hidden |
| priority is to make sure they come to no harm | | | | secondary self defence value of judo is a little |
| they will launch into terrifying new techniques | | | | more subtle but just as relevant in that the |
| without fear and learn quickly. Resist all temptation | | | | committed judo player is in fact much less likely |
| to prove your superiority over the lower belt and | | | | to get into trouble in the first place. But we |
| by so doing you actually prove just that, by being | | | | diverge a little here, for this is more the subject |
| a good role model. | | | | of another article on the nature and definition of |
| Hygiene. | | | | Sport. The second maxim, (mutual benefit) |
| Hygiene is both common sense and good | | | | amongst other things, discourages arrogance in a |
| etiquette. Quite apart from the health implications, | | | | player, encourages quiet confidence and politeness |
| it constitutes due consideration for your partners | | | | and eliminates a perceived need to "prove |
| and opponents. Common sense once again, is | | | | oneself". If one`s instinctive reaction to human |
| your best guide, built on these basics:- Try to be | | | | relationships is one of mutual benefit or lack of |
| in a showered and clean state on arrival, short | | | | selfishness there is precious little grounds left for |
| fingernails and toe nails, any cuts or scratches | | | | conflict to develop. "maximum efficiency" in judo |
| taped over, clean judogi. Remove all jewellery, | | | | parlance also means "minimum response" - thus |
| tape over non removable piercings. Refrain from | | | | judo skills can be equated with "the minimum |
| attending the dojo when you are recovering from | | | | response" necessary to achieve an end. Violent |
| a cold, the flu or any potentially contagious | | | | over-reaction is also therefore an absolute |
| condition. Always use footwear whenever you | | | | anathema to the philosophy of judo. |
| are off the mat to avoid dragging dust and dirt | | | | |