Saturday, October 22, 2005

Recommended modernization steps for Judo

  • Seize the moment
    As Judo changes in the future - we just need to be very open minded.
    These are the best times for Judo ever (thanks to growing popularity of MMA and grappling arts) but we got to seize the momentum and not get caught asleep on the old glory.
  • Absorb BJJ
    Instead of rejecting BJJ as just being a copy of Judo we got to adopt everything that is worth adopting from it and pull it back into Judo like Kano did with Kata Guruma, Morote Gari and Western wrestling. WE could even make it better due to the very large "gene" pool of Judo.
  • Modernize training methods
    Accept sports science and sports medicine as official Judo methods. Remove unhealthy, traditionalists methods of training.
    Modernize training methods in general. Do not cover the inefficient training methods by using the excuse that it takes forever to get good at Judo. Make learning more efficient.
  • Eliminate traditionalists snobism
    Start treating "diver" and "pick up" throws as first class Judo throws and not as some
    European, sportish degradation of traditional Judo.
  • Reconcile sports and MA side of Judo
    Reconcile sports and martials arts Judo. Do not degrade one over another.
  • Recognize that MMA business is good for Judo
    Accept MMA as one of the methods of applying Judo. MMA methods were perfectly good for many of "traditional" judoka. It does not mean that you need to teach MMA mentality to kids - just accept the fact the Pride and UFC are ultimate organized tests for the effectivness of the combat sports. Didn't Kano do this kind of "trials" anyway?
    Why did Gracies did UFC, Abu Dhabi, Pride, Vale Tudo - for the same reason Kano sent disciples accross the glode to show in practice how effective his new style is.
  • Add more ne waza techniques from the MMA world
    Adopt new type of techniques such as guard fighting, sweeps, mounting as first class Judo techniques. Again, this stuff works in ground fighting and the BJJ strategy of defending from guard instead of turtle, and moving into mount as a advantageous position is a good one. Just blend this into Judo.
  • Internationalize Kodokan even more. Loosen the policy about not awarding the very high ranks to non-Japanese. Judo is and it will always be of the Japanese origins, but let it grows as a truly international movement in every sense of the word.