Judo is structured around three sets of techniques: throwing, groundwork and striking. Kano separated the purely sporting elements from the self-defense aspects, and only as students progressed could they learn the more advanced, and therefore more dangerous, techniques. Advanced students were also expected to learn resuscitation, as some of the moves could be fatal. Safety was a crucial part of a student’s training.
Throwing techniques, or nage waza, are the primary focus in Judo, and are divided into the following categories:
Te waza: hand and arm techniques
Koshi waza: hip techniques
Ashi waza: foot and leg techniques
Ma sutemi waza: rear sacrifice techniques
Yoko sutemi waza: side sacrifice techniques
Groundwork techniques, or katame waza, include:
Osae waza: holding and pinning techniques
Shime waza: choking and strangling techniques
Kansetsu waza: arm bars and joint locking techniques
Striking techniques, or atemi-waza, include punching and kicking, but are taught only to high-ranking students, and are generally prohibited in competition because of their risk.
The Dojo
Once used by Buddhist monks in reference to a place of worship, the word dojo has since taken on several meanings. It can also mean practice hall, exercise hall, place of learning, meditation hall or club. While often used as a synonym for school, in Judo the dojo is much more than that. The purpose of a Judo dojo is to continue the practice of Judo. In traditional Judo dojos, admittance is selective. Students have to be accepted by the sensei (instructor or honored teacher in Japanese), who only admits the students he feels will be a credit to the art.
In the dojo, the sensei makes the rules. He is to be treated with respect, and his word is final. Loyalty to the sensei and to the dojo are essential. In Judo, the dojo is more than a physical space; it is a means of continuing the art and is a place of reverence for the students. Inside the dojo, students are expected to uphold the standards and principles of Judo, and set an example for lower-ranked students. It is a place for serious study, and students are expected to focus on their practice while inside.
The dojo is a place for practice, not for demonstration, and in many dojos there is no space set aside for spectators. When spectators are allowed, proper etiquette, or reishiki, is required: There is no talking during a match, and parents should never give their child instructions from the sidelines. In the dojo, the sensei is the teacher, and it is his role to instruct the child.