Japanese Jiu-Jitsu

  The Study of Falling

“I've fallen and I can get up”

By Neil Ohlenkamp

The most universal and basic of all fears, across all cultures, is the fear of falling. Behavioral research has established that babies are born with only two natural fears. One is a fear of certain noises and the other is the fear of falling. Over time people do develop other fears. Many can become critical problems that disable normal functioning. On the other hand, most people can also overcome their fears and learn to cope with them. Learning to deal with the fear of falling can establish an important sense of confidence that often will translate into the ability to deal with other fears.

The earliest and most primal fear we experience is falling, but most people have many opportunities to fall and realize at a young age that they can survive. Recreation and sports activities can accelerate that level of acceptance. Activities as diverse as gymnastics, football, hiking, and skateboarding provide plenty of opportunities, but no activity deals with the fear of falling so directly and positively as Judo.

Richard Carlson, author of "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff," defines fear with the acronym False Evidence Appearing Real. In general, fear is an unrealistic expectation of a negative, usually painful, outcome. It is often self-perpetuating and difficult to change. When we fear something we often try to avoid it. Yet we all know that the way to overcome fear is to face it, recognize the damaging effects of fear, and begin a step-by-step process of dealing with it.

Rolling Fall In classes around the world this is typically the first thing Judo teachers focus on with new students. Before anyone can be expected to participate in any sports activity involving physical contact or falling, they should develop certain skills and learn to overcome their fears so they can feel comfortable falling. Yet Judo is unique among sports and martial arts in the way it incorporates a scientific approach to the methods of falling called ukemi.

It is so important to success in Judo that we practice ukemi not just when we are beginning to learn Judo, but as a part of almost every practice session. Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, explains the importance of ukemi this way:

        As I have often said if one hates to be thrown, one cannot expect to become a master of the art. By taking throws time after time, one must learn how to take falls and overcome the fear of being thrown. Then one will become unafraid of being attacked and be able to take the initiative in attack. Only by following this manner of training can one learn true Judo technique.

It is not possible to excel in throwing, or to defend against an attack successfully, without a thorough understanding of falling. It is also not possible to be successful in matwork without learning to control the transition from standing to the mat, the very definition of falling.

The traditional order of training is to move from the simple to the more difficult. Each person will progress at their own speed but the basic steps are as follows:

1. At first practice falling from a low position, and gradually move higher.
2. Learn one direction and style of falling, then learn to fall in other directions.
3. First fall in place, then add movement.
4. In the beginning move slowly and carefully, then increase speed.
5. First fall by yourself, then have a partner throw you. When someone is throwing you, repeat the learning steps 1 through 4 (i.e. start with a low throw, one direction, no movement, and slow speed).

This step-by-step, approach to safe falling sets the stage for developing confidence, coordination, and control. Learning to fall properly and safely can be a big step towards facing some of the other more difficult lessons that come with intense Judo training. In addition, this method of learning will immediately transfer well to the study of your first throws. For example, first learn easy throws, in one direction, without movement, slowly with a cooperating partner. As you master each element then add other directions, movement, resistance, etc.

Uke Knowing the importance of ukemi, strive to improve your skills. Challenge yourself by practicing different ways to fall, keeping safety uppermost in mind. Constantly work on developing a fearless attitude that will eventually allow you to relax and fully enjoy the complete Judo experience.

Japanese Jiu-Jitsu staff note: This also applies for Japanese Jiu-Jitsu.

Authorized publication of this article.

Author: Neil Ohlenkamp

Original source: http://judoinfo.com/falling.htm

Hi, we are here again with another post related to the Jiu-Jitsu techniques, today we will talk about the different categories, because we need to know how to sort the techniques so in that way it will be easier for us to learn, understand and memorize the names of the techniques.

Let's start:

• Rei (Salutation): This is one of the most important categories of the Traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, on this category we will find different types, some of them are more formal than others, and they have different usage, we will talk about each one later on.
   
• Shintai y Taisabaki (Movements): A lot of senseis still categorize all kind of movements on Jiu-Jitsu as Taisabaki, when there are several differences between each other, that a real sensei must know: Shintai is the lineal movement on any direction, when Taisabaki is applied to the twisting movement of the body
   
• Uchikomi (Fitting in): This are repetitive techniques to practice the way you need to start a technique, the way you get into the throwing position, so you can develop strength, speed and precision, a lot of times sensei had defined Uchikomi as throw the opponent several times when you are training, but Uchikomi is most like practice the way that you will get into the throwing stand of each technique.
   
• Ukemi (Falling): On any martial art where you need to throw your opponent, you also need to know the correct way to fall, this in order to avoid injuries, and reduce the amount of damage when you fall.
   
• Kuzushi (Unbalance): This category is focus on manage the body on certain ways so you can unbalance your opponent.
   
• Atemi waza (Punching techniques): Yes, before we start the debate, on traditional Jiu-Jitsu they use punches and kicks, but  not on the way other martial arts, like karate, does; we don't look to knock out an opponent with a hit, on Jiu-Jitsu the punches and kicks are used most likely to place the opponent body on certain position in order to apply the throwing technique.
   
• Katame waza (Grappling techniques): These are, all the techniques in which you look for hold, choke, dislocate or any techniques where you focus on grappling.
   
• Nage waza (Throwing techniques): These are the most used and also most known techniques of the Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, these are those techniques that focus on throw the opponent to the floor.
   
• Ne waza (Floor techniques): Guess who are experts on this kind of techniques, yeap you got it, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighters, on this kind of techniques you use the Katame Waza and Nage waza but on a floor level-.

Well this are just, as we can call them, the major categories of Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, later on we will see each one on more detail and what it is important about each one.

FAQ made for JJ amateur.

Excellent questions, if we start a debate about which one is better and why, we will never finish with the discussion. Instead of that we will start pointing out the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

On the ancient Japan most of the people wear clothes that were like the Keikogi, we are talking about the kimonos and some other traditional clothes, that could be one of the reasons why a lot of people defends the Gi version of Jiu-Jitsu. 

Gi Version.

On this version all the students must wear the Keikogi and a lot of times, well most of the times the opponent can take advantage of you Keikogi, this was one of the most trained style due on this way you keep the traditions for this style., 

Advantages:

- Introduce the students to the traditional style techniques of Jiu-Jitsu.

- It is more comfortable to do the techniques due you can grab the Keikogi to do the techniques.

- Develop strength on your wrist, arms when you do the pulls from the gi.

- Can use you own Keikogi to attack and also to defend, had you watch a judo fighter to defend themselves with the Gi? or some using it to tie the opponent's arms or legs with the obi?

- Is really resistant so you don't have to purchase a new shirt after you training..

Disadvantages:

- The opponent can take advantage of your own Gi.

- We have to be honest on this days nobody will be using a Keikogi when they are walking on the streets.

Importance:

- With the usage of the Keikogi you promote the respect to the rules, traditions and culture from other countries and also for the classmates.

No-Gi Version

On this style the students do not use the Keikogi, and they use at the most a shirt or a special shirt, this according the preferences and economy of every single student.

Advantages:

- Develop the muscles on the chest, back, lower back due on this style you need to use all kind of muscles to be able to grab and go over your opponent.

- This is a more realistic training, due, we already talked about on the Gi Version, no everyone will be wearing a Keikogi on the street.

- You sweat offers enough lubrication in order to avoid most of the grabs and techniques from your opponent, and also because of this you need to focus on attack the arms, legs or neck.

Disadvantages:

- The amount of techniques you can use, is been decreased.

- You lost the traditions of the main style that is Jiu-Jitsu.

Importance:

- With this practice you can change your way of thinking during a fight so you can react in a better and faster way on a real fight.

Overall

For us this discussion that a lot of people on different sites is been taking place right now, about which one is the best, Gi or no Gi, is something like asking, which color is the best? blue or red, because everyone will have a different perception for those, instead of that we just get the best from both style because each one complement the other, so why not make a neutral style, that keeps the traditions but it also suitable for real situations even without the gi.

Hi, we continue with the explanation about the basics of Jiu-Jitsu, so later on we can start with the techniques, and yes I know that is kind of tedious to be reading the theory part, this will help you to understand and apply the techniques in a better way, so let's continue with: Action vs Reaction.

Action vs Reaction

How many times had happen, and also it could happen that the person you are fighting with is stronger, taller and heavier, and unfortunately your strength is not enough to trow him, well that could be a problem if you don't know this trick.

On the traditional Jiu-Jitsu, an old man of the early 70s or 80s years, could trow a stronger, taller and heavier guy, because he knows how to apply the techniques on the proper way, taking the opponent strength and using it against him, due he knows how the body reacts to some actions. A simple example.

You are stand up on a bus stop waiting and someone just come and push you, the action will be the push you just received, and the reaction (natural reaction) of the body will by impulse yourself to the front in order to avoid falling on your back, now, if we apply this to Jiu-Jitsu it will be something like this.

Look at this image and assume that the one on white belt is heavier and taller than you, how you will trow him?

Option a): I go to the gym and start lifting weight until I become stronger.

Option b): Call my friends so they can help me with this guy.

Option c): I use the Action vs Reaction to trow him.

Answer: C, in order to make it possible, before you start with the technique you need to push your opponent, so, in that way his body will try to go against the push and will move forward, the changing the action instead of push I pull and finish with the technique, by doing this I make his body thinks that will fall backwards and he move forward exactly what I want.

You homework will be, identify which are your natural reactions to different scenarios and actions, and how will you apply this to a Jiu-Jitsu technique.

Notes: Using this basic you can identify between a real teacher from a fake one, the fake on will be the one that needs to use his strength and definitely has too much to learn.

Well, we almost get into the techniques and their explanation, but before that, we need to understand how Jiu-Jitsu works, which are its basics and what we need to do in order to properly apply the techniques, in this articles that we call "The science behind Jiu-Jitsu" you will find all those basics, thats why we put them into the technique list.

The natural position

The natural position makes reference to the natural way of movement the body has, also the normal state that the body has when it is on standby, so we call the natural position to the set of movements that a joint can do also the way that the joint stays when it is relaxed.

But, why is so important to understand this?, well on Jiu-Jitsu we use this knowledge in order to make the techniques, we go againts the natrual position of the body and the joints, and with this induce pain, tension or just took the balance off from an opponent, so if we go strong enough against the natural position we can even control the opponents body as our wish, lets make an example:

  The elbow.

The elbow´s natural position is a simple movement, going in a straigh line into the direction of the shoulder and outside from the shoulder, in other words like a hinge and when we think about the arm whe can think that the shoulder has more movement but is the shoulder the one doing the trick. So, Why I need to know this?, lets take the example of a really simple technique, kansetzu waza, (We will talk about this later on), on this technique we go againts the natural position of the elbow.

      1.- We apply a force on the elbow going against the joint movement.

      2.- We block the wrist so in that way we block the elbow movement too, in that way the elbow cannot go back to the natural position.

     As you can see if we can understand how the body and the joints works without been an expert on Jiu-Jitsu we can get a tap out right away.

      Little homework, Find out with you own body:

      Which are the natural position of my fingers? What about my wrists?

      What happens if i go againts their natural position?

       Knowing this you will understand why Jiu-Jitsu is so effective.

      This basic you can find it on really common techniques used on the MMA Fights, like ambar, arm lock, legbar.etc.