The MMA Zone

Understanding Judo and studying it is one of the most important things when you’re a beginner. Judo is a difficult art and the more knowledge you have, the easier it gets.  Not only does it have it’s own language like the ones below but each of these terms are a movement and/or technique:

• Ippon-Seoi-Nage: single arm shoulder throw
• Jigotai: defensive posture
• Jushin: center of gravity

So, when people come up to me and ask if they should start Judo I just make sure to let them know it will be an intense learning curve they are up against. 

However, what most people fear when starting Judo is their fitness level. You just have to keep in mind that the best training for Judo, is Judo. What a gym workout will do is help you be in the right shape and take the most out of your Judo sessions. Ask for training assistance or research yourself to find out what exercises and machines you will benefit the most and what will increase your strength and endurance. Usually, Judo newbies don’t require a complex workout, so the treadmill, steppers and weights is more than enough.

So, before even starting to worry about your fitness level and workout, here are some key elements you should master.

Judo Gi – Most likely you will be able to get a judo gi from your instructor when you start.  However, if you don’t then there are several places online that you can go to to get high quality judo gi. 
Belt – Learning how to tie your belt shouldn’t take more than a few minutes a day. You can study upon this from different books or YouTube videos. It may seem like something superficial, but your Sensei (instructor) will surely let you know how important it actually is.
Ukemi – This is crucial to learn. Most judo injuries are because of the person was resisting when being thrown. Not being to perform a break fall will only make you scared and stiff.
Keep a journal – Write the highlights of each session and then get in the habit of re-reading them. This will help you remember and keep the techniques fresh in your mind.
Technique – At first keep focusing on techniques rather than using strength. This helps improve your judo skills faster.
Looking at the feet – This may be the most common mistake judo beginners make. The basic principle of judo is not to see what your opponent is doing, but rather feeling it. So you’ll have to learn to look at your opponents’ chest. That allows keeping your posture and also seeing his arms moves.

And also remember that there is no age requirement for Judo. You may be the youngest or the oldest one at the dojo, your chances of being the greatest are equal.

back-to-the-old-me:

It makes me tired just THINKING about how much work I’d have to do if I drank ANY of my calories, let along 450 a day.

So, many beginners don’t understand the differences or similarities between the various styles of martial arts like; Karate, Taekwondo, Judo, and Kung Fu.  While it is true that they have fundamental similarities, each discipline has risen from a different culture and possesses many contrasts. Here is a breakdown of the similarities and differences between karate and Taekwondo.

Differences between Taekwondo & Karate

Each discipline was born in a separate Asian country. Taekwondo dates back over 2,000 years and was created by the convergence of cultural influences form the three kingdoms that ruled over Korea at the time. Karate dates back to a similar era and is believed to have been formed by Buddhist monks from Japan.

Karate incorporates methodical attacks that utilize a variety of body parts for striking an opponent, including hands, feet, knees and even elbows. The motion of each move is predetermined and moves through space in strikingly angular and easily-repeated motions.

Taekwondo is also strike-based, but it calls for the artist to utilize kick to the upper body or the opponents head whenever possible. Just like many of the arts, Taekwondo understand that the torque and power that one can generate with the lower body is substantially greater then the force generated by the upper body, and will be able to do so while maintaining relative stability. The movements of Taekwondo are less governed by tradition and mathematics and are more a reaction to the situation and the opponent’s own moves.

Another major difference is that while karate has not yet been recognized as an Olympic sport, the sport of Taekwondo has been featured in each version of the Summer Olympics since the 1988 Games in Seoul, South Korea. Even though a committee overseeing the 1996 Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta voted it out in 1996, it returned in 2000 and has been in every Summer Games since.

Similarities of Karate & Taekwondo

Both karate and Taekwondo participants are wise to use the proper fighting clothing. A Karate gi is necessary in the Japanese-based sport while Taekwondo uniforms are necessary in the Korean-based martial art. A quality Karate gi and quality Taekwondo uniforms can be found for reasonable prices, provided that a person knows where to look.

Both karate and Taekwondo were invented as a means to defend oneself without weapons other than the natural striking facets of the human body. Both have been honed over the centuries into modern versions that are highly potent forms of both attacking and defending. When performed for an extended amount of time, both are excellent forms of exercise. Millions of youngsters all over the globe enroll in both karate and Taekwondo classes each year.

Taekwondo is a style of martial arts that requires a great deal of flexibility, strength, and dedication.  Even though the end result of understanding and knowing Taekwondo is being able to defend yourself and being a tough S.O.B. the true gift of Taekwondo is the inner understanding and confidence you receive.  It is very important when you begin your journey into Taekwondo that you respect and pay attention to those who are in a leadership position.  I say leadership position because the white belt who has been in class two weeks longer then you may be able to teach you a thing or two about what they have learned.

In Taekwondo your dobak like these are extremely important and as you progress through your belts you will start finding out what you like and dislike about the TKD uniform.  Just be sure to wash it after each workout and do not crumble it up and throw it in the back of your card until your next class.  You will soon notice no one will want to participate in drills or one steps with you and at first you won’t know why.  Then think back to reading this post and then you will!