Since when is Judo not a MA?

[RCastillo]

I called the YMCA here to see if they were accepting any applications for MA instructors/classes. The Fitness Director said no we only have Judo here, and no MA. I said, Judo is a MA, he said NO!

Do I have a screw loose, or what? I thought it was a MA!

 

[Ceicei]

Some people equate MA with striking. Judo isn't a striking art. However, your experience does show how many people know very little of what martial arts mean.

 

[tshadowchaser]

Typical of those running many YMCA's .
If you do not know "someone" you dont get in.
The knowledge of instructors in many is suspect and many think they know it all The people running them usualy know little but know SOMEONE
Darn I'll bet if you where a member you would have had a better chance

 

[arnisador]

Some would say it's a martial sport, not a martial art. It's the old "Is Boxing/Wrestling a martial art?" question.

 

[pknox]

Good point, Arnisador. My guess, though, is that the local YMCA fitness director may not be as well versed in the sport vs. art debate as we're giving him credit for. If I called the local YMCA in a situation similar to RCastillo's, and the director told me judo was not an MA, say, because, "it has degraded into a sport, and it's over-emphasis on throws and the resulting decrease of good ground specialists is appalling - Kano would be ashamed if he were still alive", I would most likely soil myself in surprise. (of course, after I asked him where he trains)

Most likely, you would get, "Judo -- didn't they have that on the Flintstones once?"

 

[redfang]

My wife manages one of our local Y's. I have come to learn that there is a huge disparity in programs available from Y to Y and that not all personnel, including program directors, are equally knowledgeable about all aspects of what they have. Usually, a fitness or program director isn't the instructor for a lot of classes and so might be ignorant on some fronts. Checking my local Y's I find tae kwon do, isshin ryu, aikido, wrestling, tai chi (not taught with martial aspects in mind) and judo. But each branch is different with different focuses.

 

[MartialArtsChic]

I find people are pretty clueless when it comes to martial arts and exactly what styles there are. I usually get "how's your kickboxing coming along?" or "You're doing Kung Fu aren't you?"


You may have screws loose, RCastillo, - but not about this.


MartialArtsChic

 

[arnisador]

http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3493

 

[pknox]

Originally posted by MartialArtsChic
You may have screws loose, RCastillo, - but not about this.

Chic - Hasn't taken you long to catch on, eh?

Actually, I'm one of RCastillo's biggest fans - even if you don't agree with what he says, he always says it well, and is always entertaining.

 

[John Bishop]

Think about it.

1. Techniques that were deemed safe for competition were taken from the martial arts of jujitsu, to make Judo.

2. Judo instructors are called "coaches"

3. Progression thru the ranks is earned thru sport competition.

4. Judo practitioners are called "players".

 

[Steve Howard]

I've read numerous places that Bruce Lee once said that the person he would least like to face in combat was a skilled judoka. Judo may be played as a sport, but let me say from my own personal experience--those guys can definitely hurt you!!

 

[Randy Strausbaugh]

That Y's particular fitness director may have gotten his/her information from the Judo instructor. I understand that in order to get MA programs into some YMCAs, instructors will emphasize the sport aspect and downplay the self defense aspects. I've heard that martial artists have been trying to get the Boy Scouts to establish a Judo or Karate merit badge using just that tactic.

 

[RCastillo]

Originally posted by pknox
Chic - Hasn't taken you long to catch on, eh?

Actually, I'm one of RCastillo's biggest fans - even if you don't agree with what he says, he always says it well, and is always entertaining.

Wow! I'm honored. I have a fan here. Usually everyone wants to string me up. I even have to hang around MOB members like JDenz to cause they know can get 100% interest return on their loans from me.

I guess I'm no longer, "A Salesman of Motion!":asian:

 

[MartialArtsChic]

Originally posted by pknox
Chic - Hasn't taken you long to catch on, eh?

Actually, I'm one of RCastillo's biggest fans - even if you don't agree with what he says, he always says it well, and is always entertaining.

Nope. I'm a quick learner and a smart cookie.

I read more then post especially in other arts and I'd say entertaining is the word for some of RCastillo's posts. I get a kick out of some of 'em and I learn from some of 'em.

MartialArtsChic

 

[RCastillo]

Originally posted by MartialArtsChic
Nope. I'm a quick learner and a smart cookie.

I read more then post especially in other arts and I'd say entertaining is the word for some of RCastillo's posts. I get a kick out of some of 'em and I learn from some of 'em.

MartialArtsChic

You learn from me? Gee.......now I'm worried...............

 

[MartialArtsChic]

Originally posted by RCastillo
You learn from me? Gee.......now I'm worried...............

You might be. I didn't say what I learned......................

 

[arnisador]

Please, take the chit-chat to the Urusai Bar & Grill forum.

-Arnisador
-MT Admin-

 

[arnisador]

I bet that selling it as a sport is a smart strategy indeed. I've seen this before in many guises, including selling TKD or Karate as Fitness for Kids rather than a Martial Art.

 

[RCastillo]

Originally posted by arnisador
Please, take the chit-chat to the Urusai Bar & Grill forum.

-Arnisador
-MT Admin-

Por favor senor, estamos hablando aqui!

 

[pknox]

Originally posted by John Bishop
Think about it.

1. Techniques that were deemed safe for competition were taken from the martial arts of jujitsu, to make Judo.

2. Judo instructors are called "coaches"

3. Progression thru the ranks is earned thru sport competition.

4. Judo practitioners are called "players".

Good points, but not necessarily ones that disqualify judo from being a MA.

As for judo being a safer version of jujitsu, realize that the techniques in judo can also be easily modified to make them more "street effective." Remember that when Kano removed techniques from Jujutsu, he was looking to keep techniques that made it safe for two relatively well-trained athletes to compete - that doesn't necessarily mean the techniques are safe when applied to the public at large. Before any judo techniques are learned and applied, judoka first learn to breakfall - a valuable skill that many people who have not studied MA's in which they are thrown never learn. Doing a simple throw from the "safer" judo curriculum on a person who does not know how to breakfall could be pretty deadly. Throwing a trained practitioner can also be deadly if, instead of being a sportsman, you throw them onto their head.

As far as the second and fourth points, the same can be said of some other arts as well, such as sambo, bjj, kickboxing, boxing and wrestling, as well as in some schools of TKD. Would they also be considered MA's? Just because they have a sporting component, that doesn't mean they can't be used for self-defense as well.

As for the third, competition is not mandatory for advancement. True, you will advance faster if you compete, but this is true for many arts -- the opportunity you get to develop your technique through competition helps you understand how to apply your techniques better, and thereby makes you a better practitioner - who will probably earn rank faster. It is, however, possible to advance in rank without competing. You would be tested on your knowledge of techniques, just like in many other arts.