Judo for the West

113 Pages·1967·20.754 MB·English

by  G. R. Gleeson

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JUDO FOR THE
WEST I
.1
Here isa book which breaks
entirely new ground injudo teach-
ing. It outlines contemporary
theories oflearning, class teaching
technique, and shows how the
various theories and principles can
be built into a simple but effective
method of introducing novices to
judo. Another chapter isdevoted to
how such introductory methods can
be moulded into an intermediate
judo skill. Lastly, Japanese termino-
logy isexplained in a com-
pletely new way, which will be
ofgreat interest to both old and
new judo players.
The author has evolved this
approach to the teaching ofjudo
over the last few years in his
capacity asNational Coach to the
British Judo Association.
Compared with the traditional
methods ofjudo teaching, it is
quite revolutionary, even though its
intrinsic principles are accepted in
educational circles. The results of
the new method have been impres-
sive; skill has been acquired far
more quickly and on a far broader
base than ever before.
This method of teaching judo
has been used all over the British
Isles in clubs, colleges, schools,
youth clubs etc., and is also
gradually spreading abroad. As
yet the spread is thin on the ground,
but the object of this book is to
help those who have heard ofthe
method and who want to know
more. It isunique in explaining
fully the history and development
of Mr Gleeson's method of
teaching judo which fully utilizes
the knowledge of the West and the
capacities of the Westerner.
$6.00
G. R. GLEESON
Born '927. First appearance in
British team '949. Finalist in Open
and 3rd Dan European Champion-
ships '951. First special research
student of the Kodokan (Tokyo)
'952-55. During this period also
studied kendo, aikido and
calligraphy. Chief instructor of the
Budokwai '955-60. Captain of
first team to win European
Championship for Britain '957; ....
captain ofvarious teams '949-57.
Served on Executive Committee
of British Judo Association '955-60.
Read Japanese at London Uni-
versity '955-58. Honorary National
Coach '958-60. Full-time National
Coach '960 to the present.
Originally trained as an engineer,
holds higher National Certificate
of Engineering. Swam in County
and Southern Counties Champion-
ships, interest and participation
in several other sports. Presently
studying motive writing.
A. S. Barnes and Co., Inc.
South Brunswick and New York.
1
.1
J
Printed in Grrat BriJiJin
r
;a..
1
JUDD
fORTHElEST
by
G. R. GLEESON
'1 keep sixhonest serving men,
(They taught me all 1knew).
Their names are What and Why and When,
And How and Where and Who.'
Rudyard Kipling.
South Brunswick and New York:
A. S. Barnes and Company
1 -
CONTENTS
I Teaching Method and Coaching Technique I7
First American Edition 1967
Learning by Imitation 20
Published by
A. S.Barnes and Co., Inc. The utilization of education 2I
Cranbury, N.J. 08512 Instructional Technique 24
Planning for a Period 24
By arrangement with Kaye & Ward Ltd
Planning for a Session 24
Skill 25
(t) 1967Kaye &Ward Ltd
Competition 28
Interest 29
Enjoyment 3I
A Coach's Characteristics 33
Class Control 34
Discipline 34
Hygiene 35
Class Technique 35
The Importance of Demonstration 35
The Use of Floor Area 37
Class Appreciation of Initial Demonstration 38
Progress Variation 39
Use of Habit 39
Explanations 40
Use of Voice 42
Observation 43
Imagination 45
Judo Leaders 47
The Position and Importance of the Instructor, Coach and
Teacher 48,49
Conclusion 50
BibliograPhy 5I
2 General Factors 53
Printed in England by
Adlard &Son Ltd
Bartholomew Press Types ofThrow 55
Dorking, Surrey
Group 3 I34
Speed and Movement 56
Dynamic Defence I37
Posture 57
Ne-waza I40
Movement 60
Power Point 6I Linked Systems I44
Coaching Hooks (Elementary) I48
Power Curve 65
Control Curve 68 Conclusion: Objects ofGroup Method I4B
Acceleration 69
4 Intermediate Judo ISO
Body Movement 72
Chest Contact 72 Example from Group I: Tai-otoshi I5I
Turning 74 Example from Group 2: O-soto-gari I54
Legs 75 Example from Group 3: Harai-Goshi I57
Feet 78 Hairi-Kata I58
Head 80
Coaching Points for Various Techniques I60
Tsukuri 82 Tai-otoshi I6I
Hands 83 Tsuikomi-goshi I6I
Arms 85 Seoi-nage (ippon) I62
Ne-waza 89 O-soto-gari I64
General Factors: Conclusion 9I O-uchi-gari I65
Supplementary Factors 9I Ko-uchi-gari. I65
Falling 92 Ko-soto-gari I66
Uchikomi 96 Harai-goshi I68
Forms of Training IOO Uchi-mata I69
Randori I02
Hane-goshi I7I
Shiai I04 Ashi-waza I72
Observation I05 Sutemi-waza I74
Kinaesthetic Appreciation I09 Kaeshi-waza I75
Aesthetic Appreciation I09 Ne-waza I75
Coaching Hooks III A Ne-waza Sequence for an Intermediate Student I76
Imagination III Conclusion I82
Conclusion II2
Bibliograplry II3 5 British Judo Association Coaching Examinations I85
3 Elementary Judo II4 An outline of the requirements for:
The Club Instructors Award I86
The Introductory Group Method II7
The Coach Award I88
Group I II9
Senior Coach Award I9I
Dynamic Defence I25
Combined Attack and Defence u6 The Promotion Syllabus, with full explanation and definition
I94
Ukemi I27
The Gokyo 20I
Group 2 I27
Japanese pronunciation 202
Major Sub-group u8
Glossary 204
Dynamic Defence I30
Minor Sub-group I32
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I
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Drawings
Photographs between pages I28 and I29
Fig.
I- 6 GROUP ONE: ATTACKS I Skill progression graph page 27
2 Posture: good and bad page 59
7, 8 GROUP ONE: AVOIDANCES
3 Power peak in other sports--cricket, athletics, tennis
9-I2 GROUP ONE: ATTACK VARIATIONS
pages 63,64
I3-I7 GROUP TWO: ATTACKS-MAJOR SUB-GROUP
I8-2I GROUP TWO: AVOIDANCES-MAJOR SUB-GROUP 4 Schematictrainingtree pageIOI
22-26 GROUP TWO: ATTACKS-MINOR SUB-GROUP 5 Effect of convention page I06
6 Effect of extraneous items page I07
27-32 GROUP TWO: AVOIDANCES-MINOR SUB-GROUP
7 Effect of bias page I07
33-37 GROUP THREE: ATTACKS
8 Effect of viewpoint page I08
38, 39 GROUP THREE: AVOIDANCES
9 The Group Method diagram page II7
40,4I GROUP THREE: ATTACK VARIATIONS
IO Analysis of leg sweep actions page I33
42-50 A NE-WAZA SEQ.UENCE FOR THE INTERMEDIATE STUDENT
5I Broken, ugly linesindicate a lessthan satisfactory throw II Preferred leg sweep action pageI34
52 Notice how the lines are now smooth and unbroken I2 'Headend' holding page I42
53 Method to develop full throwing action I3 The 'bridge' page I43
54-56 Tai-otoshi I4 Weight into throw page IS3
57,58 Tsurikomi-goshi IS A common fault in tai-otoshi page I53
59 Ippon seoi-nage I6 A bad static form of tai-otoshi page I54
60-63 Osoto-gari I7 Ouchi-gari. A very bad one! page I68
64,65 Ouchi-gari I8 The 'family tree' of technique pageI93
66,67 Harai-goshi
68,69 Uchimata
70 Hane-goshi
7I Sasai-tsurikomi-ashi
72 Oil painting depicting 'swirl' ofa throw
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FOREWORD
Here I would liketo record my deep gratitude to the following A sport that resists change dies. Who now plays Pall Mall?
people who have unselfishly helped me during various stages Fortunately, the resistance of most sports to change is not
in my judo career. First there is Mr T. P. Leggett, who not insuperable. The historian surveying a sport's past can easily
only taught me mostofthejudo I know, but many other things see how a simple game or physical feat originates with an
besides. Second, Mr M. Takasaki, who not only letmebecome enthusiastic individual or group and is gradually taken up by
a member of his family for three years, but showed me what thousands oflike-minded men and women. The sport becomes
generosity of spirit really means-to him I shall always be organized, it must be governed by rules, specifictechniques are
indebted.
devised, handed on and written down. After a time, a block
I must not forget the small group ofanonymous donors who occurs. The sport may lose adherents or spectators or it may
contributed towards my fare to Japan and without which I become enshrined as in a temple or museum. It ceases to
could not have gone. There are the manyjudo men, both here develop. Perhaps some club or team modifies the traditions of
and inJapan who helped me enormously duringjudo training, the game and wins a world championship as has happened
men like Daigo, Osawa, Otaki, Koyasu and Tashiro. more than once in association football; perhaps the sport
Lastly, coming nearer to the present, I must thank Mr becomes a new and independent variant as did American
Sweeney and Mr Welsh for posing for the drawings, Judo Ltd. football, and its development continues.
for supplying many of the action pictures and also the B.J.A. Mr Gleeson believes that some such crisis has occurred for
andtheBudokwaiforallowingmetoprint thepromotionsyllabus judo and I agree with him. Judo is very far from declining.
and the coaching qualifications. Finally, my grateful thanks to It has, on the contrary, attracted an enormous number of new
my wife for her untiring typing, correcting and inspiring. adherents in Europe during the last twenty years. The increase
of clubs and organizations in Britain, the growth of classesin
G. R. GLEESON
evening institutes and the formation ofa SchoolsJudo Associa-
tion bears witnessto the appeal ofjudo. Nevertheless, there are
many, very many, who have abandoned the sport in disap-
pointment and frustration, and judoka cannot be content to
rest on their traditions and dogmas.
The author of this book starts from an analysis not of what
ought tohappen inthe dojo, but ofwhat doeshappen. Learning
must come from the throws themselves not from artificially
devised practices. Many of these latter come in for severe
criticism, not least the standard use of the arm-beat method of
falling. However, what is now needed is not an approach to
judo as a stylized form ofJapanese wrestling nor as unarmed
combat nor as a twentieth century alternative to the 'noble art
ofselfdefence' but an analysisofjudo asapositiveand dynamic
sport for the West as well as the East. We none ofus know all
the answers in teaching or learning judo, but this book offers
allwhoread it the chance to think ahead.
INTRODUCTION
Peter C. McIntosh, B.A. (axon)
Dip. P.E. (Carnegie)
Once Lecturer in Physical Education,
THEreader, having seenthe title ofthe bookmay, byinference,
Birmingham University.
imagine that I advocate a style of judo different from that
Now Senior Inspector ofPhysical
practised inJapan. This isfarfromthe truth. I haveexperienced
Education, Greater London Council.
far too much and have far toogreat an admiration for 'Japanese
Judo' towant tochange it-although naturally enough I should
like Britain to surpass the standards set by theJapanese! What
I do consider needs radical change to suit the temperament of
the Britisher are the methods of teaching and training. The
teaching and training ofany skillisto a greater or lesserextent
a reflection of the national characteristics of the country
involved; when the skill is indigenous the extent is greater.
Therefore when a skillor sport istransferred to another country
that country should replace the foreign training methods with
methods reflectingand exploiting its own characteristics, needs
and virtues.
The main purpose of this book is to indicate how this could
be done with judo in Britain and the West. The general
educational background is shown, indicating what constitutes
learning and how theseprinciples are incorporated into ajudo
teaching method; then more specifically an introductory
method is shown with a follow-up at the intermediate stage of
learning. Other specialized aspects, like the advanced skills,
kata training etc. will, it ishoped, be covered in detail in later
books.
In addition toreassessingthe value oftraining and relating it
to existent circumstances, another main object ofthe bookisto
reveal the actual bonesofthegame. I have, inother words,tried
to clear away some ofthe cobwebsand dust accumulated over
the past half-century, which have obscured the true value of
judo training. Judo, because it had its origin in a period of
time which was virtually feudalistic, has become somewhat
contaminated with an obfuscatory aura of feudalistic mumbo-
jumbo, with the result that subsequent teachers, for various
reasons, have insisted on treating judo as a feudalistic, esoteric
INTRODUCTION 15
14 JUDO FOR THE WEST
'art' and have taught it as such, mistaking the original or early much for any person who plays it conscientiously and sincerely.
environmental manifestations of the training as the essence of The main purpose for the accumulation of knowledge is, in
the skill. In an attempt to substantiate such an approach these my opinion, to help the possessor live a fuller and richer life.
teachers have 'nudged' historical events somewhat out of Judo can be looked upon as a special type of knowledge which
context to support this interpretation. For example, Kano (the can be transferred to other fields of experience, and in so doing
founder of judo) was made out to be a little man inspired to help the trainee to live a fuller life than if he had not taken up
invent a series of clever tricks merely to overcome the bully, judo. For this to happen the teacher or coach must have a
which he then passed on to a few 'enlightened' followers. When clear picture of the aims and purposes of all aspects of his
the truth is known, Kano was in fact one of Japan's most trade-teaching judo. By his example, both on and off the mat,
brilliant educationalists, who not only saw the need for a he will stimulate his class to strive towards more knowledge and
national sport (with as many recreational as patriotic benefits), increased awareness of all things. If this is achieved to any
but was visionary enough to see how such a sport might develop degree then judo will have served a very real purpose in society.
and possibly even attract people other than the Japanese.
ENFIELD1965 G. R. Gleeson
Judo was his own contribution to the overall fitness and
recreational enjoyment ofhis countrymen. It had no connection
with self-defence or ju-jitsu. A careful study of its underlying
principles will prove that. It was intended solely to fill a gap in
the physical, recreational and educational requirements of a
people needing to play purposefully and beneficially. He did
not attach any grandiose pseudo-philosophic trappings to the
sport; he intended it simply as a physical developer. If the
individual could acquire satisfaction and self-expression from
the training, then judo had more than achieved its original task.
Lastly there is a personal objective in writing the book; to
try to help other people find as much pleasure from the game
as I have done. Judo has been my chief sport for almost twenty
years now. With very few exceptions, in whatever conditions
and places I have found myself doing it, I have enjoyed every
minute. It has brought me satisfaction, much excitement,
travel, knowledge and many friends. By attempting to clarify
some of the many things which always puzzled me in my early
training days, others may be able to take shortcuts and avoid
bewilderment.
At one time or another I have met many of the famous con-
temporary judo personalities and have heard them talk about
their judo hobby-horses, expounding what in their opinion is
judo's object and purpose. Because of their personal example
and opinions (let me be frank and add-despite some others)
I started off and have remained a judo enthusiast. I thought
then, as now, that judo, given the right presentation, can do