Christchurch Judo Club Practises Ancient Art

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27397, 9 July 1954, Page 10

Christchurch Judo Club Practises Ancient Art

Devotees of the ancient Japanese form of self-defence, derived from the Buddhist monks and now known as judo, practise their art in a building in Shirley. A judokwai, or judo club, has been in existence for little more than a year, but already it has about 40 members and the number is growing steadily. An increasing number of people is learning to use judo, which can be gently persuasive or almost final. The essential is to develop speed of mind and muscle, and their co-ordination. It is, in fact, a form of sport, whereas in jujutsu the primary consideration is the dispatch of one’s opponent as rapidly as may be. Even in Christchurch, much of the formality and tradition of judo is observed. The judokas wear kimonos, off-white in colour, with a belt which indicates the stage of their progress in the art. Beginners have a white belt, and there are six kyu . • classes. From the first kyu (brown 1 It) judokas go on to the first dan, or bL.ck belt. There are 10 classes of dan, and there are now only two people in the world who are of the tenth and ultimate dan. Both are over 80. In Christchurch, there are only two black belts. The Christchurch club was formed by Mr J. Fielding, who was taught by Mr R. Shima, who was a black belt. The most skilled member of the club is Mr F. Sjoerds, a Dutch immigrant, who is a black belt, second dan. He has practised judo in Holland, Denmark, France §nd Germany, and toured in many parts of Europe with a Netherlands team of five judokas. Mr Skoerds explained last evening that progress through the grades was by examination, conducted by nobody less skilled than a black belt. In his own case, if he wishes to progress further, he would have to go overseas to be examined, because the examiner must be of a higher ranking than the candidate. He himself was graded by

the man who used to be the bodyguard to the Japanese Emperor Hirohito— Tokyo Hiramo, then Japanese champion, when he was in Holland. The Christchurch judokwai has members from 12 to 50, and about a quarter of them are women. They include people from many diffe.ent jobs, carpenters, Air Force men, university students, a mechanic, office workers, and bank clerks. A traffic officer took some lessons, and so did a couple of night-watchmen from the waterfront. Two other men who attend the classes are in jobs where the lessons might prove very useful. Experts and novices say that size and strength mean little in their sport, and there is no doubt that for women, particularly, it might be a very useful attribute. Novices have first to learn to fall properly, and this involves a good deal of noise and effort, but judo itself can be defined as “the way of gentleness” and the key to it seems to be in obtaining the desired result with the least possible effort It is as important to be able to think ahead as it is to master the grips and throws. There are 15 basic throws, but the face is not touched, nor are the feet, and finger grips are not allowed. Part of the technique, at the more advanced stages, is to learn the art of rescusitation and revival. Mr Sjoerds explained happily that it was possible with a judo grip,, to throttle a person into unconsciousness in 20 seconds, where the more crude methods took as long as three minutes. Then the victim could be revived immediately by application of pressure on certain nerve centres: but of course that is for the post-graduate students. Massage is learned, of a type almost guaranteed to get rid of headaches. One of the most interesting features of judo is its etiquette. This not only demands that judokas, when they step on to the mat. kneel and bow and if they wish interlock their fingers in various ways to follow Buddhist traditions, but that they refrain from allowing any expression of anguish to escape from their lips even when they are on the unpleasant end of some of the more diabolical grips and throws. In a judo contest, a contestant thrown and needing to break his fall concedes a point. The bout can move u iJ’ r 2 un< * fighting, and a contestant held for 30 seconds concedes half a Pomt, for 40 seconds a whole point. The bout lasts three minutes or two points, and may be extended up to five minutes for a decision to be reached.

Judo is a safe sport, and only dangerous if it is not practised under a proper tutor, although of course it may be used just as effectively as jujutsu should the need arise. But a study of a standard work of reference on the art leaves the more tentative determined to have some other engagement should he be asked to attend a judokwai. TJiere is, for instance, the pull choke. The book says that: “While applying your whole weight on his c -Tu P ress his head towards you with your hands. This hold extends the upper spinal vertebra and can be tatal. There is another cheerful little chapter heading called “Kansetsuwaza’ art ben ? ir ‘g and twisting the strain anc * mucb rnoi A * n the same

But judo is, in fact, devised to allow a physically weaker person to defend mmself against a stronger opponent, either for fun. or seriously. It is an inexpensive sport, and one which seems certain to appeal to men and women of nearly all ages. But it might be as well were those versed in the required to wear some distinguishing mark. It would ensure a respectful approach.