Hi

Iīve been watching some of the videos in the serie - 17 dvdīs! - from mr. Schwartz.

It was made in the early 90īs so maybe the rules were different in the states back then īcause the requirements for like orange belt, as well as for yellow belt, are strikes - uppercuts, among others- and some blocking against strikes.

I havenīt seen that in judo before but thatīs just me. Has anyone else any experience when learning judo that striking was a part of the training?

It's from Goshin-Jitsu. It's an element of most Kodokan Judo training. I studied Aikido and traditional JJ before I studied Judo, so it was mostly the same techniques. I'm not a fan of it, but it is apart of traditional Judo.

From judoinfo.com:

The Kodokan Goshin Jutsu was created in 1956 by a Kodokan working group to update the older kata with more modern forms of self-defense. It also shows the influence of Kenji Tomiki, one of Professor Kano's students, who also studied Aikido under the founder of Aikido.

It consists of 21 techniques against an unarmed, as well as armed, attacker. It is divided into two unarmed sets (toshu no bu) and three sets with weapons (buki no bu). The first seven techniques are against an attack close in. The next five are against attacks from strikes and kicks. Then there are three attacks with a knife, three with a stick and three with a gun. The techniques here cannot be used in free exercise practice or in competition, but only in kata. Never-the-less, as one practices this kata, the attack speed increases and one's reflexes and reactions sharpen to meet the attack. Eventually, this kata can be practiced with real weapons.

The intent in this kata is different than with normal Judo practice, in that this is a self-defense kata, the intent on the part of both participants is to hurt the other. While the actions are controlled, so that the attacker is not hurt, the defender's actions can easily be modified to disable the attacker. It is important to realize that all of the techniques in this kata are consistant with the principles of "Judo", the way of gentleness or yielding.

Hi Backarcher and thanks

but isnīt that usually learnded at a higher level in a kata

Weird thing about mr. Schwartz

What I read about him is that short after completing the serie he busted his knee badly and after that only coached for a short period of time.

15 years later he has grown long gray hair, gotten a beer belly and has alienated himself from judo and ju-jitsu, apperently he thinks that he in his younger years, when involvded in martial arts, was a young, foolish and a misguided person. Now he has found god and plays guitar and sings in a christian rock band

Not that I know of. It's learned day one as part of Judo Kata training.

...I try to avoid those classes. (sorry, I don't like Kata much)

i have trained with some good coaches in the States...
Maurice Allan
Serge Bouyssou
Gene Shin
Rhadi Ferguson
Leo Valdes

few of them have ever mentioned kata or strikes. Maurice and Rhadi will often discuss how to shoulder bash somebody, or use your hip or forearm to 'crossface' without crossfacing... but no eyepoking, spinning backfists or the like.

Not a single one has ever asked me to practice a single strike in class.

Although not commonly practiced, and presently relegated to kata only practice, strikes were a part of the original Kodokan Judo training, as Backarcher pointed out. And apparently, some Judoka were very good strikers.

From E.J. Harrison's "The Fighting Spirit of Japan"

"A warm altercation arose in the midst of which he ( a thief) assumed a threatening attitude and was speedily joined by a half dozen of his comrades from the other side of the room. There being no alternative, Mr. Mifune (Kyuzo Mifune, 10th dan Judoka) took a hand in the game. He avoided unnecessary roughness but in less than a minute he had them all down with a succession of quick blows... As our victims regained consciousness they lost no time in making themselves scarce."

Jason,

Guys like Rhadi are born and bred randori/competitive Judo. When they had gold medals in their sights for randori from day one, why focus on Kata.

There are two sects of judo: Competition and Kata.

There are blackbelt champion kata guys that I've played with that I've thrown around like rag dolls, but I know guys that have National level Judo who struggle in performing some textbook judo throws, because it's not their throw and they don't practice it a lot. They only practice throws that fit within their game to win Judo matches.

Kata isn't just robotic punching and weapon self-defense, but it is also about displaying "perfect" technique in the three parts of a throw.

Many older Judokas gravitate to Kata after their body has been worn down by years of competition.

You have to know the first two katas to get a blackbelt in my school.

I don't like any type of kata. It's the reason I'm not a blackbelt yet. I won't learn the katas and take the test.

My coach begs me to learn kata, especially since I'm +40 and constantly injured from sparring. Just can't do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gItOTlE-fQI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wsQE6K3a6s

i am very aware of Kodokan history. and i too must learn Nage no kata at the least to get my blackbelt.

Rhadi is an extreme example. On the other side of the coin is Gene Shin or Leo Valdes (5th and 3rd Dan respectively) who seem to consider themselves 'kodokan' men. Again, no discussion of kata takes place, unless you are a brown belt and you must begin the formality of learning nage no kata. It is recognized as an opportunity to enrich your overall practice, but it is still VERY secondary to nagekomi and randori. And again, up until Shodan, the only kata mentioned Nage no kata, contains strikes only on the part of Uke.

Both of you guys are right. But there's also these points.

thanks for pointing out the kodokan vid of NNK!

ps-

i answer with

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVE82gH-v-g&feature=related