Basic Judo

The basic principles of judo are easy to grasp and are essential for the person studying the technique of judo. Judo techniques enable a weak and small man to overcome a large and strong man because they are based on scientific principles such as leverage and balance.

The first thing to learn is never to oppose strength to strength. If you do that the stronger man will inevitably win. Remember that when he is on balance he is strong, but off balance he is weak, providing you have retained your own balance to take advantage of his weakness. A man is on balance, you will find, if he stands upright, and keeps his centre of gravity inside a small circle drawn round his feet. Before you execute a throw you must break his balance by getting his center of gravity outside that circle. "Centre of Gravity" is a scientific term, and for those who are not familiar with it, it means the point at which a person's or an object's weight acts. The point at which you could balance him on a support, in plain language.

Tournament Vocabulary ( Refers to referee verbal calls)

Tournament Vocabulary ( Refers to referee verbal calls)
Hantei!	decision (referee and judges vote with flags, majority wins)
Hiki Wake!	draw (no winner)
Hajime	start or begin competition (shiai or randori)
Hansokumake!	major penalty (match forfeit, ejection from shiai if direct)
Ippon!	full point score (wins match) from single throw, two Waza-Aris, pin for 25 sec, submission from choke or arm lock, or opponent's hansokumake (direct penalty or 4th shido)
Kohaku	"winner stays up” form of shiai
Koka!	score (less than Yuko) from single throw, pin > l0 sec, or opponent’s 1st shido. Kokas accumulate (no points)
Matte	stop! (whatever you are doing)
Shiai	tournament style competition
Shido!	minor penalty (1st shido scores Koka for opponent, 2nd shido scores Yuko for opponent, 3rd shido scores Waza-Ari for opponent, 4th shido is hansokumake and scores ippon for opponent. Opponent's scores for penalties are not cumulative: only one Koka/Yuko/Waza-Ari is scored)
Sono Mama!	freeze! (hold your position in Ne-Waza)
Sore Made!	end of match! (announced after ippon or end of match time)
Tentori	elimination form of shiai
Waza Ari!	half point score (numerical score) from single throw, pin >20 sec, or opponent’s 3rd shido
Waza Ari Awasete Ippon!	Waza Ari+Waza Ari = Ippon (full point score wins match)from 2 throws or 3 opponent shidos+Waza-Ari
Yuko!	score (less than Waza-Ari) from single throw, pin > 15 sec, or opponent’s 2nd shido. Yukos accumulate (no points)
Yoshi!	resume! (resume grappling)

Vocabulary Related to Names of Judo Techniques

Vocabulary Related to Names of Judo Techniques 

Ashi	foot or leg (as in Okuri-Ashi-Harai)
Barai	sweeping action with the leg or foot (as in Deashi-Barai)
Dori	grab (as in Kata-Ashi-Dori)
Dojime	body scissors/squeeze (illegal in competition)
Eri	lapel of the Judo gi (as in Okuri-Eri-Jime)
Gaeshi (Kaeshi)	counter or reversal (as in Sumi-Gaeshi)
Garami	entangle or twist (as in Ude-Garami)
Gari	reap or sweep (as in Osoto-Gari)
Gatame	pin or (joint) lock (as in Kata-Gatame or Ude-Gatame)
Goshi (Koshi)	hip (as in 0-Goshi)
Guruma	wheel (as in Kata-Guruma)
Gyaku	reverse (as in Gyaku-Juji-Jime)
Ha	wing (as in Kata-Ha-Jime)
Hane	springing action (as in Hane-Goshi)
Hara	stomach (as in Hara-Gatame)
Harai (Barai)	sweeping action with the leg or foot (as in Harai-Goshi)
Hadaka	naked (as in Hadaka-Jime)
Hidari	left (as in Hidari-Eri-Dori in Goshin-Jitsu-No-Kata
Hiji	elbow (as in Hiji-Makikomi, kansetsu-waza)
Hineri	twisting (as in Kote-Hineri in Goshin-Jitsu-No-Kata)
Hishigi	crush (as in Ude-Hishigi-Wake-Gatame)
Hiza	knee (as in Hiza-Guruma)
Hon	basic or fundamental (as in Hon-Kesa-Gatame)
Jigoku	hell (as in Jigoku-Jime)
Juji	cross (as in Juji-Gatame)
Jime (Shime)	choke or strangle (as in Hadaka-Jime)
Kaeshi (Gaeshi)	counter or reversal (as in Kaeshi-Waza)
Kami	upper (as in Kami-Shiho-Gatame)
Kata	single or shoulder (as in Kata-Juji-Jime or Kata-Gatame)
Kesa	scarf (as in Kesa-Gatame)
Kibisu	heel (as in Kibisu-Gaeshi)
Ko	minor (as in Ko-Soto-Gari)
Komi	pull (as in Tsuri-Komi-Goshi)
Koshi (Goshi)	hip (as in Koshi-Guruma)
Kote	wrist (as in Kote-Gaeshi in Goshin-Jitsu-No-Kata)
Kuzure	variation (as in Kuzure-Kesa Gatame)
Makikomi	winding (as in Uchi-Makikomi)
Makura	pillow (as in Makura-Kesa-Gatame)
Mata	thigh (as in Uchi-Mata)
Migi	right (as in Migi-Eri-Dori in Goshin-Jitsu-No-Kata)
Morote	two-handed (as in Morote-Gari)
Mune	chest (as in Mune-Gatame)
Nami	normal (as in Nami-Juji-Jime)
O	major (as in O-Goshi)
Obi	Judo belt (as in Obi-Goshi)
Okuri	sliding (as in Okuri-Eri-Jime)
Otoshi	o drop (as in Tani-Otoshi)
Ryote	two handed (as in Ryote-Jime)
Sankaku (Sangaku)	triangle (as in Sankaku-Gatame)
Sasae	blocking (as in Sasae-Tsuri-Komi-Ashi)
Seoi	shoulder (as in Ippon-Seoi-Nage)
Shiho	four corners (as in Kami-Shiho-Gatame)
Shime (Jime)	choke or strangle (as in Shime Waza)
Sode	sleeve (as in Sode-Tsuri-Komi-Goshi)
Soto	outer or outside (as in Soto-Makikomi)
Sukashi	counter or evasion (as in Uchi-Mata-Sukashi)
Sukui	scoop (as in Sukui-Nage)
Sumi	corner (as in Sumi-Otoshi)
Tai	body (as in Tai-Otoshi)
Tate	straddle (as in Tate-Shiho-Gatame)
Te	hand (as in Te-Guruma)
Tomoe	circle (as in Tomoe-Nage)
Tsuki	thrusting (as in Tsuki-komi-Jime)
Tsuri	lift (as in Harai-Tsuri-Komi-Ashi)
Uchi	inner (as in 0-Uchi-Gari)
Ude	arm (as in Ude-Gatami)
Uki	floating (as in Uki-Goshi)
Ura	back (as in Ura-Nage)
Ushiro	reverse or rear (as in Ushiro-Kesa-Gatame)
Utsuri	change or transfer (as in Utsuri-Goshi)
Wake	armpit (as in Wake-Gatame)
Yoko	side (as in Yoko-Shiho-Gatame)

General Vocabulary

General Vocabulary
Sensei	Teacher or Instructor
Dojo	Place or club where Judo is practiced
Gi (Judogi)	Judo Uniform
Seiza	Kneeling position
Anza	Sitting position with legs crossed
Ritsurei	Standing bow
Zarei	Kneeling bow
Kiotsuke !	(come to) Attention
Rei!	bow!
Sensei Ni Rei !	bow! (to Sensei)
Uke	person receiving a Judo technique
Tori	person performing a Judo technique
Ukemi	falling practice (side, back, forward)
Uchi Komi	repetition practice without throwing
Randori	free practice
Kiai	shout during execution of technique

Japanese Ordinal Numbers

Japanese Ordinal Numbers
1- Ichi (Sho)	6 - Roku	11 - Ju Ichi	16 - Ju Roku
2 - Ni	7 - Shichi	12 - Ju Ni	17 - Ju Shichi
3- San	8 - Hachi	13 - Ju San	18 - Ju Hachi
4 - Shi (Yo/Yun)	9 – Ku	14 - Ju Shi (Yo/Yom)	19 - Ju Ku
5 – Go	10 – Ju	15 - Ju Go	20 – Niju

The Sensei

In proper Japanese, the word Sensei means Instructor or Honored Teacher. I do not like to call myself a teacher as I believe that I can not teach my students anything that they do not like to learn or don't want to learn. I prefer the term instructor better, as I feel that if the Deshi wants to learn something all you have to do is provide them with the basic knowledge and guide them through the basics. I can not place their hands or feet for them every step of the way. They must take that knowledge and teach themselves what works and what doesn't work for them.

In proper reishiki one is not called a Sensei until achieving the rank of godan (5th degree black belt). But very few Western Dojo's have black belts that have attained the rank of godan so it would be proper to call a shodan rank (first degree black belt) a Sensei if he was the instructor of a Dojo.

As I said, in the Japanese language Sensei means "Instructor or Honored Teacher". Therefore we use this term in Judo also. Your instructor shall always be called Sensei, or Mr., Mrs., or Ms., (last name), for example Jones Sensei, but never by a first name. When there is more than one black belt in the Dojo only the Senior Instructor should be called Sensei. All others addressed formally with Mr., Ms. Also, your Sensei may be distinguished from other instructors with his or her surname and Sensei, as in: "Smith Sensei".

In proper reishiki, if your Sensei is speaking with another, and you wish to speak to him, you walk to within 3 or 4 feet, stop, and wait for the Sensei to recognize you. Then Rei and state your business. After you are through, take a step back, Rei and leave.

Remember, it is not proper to call a black belt by their first name. Always address them formally as Mr./Mrs./Ms. Jones. Also it is not proper to address a black belt below the rank of godan (5th Dan) as Sensei. However because so few Dojos have a godan or higher instructor, it is permissible to call your senior instructor Sensei if he is at least a shodan (1st Dan). It is not proper to call a person below the rank of shodan "Sensei".