1. Long Held Japanese Martial Arts Traditions
Judo means gentle ways and was patterned after the ancient Japanese fighting form called Jui jitsu. While employing the throws and moves of the fighting martial arts program, Judo also incorporates mental and spiritual components. These additional techniques serve to maintain the fighter's inner focus and balance, while helping to psyche out the opponent with mental games. Judo teaches students to take down their opponents with clean throws that merely stop the attack rather than go in for the "finish," like some martial arts practices. In mixed martial arts competitions, which are becoming increasingly popular, the Judo practitioners sometimes are at a disadvantage, especially if they are new to the sport. Also, once they achieve a high black belt, they don't care about the prestige of winning anymore.
2. Controlled Judo Moves
The main moves in Judo rely on throws and joint locks to immobilize and take down an opponent. In Judo competitions, once an opponent is down and the other fighter demonstrates a dominant position, the contest is over and a winner declared. Judo does have other moves that are often practiced during sparring, but which are illegal in competitions. These moves include kicking, punching and thrusting.
3. Employ Fake Outs
Thrusts are often employed to psyche out an opponent. Someone who is fearful of fingers being thrust into his eyes will usually pull back and become unbalanced, so that is when the practiced Judoka moves in for the grab and the throw. Thrusts are useful for outside of the dojo if you get into a real fight. Knowing how to move your hand and thrust your fingers with force toward an opponent is a good way to end a conflict.
4. Send a Message
A thrust to the opponent's chest also can tip him off balance. By raising the hand and extending the fingers, push the opponent's chest with a thrust of the fingers. He will resist by leaning back into the thrust. When momentum and retaliation sends him back in your direction, you can use that momentum to throw him over your shoulder to the ground.
5. Walk Away From the Attacker
If you use Judo on the street, then always maintain your cool and walk away once you have disarmed the attacker. The mental training in Judo teaches the student to back away from an opponent and let him beat himself. Unlike the brute force techniques used in other fighting sports, Judo relies on leverage. Perfect timing and awareness of the opponent's strengths and weaknesses can be a much more powerful tool that muscle-bound bullying. While Judo masters stress physical discipline and are as fit as any other athlete, they also demand an intellectual training period, backed up with spiritual practices to define the whole athlete.
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