
There’s much more to judo than using holds and leverage to submit an opponent. Fifth Dan judo coach Cedric Sum of Daruma Judo Club introduces Rachel Sadler to the mat PHOTOS COURTESY OF Daruma Judo Club
There’s much more to judo than using holds and leverage to submit an opponent. Fifth Dan judo coach Cedric Sum of Daruma Judo Club introduces Rachel Sadler to the mat PHOTOS COURTESY OF Daruma Judo Club
JUDO IS FOR EVERYBODY who wants to workout, keep fit and focus their mind. It’s a common misconception that you need to be a certain physique to practice judo; size doesn’t matter. In classes and competitions, opponents are matched with similar sized players.
JUDO FOCUSES ON FLEXIBILITY AND STRENGTHENING MUSCLES making it a low-intensity, fullbody workout – even for beginners. Junokata judo is a particularly low-impact workout, it’s designed to teach the fundamental principles of judo but it doesn’t involve any throwing.
JU MEANS GENTLE AND DO MEANS WAY, which together means ‘gentle way of life.’ This definition represents one of the martial art’s major concepts – that gentleness controls hardness. Judo also has a moral code, which includes the principles of politeness, courage, sincerity, honour, modesty, respect, self-control and friendship.
JUDO RELIES ON TECHNIQUE AND STRATEGY not brute strength. If you have the right skills, you can throw someone who is bigger than you. Judo teaches mind over matter – if you have an open mind, you can succeed and reach your goals both on the mat and in everyday life.
JUDO DOES NOT ALLOW KICKS, STRIKES, OR HITS but it’s a very effective martial art for self-defence. You learn smart and strategic ways of taking your opponent down through both force and balance. Once to the ground, judo teaches students to find the quickest and easiest way to make an opponent submit.
CONTROL, EMOTION AND BODY POWER are at the core of judo moves. The aim is to achieve maximum efficiency (both physically and mentally) with minimum effort. There is always more to learn, and new fitness levels to reach.
JUDO RELIES ON TECHNIQUE AND STRATEGY not brute strength. If you have the right skills, you can throw someone who is bigger than you. Judo teaches mind over matter – if you have an open mind, you can succeed and reach your goals both on the mat and in everyday life.
JUDO ENGAGES AND STRENGTHENS THE CORE. Each technique involves keeping your back straight, so it’s a workout that fixes bad posture and subsequent back conditions. You learn body coordination exercises which are the foundation to controlling the body, and classes start with a warm-up of head-totoe stretching.
YOU CAN START JUDO AGED THREE, and children’s classes are grouped by age. For under 12s, there’s no contact around the neck and under 14s can’t use arm locks. Judo teaches valuable life lessons; children learn how to break their fall and how to protect their head
JUDO TEACHES YOU DISCIPLINE and to be considerate of others. You learn respect for your opponent and your teacher. In training and competitions opponents always begin and end a match with a bow to their partner; it’s about good sportsmanship.
Daruma Judo Club holds classes on Wednesdays and Saturdays for students aged 3 and up in Discovery Bay, Mui Wo and Peng Chau. To find out more and enrol, call 6244 6093, email Emily Lau at [email protected] or visit the Daruma Judo Club Facebook page.