Judo as a self defense system

[ravenzoom]

I'm new to this forum and I'd like to have some opinions concerning a martial art. I'm about to begin Judo and I was wondering how good is it when applied in a real street confrontation where you have to defend yourself. Is it useful against good strikers? Is it effective against your average street fighter whose simply looking for a bar fight? Thanks for your input.

[SevenStar]

it's effective.

[Gumbi]

Nothing like a hip throw from hell to take the fight out of someone trying to start something with you. Its one of the more effective arts you can train in.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

I voted "Effective". It's great for self-defense...but (always a but somewhere) it has some drawbacks.

 

It's not designed for defense against a puncher or kicker, or someone carrying a weapon. Judo is a grappling martial art, meaning you have to get close and grab the guy, flip/toss/wrestle/sweep them to the ground and choke them out. Once you get your hands on the person, judo is GREAT! However, against someone like a boxer that dances around and takes shots at your head...you'd have to lunge at them to get your hands on them for your judo to work.

[ravenzoom]

Thanks for your input Gumbi, nice to know that Judo is worth learning as a self defense system and not only as a sport. More feedback would be appreciated, thanks!!

[ravenzoom]

Ok, thanks Shorinryu Sensei, nice to see a different point of view of Judo's drawbacks. Probably harder than it seems to get hold of your opponent.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

Ok, thanks Shorinryu Sensei, nice to see a different point of view of Judo's drawbacks. Probably harder than it seems to get hold of your opponent.

 

Actually, in most street fights, you end up real close to your opponent in a fight and can easily end up onb the ground...which is what judo is good for. But like I said, if the guy has a boxing or martial arts background...then you are going to have problems because he will want to stay on his feet usually and take shots at you. You would have to lunge at the guy to grab him. It all depends on who you get in a fight with I guess.

[ravenzoom]

Oh I see. Perhaps Judo may be good against your average street fighter, but maybe not against a trained striker. Interesting.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

Oh I see. Perhaps Judo may be good against your average street fighter, but maybe not against a trained striker. Interesting.

 

Well, judo is good against somebody that wants to grab you and/or take you to the ground. As far as I've seen, judo doesn't do any defenses at all for in regards to someone that stands back and punches at you and tries to keep their distance from you.

 

There may be exceptions of course from dojo (school) to dojo, and there are combat (old style before it became a sport) judo schools around I'm sure, the the majority of judo schools are sport oriented...which means grappling.

 

By the way...do you know that judo means "gentle way"? Trust me...I sure haven't figured out where they get that from the local judo I've seen. These people grab you and slam you to the mat so friggin' hard...how do they figure that's gentle?

[ravenzoom]

Good point. I heard many people injure themselves practicing Judo. I've decided to take Judo because there aren't many martial arts where I live. There's Judo, Nick Cerio's Kenpo, TKD, Shotokan Karate, Oyama Karate, and that's about it. I thought Judo might be the most interesting street wise and the most realistic because of its heavy sparring - perhaps I was wrong. Well I'm going try it tonight for the first time since this week it's free so I'll see how it goes. More posts would be appreciated if anyone has something to say. Thanks.