The opposite day I used to be watching the NCAA Wresting Championships and I began noticing more similarities to Judo than differences. I used to be also reminded about some things that I actually have heard from Sensei and Shinan Carl Cestari. Principally, there may be nothing really recent in Hand-to-Hand Combat or Martial Arts. With all of the fads in Martial Arts through the years, from Kung Fu to Ninjas and Mixed Martial Arts, the fact still stays that there are only so some ways to punch, kick, stomp, break, gouge, throw, or choke the human body. NEWS FLASH: It’s all been done before and never just in Japan or China. For instance, the west has a protracted history of Martial Arts including Bare Knuckle Boxing, Wrestling and various other types of Hand to Hand Combat. Martial Arts is not necessarily synonymous with Asia. You do not have to look any further than the individuals who train at Zen Shin. Sensei was a state champion in wrestling, Sensei Roger Jones was a competitive wrestler at the school level, and Jim Kleinfelder has a background in Boxing (notice how hard he hits for fringe of hand blows and chin jabs). The list goes on to incorporate Sal Guardascione, and Matt Smith whose Judo training helps him tremendously as he currently competes as a highschool wrestler. The more you train the more you begin to see that what works is easy and direct and also you notice it in areas outside of Judo and Jujitsu.
For instance, spend a while watching wrestling and you may’t help but notice Judo techniques. You will see that techniques just like the double leg takedown is named Morote-Gari in Judo, the fireman’s carry or Kata-Guruma, the within leg trip or Ouchi-Gari, various hip throws etc. The list goes on and on. There are numerous ways to take a person off his feet and on to his back. Does it really matter what you call it?
Also, there are not any secret techniques protected by a cultural history or tradition. Are you able to imagine for one second, a boxing trainer telling considered one of his students, “I’ll teach you a secret punch that only a few people know that can make you champion of the world.” Or do you actually imagine that Dan Gable became the world’s most successful wrestler because he knew techniques that others didn’t. (By the best way, when you do not know who Dan Gable is then your homework project is to search out out ASAP.) Or ask Yoshisada Yonezuka, ninth Dan in Judo, about Martial Arts and hearken to what he has to say about what is actually essential. Listen, the purpose shouldn’t be to wander off within the origin, system or culture of the techniques you’re training. These items have their place but don’t put an excessive amount of importance in it. The primary ingredient underneath all these items reveals itself to the individuals who put within the time, sweat, blood and tears. That ingredient is tough work. All the BS gets boiled off within the furnace of exertions. It is a fact. Individuals who know the difference have done the work. The person packaging, whether it’s Judo, Wrestling, Karate, Boxing or whatever now not matters. There are WAY too many “Couch Kung Fu” experts to go around. Don’t you dare be considered one of them! See you on the Mat!