by NBK Fri Apr 22, 2016 6:03 pm
wdax wrote: noboru wrote:In some material and texts I found that Jú-no-kata has own big value for body control/development (taisó) a for understanding of jú principle (ri). (I dont have the knowledges about Jú-no-kata). Kanó Jigoró recommended it to practice for women, practicing in schools (as school sport/body exercises) and noted that for practice Jú-no-kata you have not need tatami and judógi - you can practice it anywhere. Body adopting and development of understanding jú before any selfdefence exeriences? It could be this reason?
Thank you for your comments.
In the 1920s Kano wrote, that Ju-no-kata should be the first kata to be studied - even before Nage- and Katame-no-kata. Additionally to what you mentioned is the absence of ukemi in Ju-no-Kata and that it is practiced in moderate speed. Ju-no-Kata is very much underestimated among many (so-called) judo-experts.
Regarding WDax' comment above, the biggest surprise to me when I started buying preWWII old judo books, including lots of books intended for the use of childrens' instructors, is that often the first several chapters were devoted to:
1. Reigi (courtesies)
2. Taisabaki (body movement)
3. Jû no Kata - and always illustrated by cartoons of a couple of middle-aged men, balding, with moustaches and everything (Billc and I would fit right in)
then, and only then, would the books begin with simple throws.
Now after buying 40 or more, I am only surprised if they start with anything but Jû no Kata (unless much later, when the militarists take over).
Jonesy wrote:I can understand the placing of all the kata in the Kodokan Dan rank promotion system from an intellectual and pedagogical perspective. I do struggle a little with the placing of Koshiki-no-kata from a practical/physical veiwpoint. For almost everyone in Japan 8th dan is a "terminal rank" and most are much much older than 42 when they are considered for the rank. The falls and sutemi waza in Koshiki-no-kata are very demanding on the body and perhaps not that appropriate for elderly judoka.
I think this one of the major errors in Kodokan rank progression. It almost ensures that the vast majority will never get close to performing the demanding throws and falls well. Perhaps it could be broken up into sections, learned in small bites, but learning it all at the end of your judo career does not make sense to me. It's like learning Swan Lake at the very end of a ballet career - probably too late for most normal folks.