Is Judo Good Self-Defense for Adults?

People of all ages practice various martial arts for everything from exercise to full-contact competitions, but the origins of most styles lie in self-defense. Judo is no different. Although judo has limitations in its techniques, it is still a viable form of self-defense for adults in dangerous situations. With judo, you can disarm and disable many would-be attackers.

  1. History

    • Like many martial arts, it's nearly impossible to trace the exact origins of judo. Judo was developed as a sport-based martial art from elements of Japanese jujitsu in the 1800s. In 1882, Jigoro Kano christened the new sport after doing a comprehensive study of a variety of ancient Japanese forms of combat. To Kano, judo was not only an effective means of self-defense, but also a tool for the development of the individual.

    Techniques

    • Unlike other martial arts styles such as karate, muay thai and krav maga, judo does not have a system of striking. Instead, judo practitioners focus on the grappling aspect of fighting, using leverage, control and momentum to throw opponents and submit them on the ground. Once on the ground, dangerous techniques such as armbars and shoulder locks are used to induce a tap from the opponent, rendering the contest over.

    Judo vs. Other Martial Arts

    • In 2012, the Ultimate Fighting Championship crowned Ronda Rousey its first woman's fighting champion. Rousey was the first American woman to win a medal in judo in the Olympic Games, taking the bronze in 2004. In defeating numerous mixed martial arts experts using a judo move, the armbar, Rousey demonstrated that judo can be applicable to a wide range of combat scenarios. Against an untrained person, the style will be even more effective.

    Self-Defense

    • Although judo was designed for use in a combat sports setting, its techniques can be translated effectively into self-defense scenarios. Against an unarmed attacker, you can gain control of the situation by executing an arm throw or hip toss to take the fight to the ground. Once there, you can incapacitate him by using an armbar or kimura shoulder lock. Although you have to be more careful, you could also gain control of an armed attacker by grabbing his sleeves or collar. Since judo practitioners are comfortable controlling and quickly throwing people in cloth gis, they can control attackers by grabbing and maintaining leverage with clothing. If you have control of an attacker's arm, you can keep a harmful weapon away from you or disarm him by finishing a joint lock technique. Still, these techniques require you to get dangerously close to a weapon. If the opportunity presents itself, your first option should always be to disengage and run.

    Considerations

    • Judo throws, submissions and positions can be used effectively in street defense situations, but it's important to understand the limits of any style you plan to use in this manner. Since judo coaches focus on the sporting aspects of the style, they're unlikely to train you for self-defense scenarios. Furthermore, judo practitioners are usually uncomfortable exchanging strikes or being hit, which could prove to be a disadvantage in a real fight.