Relations Between Gripping Methods and Favorite Tricks in Judoists
by Yoshiyuki Seta, Ichiro Kawasaki, Mamoru Takahashi
(Daito College of Medical Technology)
and
Noboru Hashimoto, Tetsuo Kudo, Hiroyuki Mitsuhashi
(Tokyo Metropolitan Judo Sekotsushikai Incorporated)
ABSTRACT1. Purpose
In judo, gripping techniques offer the preconditions for a player to apply throwing tricks to his opponent or defend himself against the opponent’s tricks. Generally the outcome of a judo match largely depends on whether one combatant beats his opponent in competing to first secure favorable gripping position prior to the opponent. Without exception, every player has his own most favorite gripping pattern and is confident of beating an opponent or leading the match if he can successfully apply this gripping pattern to the opponent. However if he is unable to suppress the other by any means in this competition, he will lose the advantage to control the match, and often ends up losing.
Thus, it is essential for a judoist to master the gripping techniques that are very important in playing judo.
2. Methods
A survey was undertaken on a total of 82 judo players consisting of 35 university and 47 high school judo club members to ascertain their most favorite gripping positions in both hanging and pulling actions whether they are a right- or left-hander, as well as their best or strongest tricks.
Regarding the grip positions in hanging and pulling actions, players who grip the back or back collar of the opponent’s suit in their hanging action were classified into Group A (hang), those who grip the side collar into Group B (hang) and those who grip the front collar into Group C (hang), while those who hold the opponent by the collar or armpit area in the pulling action were classified into Group A (pull), those who hold the opponent by the area near the elbow joint into Group B (pull) and those who hold the opponent by the area near the sleeve into Group C (pull). The response to the question about most favorite or strongest tricks was limited to three kinds per player.
3. Result and Discussion
1. On grip positions in hanging or pulling action:
The survey revealed that the 82 players surveyed consist of 31 belonging to Group A (hang), 30 to Group B (hang) and 21 to Group C (hang), or 12 belonging to Group A (pull), 41 to Group B (pull) and 29 to Group C (pull).
2. Relations between grip positions in hanging or pulling action and favorite tricks:
Among those belonging to Group A (hang), the 3 most popular kinds of favorite tricks were found to be Osotogari, Uchimata and Haraigoshi that are applicable by holding down the opponent from above and closing in upon him. Those belonging to Group B (hang) mainly use Osotogari, Uchimata, Ipponzeoi, Seoinage and Taiotoshi with an about equal frequency as their favorite tricks though Osotogari is used a little more often than the others. This is because the gripping position used by Group B (hang) is most effective of all the hanging grips in breaking the opponent’s stance and can lead to every kind of subsequent trick. In Group C (hang), players used Seoinage, Ipponzeoi, Taiotoshi and Kouchigari relatively frequently. This grip is considered more effective than any others in breaking the opponent’s stance by holding him by the front collar and actively using hanging actions to facilitate throwing down the opponent after creeping under him.
In Group A (pull), Osotogari, Uchimata and Haraigoshi tricks were used relatively more frequently than others, but no large difference of frequency was observed between the two. This is because gripping the collar or the area around the armpit in a pulling action will most facilitate a player to apply the subsequent Makikomiwaza or Katsugiwasa trick including the Ipponzeoi trick achieved by gripping one-side of the collar. In Group B (pull), Osotogari, Uchimata and Haraigoshi are most often used, followed by Seoinage, Taiotoshi and Ipponzeoi as the next most often used. This is because this grip position in the pulling action allows a player to most effectively use his power and also plays an important role in protecting himself from the opponent’s tricks. Further this grip position offers a stable basis to easily apply all subsequent tricks to the opponent. In Group C (pull), players most often used Seoinage, Ipponzeoi and Taiotoshi, and the total application frequency of Ouchigari, Kouchigari and Tomoenage was higher than in other Groups. This is because this grip position allows more frequent use of Katsugiwaza and Ashiwasa tricks than others as gripping the opponent’s sleeve in the pulling action will restrict his free and active use of hanging actions and make his armpit area defenseless.
