| The other day I was watching the NCAA | | | | fireman's carry or Kata-Guruma, the inside leg trip |
| Wresting Championships and I started noticing | | | | or Ouchi-Gari, various hip throws etc. The list goes |
| more similarities to Judo than differences. I was | | | | on and on. There are many ways to take a man |
| also reminded about some things that I have | | | | off his feet and on to his back. Does it really |
| heard from Sensei and Shinan Carl Cestari. | | | | matter what you call it? |
| Basically, there is nothing really new in | | | | Also, there are no secret techniques protected by |
| Hand-to-Hand Combat or Martial Arts. With all the | | | | a cultural history or tradition. Can you imagine for |
| fads in Martial Arts over the years, from Kung Fu | | | | one second, a boxing trainer telling one of his |
| to Ninjas and Mixed Martial Arts, the reality still | | | | students, "I'm going to teach you a secret punch |
| remains that there are only so many ways to | | | | that very few people know that will make you |
| punch, kick, stomp, break, gouge, throw, or choke | | | | champion of the world." Or do you really believe |
| the human body. NEWS FLASH: It's all been done | | | | that Dan Gable became the world's most |
| before and not just in Japan or China. For | | | | successful wrestler because he knew techniques |
| example, the west has a long history of Martial | | | | that others didn't. (By the way, if you don't know |
| Arts including Bare Knuckle Boxing, Wrestling and | | | | who Dan Gable is then your homework |
| various other forms of Hand to Hand Combat. | | | | assignment is to find out ASAP.) Or ask |
| Martial Arts isn't necessarily synonymous with | | | | Yoshisada Yonezuka, 9th Dan in Judo, about |
| Asia. You don't have to look any further than the | | | | Martial Arts and listen to what he has to say |
| people who train at Zen Shin. Sensei was a state | | | | about what is really important. Listen, the point is |
| champion in wrestling, Sensei Roger Jones was a | | | | not to get lost in the origin, system or culture of |
| competitive wrestler at the college level, and Jim | | | | the techniques you are training. These things have |
| Kleinfelder has a background in Boxing (notice how | | | | their place but don't put too much importance in it. |
| hard he hits for edge of hand blows and chin | | | | The main ingredient underneath all these things |
| jabs). The list goes on to include Sal Guardascione, | | | | reveals itself to the people who put in the time, |
| and Matt Smith whose Judo training helps him | | | | sweat, blood and tears. That ingredient is hard |
| tremendously as he currently competes as a high | | | | work. All of the BS gets boiled off in the furnace |
| school wrestler. The more you train the more | | | | of hard work. This is a fact. People who know the |
| you start to see that what works is simple and | | | | difference have done the work. The individual |
| direct and you notice it in areas outside of Judo | | | | packaging, whether it's Judo, Wrestling, Karate, |
| and Jujitsu. | | | | Boxing or whatever no longer matters. There are |
| For example, spend some time watching wrestling | | | | WAY too many "Couch Kung Fu" experts to go |
| and you can't help but notice Judo techniques. | | | | around. Don't you dare be one of them! See you |
| You'll see that techniques like the double leg | | | | on the Mat! |
| takedown is called Morote-Gari in Judo, the | | | | |