How to Become a Judo Champion

The grappling techniques in this article need to be understood by any student who hopes one day to become a judo champion. They are kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame (modified four-quarter hold), kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame: a modification, and yoko-shiho-gatame (side four-quarter hold).

Kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame (modified four-quarter hold) 

This holddown uses the moment more than it does momentum. It may be adequate to say that it allows you to make use chiefly of the moment of force by locking your opponent's arm under your armpit and thereby executing the holddown. Sliding your right arm under your opponent's right upper arm and over it, you grasp the back part of his collar and hold his right arm tightly under your right armpit.

KEY POINTS: 

a.Your opponent's right arm must be held firmly with your right hand and arm, which is placed on your right thigh, and pinned tightly under your right armpit. 

b.Never place the center of your gravity on his chest, even if you push down his chest with yours.

Kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame: a modification 

This technique has been devised to make the arm of moment longer than that of the other kami-shiho-gatame techniques as well as to make it easy for you to apply momentum to your opponent. You need to become conversant with these techniques if you are ever to become a judo champion. You hold your opponent by the neck under your left arm, and your hands grasp the left side of his belt. Spread your legs as wide as possible to make your posture stable, so that it will be easy to apply momentum.

Make both your big toes stand on end. Then grasp the right side of his belt or trousers with your right hand and press down on his chest. With your chest, put pressure upon his chest tightly by pulling your left elbow.

KEY POINTS: 

a.Hold your opponent tightly by the neck under your left armpit by putting pressure on his chest with your chest. 

b.Stand the big toes of both your feet on end for power and balance.

Yoko-shiho-gatame (side four-quarter hold) 

You turn your opponent on his back and hold him down from the side in a right-angled position. You grasp his left lapel with your left hand after sliding it under his neck and around to the lapel. Then put pressure on his chest with your chest and grasp the back part of his trousers with your right hand after reaching between his legs.

Extend your left leg with the big toe standing on end. Place your right knee close to the right side of your opponent's waist in order to deprive him of the force of his waist and abdominal region.

KEY POINTS: 

a.In order that your waist and abdominal region may function to the maximum, it is necessary that you stand both your big toes on end, thus stabilizing the balance and power of your body. 

b.Press your right knee against your opponent's right side to prevent him from using the forces of his lower extremities. 

c.Remember to press his right arm down with your abdomen whenever he tries to push you up with the arm.

In your quest to become a judo champion, it is important to know these holds to defeat your opponent.

      By Desmond McKay

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