Judo Theory of Combat: To Pin or Neutralize Opponent

In Judo, every fight has two phases: the standing phase (tachi-waza) and the ground phase (ne-waza). Each phase has its own techniques, strategies and moves. There is a transitional phase that bridges the gap between the two. A jodoka may display extraordinary skill in one phase and yet be weak in the other, therefore balancing between the two is important.

Judo has a large vocabulary of techniques and moves. The three most important techniques are:

1. Pins: Pinning is all important in Judo because it gives the person a dominant position over the foe. When you pin a person down beneath you, you have control on the person and can inflict force on him using knees, forearms and even the head. However, if the opponent has his legs wrapped around your waist, you have not been able to pin him down effectively. He has pinned you down as much as you have. So in effect it is not a pin. You cannot go till he decides to unwrap his feet. You then have to break his guard and pin him down. The reverse is also true.

2. Joint locks: Joint locks are painful and therefore effective. In the long run they are harmful. Which is why, they have been banned from competitions in recent times. In the past, leg locks, wrist locks and even spinal locks were allowed. Now only elbow locks are allowed.

3. Chokes/Strangulations: Chokes/strangulations form Judo's most lethal technique. The
person applying the choke can force the opponent into unconsciousness and possibly death. The difference between a choke and strangle is that the former stops air supply from the front of the neck while the strangle cuts off the blood supply to the brain via the sides of the neck.

The initial phase in Judo is called the standing phase. The fight begins with the opponents standing face to face, each opponent employs strategies aimed at throwing the other to the ground. Moves previously mentioned like the standing joint-lock, choke/strangulation and takedowns are allowed and expected during this phase. Punches, kicks and strikes are not allowed at this stage because they can cause injury.

Some skilled jodukas employ a combination of a takedown and submission techniques. The submission technique begins from the standing stage and is completed when the person is pinned to the ground. The idea behind throwing an opponent to the ground is to get into a dominant position and be able to inflict more force. In the ground phase, which is the secondary phase of combat, the opponents try to pin down an opponent by using chokes, strangles and locks.

by Callie Armstrong