Section B · Page 10
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, April 16, 1999
"Judo means 'the gentle way' which signifies that it's not an offensive sport. You use it only when you have to, and you use your opponent's strength against him."
— Todd Halstead, Judo club president
Kansas judo excels
Instructor's background gives students advantage
A small group of students gather around the instructor,casually chatting before class begins. They call him sensel, and they hang on his every word.
By Emily Hughey
sports@kansan.com
Kansas writerwriter
At exactly 4:30 p.m., he turns around, bows and walks to the mat, watching about 20 students tumble around in a circle, slapping the mat with their legs.
Since 1988, Sensei Hikaru Murata has been teaching
KU students judo, a martial art derived from ju jit su,
an aggressive sarmal defense.
In 1882, Jigoro Kano created judo, a less offensive and more scientific sport that consists of throwing, grappling, arm locks and choking.
Murata, former president of the National Judo Association, is closely tied to the sport of judo. Murata's sensei, or instructor, was a student of one of Kano's original disciples. He said he thought that his bond to Kano gave his students an advantage.
"I kind of inherited some property from my sensei, philosophy as well as techniques," Murata said as he lifted his belt, a gift from his sensei. Murata studied judo in Japan from his 80-year-old instructor who gave Murata his own black belt.
Abdulaziz Al Mousawi, Kuwait freshman, gives Kelly Babcock, Roeland Park freshman, tips about how to grapple better with her judo opponent, Michelle Clay, Newton sophomore. All three are members of the KU judo club. Photo by Matt J. Daugherty/KANSAN
"It is one of my treasures," Murata said.
Perhaps Murata's
closeness to
the sport
synleine why
makes such an impression at competitions.
the club
Twelve judo players went to the collegiate national competition March 27 in Denver, said Todd Halstead, Judo club president. Abdulaziz Al Mousawi, Kuwait freshman, placed fourth in the competition.
Al Mousawi said that although he was disappointed with his performance,he looked forward to future competitions
"I was sad — I wanted better," he said. "I have five more years here at KU so, hopefully, sometime I will take first place."
Halstead said that the club has 22 active members, four of whom were black belt instructors and two of whom were brown belts, the fifth rank. The rest were at the beginning level, white belt.
"This year is really a rebuilding year because we have mostly white belts," Halstead said. "Right now is a good time for someone to start up. We accept everybody."
To graduate belts, a player must attend tournaments and be deemed ready by Murata.
"it usually takes about a year to get a green belt," Hal-stead said. "But it's a pretty fair process."
it's very graceful, but there's a higher chance of injury than most other martial arts because it's pretty much non-stop fighting for five minutes," Halsiead said. "At competitions it's pretty violent-looking."
While judo is classified as a martial art, it is completely different than other arts like tae kwon do or kikido. Judo is a defensive art that relies on the attacker's advances rather than an offensive art instigated by the player himself.
In national judo competitions, the standard sparring match is five minutes long; there are two judges and one referee. The two opponents approach one another
"Judo means 'the gentle way' which signifies that it's not an offensive sport. You use it only when you have to, and you use your opponent's strength against him." Halstead said.
However, judo can also be dangerous.
from
opposite sides
opposite sides of the mat and bow.
When the referee says
When the referees days
Haiame, or begin, the opponents
Hajame, or begin, the opponents begin fighting. If one opponent lands on his back,
begins lighting up the other gets one point. if he lands on his side, the other gets a half point. If one opponent pins the other for 25 seconds, the other gets one point. Haistead said that the first opponent to get a point wins the match.
Xavier Stevens, Garnett sophomore and judo club member, said his favorite thing about the sport was the competition.
"Ilike sparring," Stevens said. "It gets my endurance and it's an adrenaline rush."
However, fighting is not the only thing the judo club offers.
Halstead said that it builds self-esteem, helps people to learn composure in making important decisions and serves as an outlet for stress.
"It gives me an outlet to release stress and it does give me more responsibility in my life having to train three times a week." Halstead said. "It clears my mind."
The club also provides a friendly environment. Stevens said that he considered everyone in the club to be a friend.
Murata said that judo instruction in Japan was different than at the university level in the United States.
"The emphasis on the college age is a little bit different. It's more on competition," Murata said. "But in Japan, it's more education. People put stress on discipline and social structures."
Murata said that was because there was not enough time to give full instruction. However, he said he gave his students the most inclusive instruction possible in the three hours a week that the club meets.
So far, the instruction seems to be paying off.
So far, the instruction seems to be paying on.
— Edited by Keith Burner
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