An unfortunate end to any fight is a fighter experiencing a skull fracture. In his professional debut, Russian kickboxer Danil Sharov suffered a fractured skull when he absorbed a knee from Danil Kirikov at WAKO’s FKR PRO 1 in a lightweight clash. The knee was landed during a clinch and visibly caused damage to the […]
An unfortunate end to any fight is a fighter experiencing a skull fracture. In his professional debut, Russian kickboxer Danil Sharov suffered a fractured skull when he absorbed a knee from Danil Kirikov at WAKO’s FKR PRO 1 in a lightweight clash.
The knee was landed during a clinch and visibly caused damage to the forehead of Sharov, slightly up and between his eyes. His opponent, Kirikov, was quick to point out the injury to the referee. The fight nearly continued as Danil Sharov was game, and remained in his fight stance. The doctor inspected the visible fracture by putting his thumb in it and the fight was quickly called off.
See below for the video:
Horrific injury at a kickboxing event in Russia (headlined by Vladimir Mineev) 4 days ago. Knee to the head broke one of the fighters skull à la MVP vs Evangelista Santos. pic.twitter.com/k5c28PGvSz
It was a lightweight kickboxing fight with both men making their debut. This was an undercard bout in Moscow, Russia on WAKO’s FKR PRO 1.
Reactions to Danil Sharov’s skull fracture
On Twitter, fans were very impressed with the fortitude of Danil Sharov. User ‘Fedor’s Nephew’ commented:
“PS: toughness of this kid is insane. Acted like he got a cut or something.”
Twitter user ‘OkayDFS’ was happy that Kirikov refused to continue knowing his opponent was injured. This user said:
“Yeah another blow would’ve been bad. Opponent knew it too it seemed. I wonder if his skull will heal fully.”
‘Vinny_Napalm’ added that many fighters, Danil Sharov included, are too tough for their own safety. He added:
“Jesus what a great referee. That was hard to notice and that kid is too damn tough for his own good. Would have needed up very bad if it continued.”
Many combat sports fans have also pointed out the similarity of this situation to Michael ‘Venom’ Page fracturing the skull of Evangelista ‘Cyborg’ Santos at Bellator 158. After this gruesome injury, took some time to rest and recover. The Brazilian fighter has not returned to action since this fight in 2016.
In an interview with MMA Junkie, ‘Cyborg’ explained:
“Right after, I was vocal about my wishes to get back to fighting as soon as possible, but it’s better to act with good sense. I took time to think about it, and I want to recover. That’s what I’m doing in Brazil. I’m living with my daughter. I’m teaching fighters here at Chute Boxe in Curitiba, at our professional branch. It’s a great opportunity to share my knowledge with a new generation of fighters, both amateur and professional. Chute Boxe is a true stable of champions, and when one of us stops, we teach what we’ve learned. And that’s what I’m doing now.”
Kenpo Karate is one of the most effective offshoots of Karate that has been developed. Known for its practicality and adaptability to be used in self-defense Here is everything you need to know about Kenpo Karate. Going over all of the forms of Kenpo Karate, their history, the training, and the rules of Kenpo Karate […]
Kenpo Karate is one of the most effective offshoots of Karate that has been developed. Known for its practicality and adaptability to be used in self-defense
Here is everything you need to know about Kenpo Karate. Going over all of the forms of Kenpo Karate, their history, the training, and the rules of Kenpo Karate competitions.
The History
The martial art of Kenpo Karate is the merging of two different martial arts into one. Japanese martial artists took principles from different Chinese martial arts and merged them together to create Kenpo Karate.
Kenpo means fist law or fist method. The story of Kenpo Karate starts with an American martial artist named James Mitose. Master Mitose grew up in Japan and spent his childhood learning Yoshida Kenpo.
After mastering this style of Kenpo, he came to the US and settled in Hawaii. Once Mitose returned, he would open a martial arts school and call his style Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu.
Mitose would retire and give the school to two of his top students, Thomas Young and William Kwai Sun Chow. Sun Chow is considered by many to be the true founder of Kenpo Karate.
He would teach Ed Parker, who would get credit for creating, spreading, and popularizing Kenpo Karate.
Ed Parker
Ed Parker was a Hawaiian native that grew up practicing boxing. In college, he served in the Coast Guard and was stationed in Hawaii.
While serving, he was introduced to Chow and began learning Kenpo Karate under him for six years. After this time, Parker returned to Brigham Young University in Utah, where he began teaching.
This was actually met with controversy because his instructor Chow claims that he never awarded Parker his black belt. Parker claims he was awarded his black belt in 1953, but Chow claimed he only made it to purple belt.
Either way, Parker would popularize Kenpo Karate and spread it throughout the US mainland. He opened his first Kenpo Karate school in Provo, Utah, in 1954. Shortly after, Parker opened his second school in Pasadena, California, in 1956.
He would begin altering the techniques that he learned while training under Chow. Originally, the movements of Kenpo Karate were more brisk and linear, but Parker added more circular movements. Adopting elements from Chinese martial arts and roundhouse kicks.
Along with popularizing Kenpo Karate, Parker would make a name for himself in Hollywood. Becoming Elvis Pressley’s bodyguard, teaching stuntmen, and introducing Bruce Lee at the International Karate Championship.
Other Styles Of Kenpo
There are various forms of Kenpo that are practiced throughout the world. To separate them from American Kenpo, here are descriptions of the most practiced Kenpo styles.
Okinawa-Kenpo
Okinawa-Kenpo is a variation that was developed a little after Kenpo Karate. It was developed by Shigeru Nakamura in 1960 and is a mix of Karate, Kenpo, and Ti.
Nakamura wanted to create a style that was closer to the Okinawan style of Karate. He felt too many styles were branching off of Karate and wanted to create a unified school.
Master Shigeru was able to found the Okinawa Kobudo Kyokai before he died, but it dissolved after his passing. Okinawa-Kenpo is still practiced today, but the technique has changed along with many off-shoots formed.
Kosho-Kyo Kenpo
Koso-Kyo Kenpo may arguably be one of the very first styles of Kenpo that were developed. It is said that this martial art was formed during the 15th century, well before even Karate was created.
It combines the classic JuJutsu, Kyodu, and Shaolin Chaun Fa that’s taught under the Rinzai Zen philosophy. Numerous other methods were added to the style in its 600 years of existence.
This was the style that James Mitose learned while living in Japan and refined once he moved back to Karate. If Kosho-Kyo Kenpo hadn’t existed first, there would be no Kenpo Karate.
Shorinji Kempo
Shorinji Kempo was a Kempo style developed by Doshin So in the early 1940s. This style of Kempo added to the earlier teaching by adding mental preparation and Japanese Zen Buddhism.
The fighting side of Shorinji Kempo is generally taught separately from the pseudo-religious side and then brought together.
Today, there are many variations of this style taught, but one thing separates the styles. Styles of Shorinji Kempo that are developed in Japan can be called “doing” temples, while elsewhere, they’re called dojos.
Kajukenbo
Kajukenbo was created in Hawaii at the exact same time as when Kenpo Karate was developed and coined. Another student of William Chow named Adriano Emperado would go on to create Kajukenbo.
Emperado would credit the styles of five different martial arts masters that inspired him to create his martial art. Chow, Peter Choo, Frank Ordonez, Joe Holck, and Clarence Chang.
Along with the techniques, Emperado also took parts of each name to create the name Kajukenbo.
Ka: Karate
Ju: JuJutsu/Judo
Ken: Kenpo
Bo: Boxing
One of the most famous practitioners of Kajukenbo is MMA legend Chuck “The Iceman: Liddell. After his head tattoo, the other tattoo that Liddell is known for is the Kempo tattoo on his arm.
The Techniques Of Kenpo Karate
Ed Parker’s techniques are much different than what his teacher Chow learned from James Mitose. What Mitose and Chow taught was more Karate based on linear movements that Karate was founded upon.
Ed Parker’s style of Kenpo Karate was more popularized Kenpo Karate altered the style. Adding more circular movements from different Chinese martial arts and more types of kicks.
Some of the techniques that are taught include:
Kicks
Open Hand Strikes
Punches
Throwing Techniques
Joint Locks
Finger Strikes
Are Weapons Used In Kenpo Karate?
The use of small weapons is also practiced within Kenpo Karate. Some of the weapons that are practiced within Kenpo Karate are short staffs, knives, and clubs.
One special knife style practiced within Ed Parker’s Kenpo Karate is Kenpo Long Form 7. Techniques developed used a specialty knife that Parker had made for his style.
Kenpo Karate Belt System
Ed Parker’s style of Kenpo Karate has 18 different belts that students go through within the system. The eighteen belts are separated into six different belt groups.
Yellow Belts
Orange Belts
Purple Belts
Green Belt
Brown Belt
Black Belt
Is Kenpo A Form Of Karate?
Even though Kenpo Karate has Karate in the name, many of the techniques taught in its modern form are not Karate. What James Mitose and William Chow taught is more aligned with Karate than what Ed Parker developed later on.
Mitose would call his style Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu but never used the word Karate when describing his style. If Kenpo Karate
Is The Origin Of Kenpo Chinese Or Japanese?
A hotly debated topic of Kenpo styles is whether they’re a Chinese or Japanese martial art. The truth is that styles of Kenpo, like Kenpo Karate are both Chinese and Japanese martial arts.
These styles of Kenpo took styles from both Chinese and Japanese martial arts. Some styles of Kenpo are closer aligned to Karate, while others look more like styles of Kung Fu.
Kenpo vs. Kempo
It’s common to see the words Kenpo or Kempo used for different martial arts styles. Some wonder if there is a difference between Kenpo and Kempo; honestly, there isn’t one.
Both words come from the same Kanji word that numerous martial arts use. The difference in spelling is due to attempts of transliteration that resulted in the different spelling.
Is Kenpo Karate An Effective Martial Art?
From the teachings, it would seem that Kenpo Karate is a rather effective martial art. Within the martial art, striking techniques are taught, as well as grappling and weapons training.
Every four years, the Olympics put on the biggest spectacle in sports. Tens of millions from around the globe watch the games, and some of the most popular is martial arts events. Do you know which martial arts are in the Olympics? There are quite a few, and below we’ve listed all the martial arts […]
Every four years, the Olympics put on the biggest spectacle in sports. Tens of millions from around the globe watch the games, and some of the most popular is martial arts events.
Do you know which martial arts are in the Olympics? There are quite a few, and below we’ve listed all the martial arts that are Olympic sports. Read about all the martial arts that are Olympic events and their histories below.
Which Martial Arts Are In The Olympics?
As of now, six martial arts are official sports in the Olympics. The martial arts that are Olympic sports are as follows.
Greco Roman Wrestling
Freestyle Wrestling
Boxing
Judo
Taekwondo
Karate
(Disclaimer) We understand that many don’t consider wrestling or boxing martial arts. However, they do play a vital part in mixed martial arts and are a form of self-defense. For those reasons, we considered both boxing and wrestling martial arts.
Greco Roman Wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling was one of the first official Olympic sports when the Olympics were reintroduced. This form of wrestling debuted in the first Olympic Games in 1896.
When the first Olympic event was being organized, Greco-Roman wrestling was an easy choice for being included. The original Olympics had wrestling events, and at the time, Greco-Roman wrestling was the most popular style of wrestling.
In the 100+ years in the Olympics, there have been numerous Olympic champions in Greco-Roman wrestling. Without this form of wrestling first being introduced, the other martial arts in the Olympics may have not gotten a chance.
The Rules Of Olympic Greco-Roman Wrestling
2 Periods(3 Minutes Each)
Uniforms: Wrestling Singlets and Shoes
Only Takedowns Above The Waist Are Permitted
Methods Of Victory: Pin, Points, or DQ
8 Point Lead = Automatic Win
Takedowns: 2-5 Points
Reversal: 1 Point
Exposure: 2-3 Points
Penalties: 1-2 Points
Out Of Bounds: 1 Point
Freestyle Wrestling
Freestyle wrestling was the second form of wrestling accepted as an Olympic sport after Greco-Roman wrestling. The story behind freestyle wrestling becoming an Olympic sport is an interesting one.
Initially, catch wrestling was supposed to be the second form of wrestling to become an Olympic sport. Unfortunately for catch wrestling, the Olympic committee canceled the event at the last minute.
The cancellation was due to submissions being permitted in catch wrestling, and the committee did not want injuries from submissions. Instead, they would adopt freestyle wrestling, which was a newer form of wrestling that was being practiced in the United States.
This form of wrestling would debut in the Olympics in 1904, where only American wrestlers participated. As time went on, freestyle wrestling caught on internationally and even surpassed Greco-Roman wrestling’s popularity.
Today, freestyle wrestling is the world’s most practiced form of wrestling.
The Rules Of Olympic Freestyle Wrestling
The rules of freestyle wrestling in the Olympics are very similar to Greco-Roman style wrestling. The big difference is that takedowns and throws above the waist are permitted in freestyle wrestling.
Boxing
During the late 1800s, the sport of boxing began to become more popular throughout the world. Much in part thanks to the introduction of the Queensberry Rules that organizers adopted.
Since an early form of pugilism was in the ancient Olympics, it was an obvious choice to be included. Boxing became an official Olympic sport in 1904, the same year freestyle wrestling made its debut.
Since its debut in the Olympics, boxing has undergone various changes. Everything from the rule sets, adding different weight classes, adding headgear, and then removing headgear.
The Rules Of Olympic Boxing
3 Rounds(3 Minutes Each)
Ways To Win: KO/TKO, Decision, Or DQ(No Draws)
Only Punches Above The Waist
Punches Only Permitted To Front Of Opponent’s Body
Judo
The grappling art of Judo became an official Olympic sport in 1964. The creator of Judo, Grandmaster Jigoro Kano, was actually on the original Olympic Committee.
He was the first Asian committee member and held the position until his death in 1938. Kano’s martial art would debut in the Olympics in 1964 but was excluded from the 1968 games.
In 1972, Judo returned as an Olympic sport and has kept its status as an official event for 50 years. As time went on, the Olympics added more weight classes and women’s divisions in 1992.
Judo is still one of the most popular events viewed by spectators and one of the biggest championships within the sport.
Golden Score: Any point landed in during the overtime round that is an automatic win.
Taekwondo
Taekwondo made its debut as a demo event at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. After twelve years of bureaucracy, Taekwondo was made an official Olympic sport in 2000.
An astounding feat for the Korean martial art, which had officially formed around 40 years beforehand. In that time, Taekwondo became internationally practiced by over 70 million practitioners.
Gold Point: The first point scored during sudden death wins the match
Karate
Karate is the latest martial art to receive the honor of becoming an official Olympic sport. It was added to the 2020 Olympic Games that were to be held in Japan. The birth country of the martial art.
Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, the Tokyo Olympics were postponed for over a year. In 2021, Karate would be one of the four new sports that would debut in the Tokyo Olympics.
It was met with positive reviews and will return in 2024 for the Olympics Games in Paris, France.
Ippon: 3 Point Head Kicks(Also any technique where an opponent falls)
Ways To Win: KO/TKO, Points, Golden Score, DQ
What Martial Arts Could Be Future Olympic Sports
There are always rumors and conversations about which martial arts could be future Olympic sports. Here are three martial arts that are constantly brought up in conversation.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the martial arts that is brought up most about potentially becoming an Olympic sport. It seems like it would be a perfect addition along with Judo and wrestling.
The one big thing that is holding BJJ back from becoming an Olympic sport is the IOC. They don’t recognize any of the major Jiu Jitsu federations as the official governing body of the martial art.
Until the IOC recognizes one of the federations like the IBJJF, BJJ will never become an Olympic sport.
Muay Thai
Muay Thai may actually be the next martial art to become an official Olympic event. After over thirty years of trying, the IOC fully certified Olympic sport.
Even though Muay Thai has been approved as an Olympic sport, it has no set debut date. We most likely won’t see Muay Thai in the Olympics any time soon due to IOC bureaucracy. Read more on this story here.
MMA
The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) has been the main MMA federation pushing for MMA to become an Olympic sport. This federation was also granted WADA status for athletes within the federation to be drug tested.
For MMA to get a better chance at becoming an Olympic sport, the IMMAF must be recognized by the IOC. UFC President Dana White supported the IMMAF and believes if the Olympics wants viewers, they must add MMA.
Sambo and Kickboxing
The IOC has granted sambo and kickboxing provisional recognition along with Muay Thai. Although, it is unknown when we might see these martial arts in the Olympics.
We could see them in the 2024 Olympics in Paris or another event in the future.
Summary
Martial arts are perfect sports for the Olympic Games. If you were wondering which martial arts are in the Olympics, there are already six martial arts that are official Olympic Sports, and we may see three more added in the coming years.
This is great news for fight fans and gives these martial arts the opportunity to grow. If the Olympics does add Muay Thai, Sambo, and kickboxing, more fight fans will definitely be tuning in.
A no contest is one of those fight results you don’t see much in the UFC or MMA. New UFC fans may be confused and not know exactly what a no contest is. Let’s clear up the confusion and break down the question of what is a no contest in the UFC. Covering the exact […]
A no contest is one of those fight results you don’t see much in the UFC or MMA. New UFC fans may be confused and not know exactly what a no contest is.
Let’s clear up the confusion and break down the question of what is a no contest in the UFC. Covering the exact definition of a no contest from the unified rules of MMA and listing notable no contests in UFC history.
What Is A No Contest In The UFC?
To answer, what is a no contest in the UFC, let’s go directly to the ABC’s unified rules of MMA. On page 8, under the definition of types of decision, this is the ABC’s definition of a no contest.
“No Contest: When a contestant is prematurely stopped due to accidental injury and a sufficient amount of time has not been completed to render a decision via the score cards.”
When a fight is ruled a no contest, this means that neither fighter is the winner of the bout. On their records, the fight is listed as a no contest.
Examples Of A No Contest
A no contest can be declared for a number of reasons. Here are some of the reasons that a fight in the UFC can be ruled a no contest.
Accidental Illegal Strike
Sometimes a fighter will hit their opponent with an accidental illegal strike. It could be anything from kicking a downed opponent, low blow, eye poke, or accidental headbutt.
If a fighter is incapacitated or too injured to continue, the referee can declare the fight a no contest.
Outside Interference
If a third party interferes in the fight, the bout can be ruled a no contest. A third party could be anyone from the referee, cornerman, or even a fan interrupting the bout.
Failed Drug Test
Fighters who win a fight but fail a drug test will result in the fight being overturned. Instead of a win, the fight will be switched to a no contest along with a heavy fine and suspension.
Post Fight Appeal
If a fighter feels that their fight was unjustly stopped, they have the right to appeal the fight. They take their case to the athletic state commission that oversaw their fight. If the fighter wins their appeal, the fight will then be overturned to a no contest.
Double KO
The ultra-rare double knockout, where both fighters knock each other out will be marked as a no contest.
Fixed Fight
Another rare instance of fights being ruled a no contest can be from a fixed fight. If an athletic commission discovers a fight was fixed, this will lead to a fight being overturned to a no contest.
Broken Cage
It has never happened in the UFC, but broken cages or rings have happened in smaller promotions. When this happens during a fight, the bout will be stopped and declared a no contest.
What Do Fighters Get Paid If The Bout Is A No Contest?
In fights that result in a no contest, the fighters will receive their contractual show money for participating in the fight. Since neither fighter won, they don’t receive a win bonus.
If a fight is overturned to a no contest after an event, it’s unknown if the UFC recoups the win bonus. Although for positive drug tests, the fighter is fined a substantial amount along with a suspension.
What Happens To Bets If A Fight Is Ruled A No Contest?
When a fight ends in a no contest, any bets placed on the fight are null and void. Meaning that the existing bets are canceled, and funds are returned to the better.
No Contest vs. Technical Decision
Sometimes, a fight ending early can also go to a technical decision instead of a no contest. Here is the definition of a technical decision from the ABC’s unified rules of MMA.
“If an accidental foul causes an injury severe enough for the referee to stop the bout after ½ of the scheduled rounds, plus one (1) second of the fight has been completed, the bout will result in a TECHNICAL DECISION awarded to the fighter who is ahead on the scorecards at the time the bout is stopped.”
Notable No Contests In The UFC
There have been quite a few fights that have ended in a no contest in the UFC. Here are some of the most notable fights in the UFC that resulted in a no contest.
Nick Diaz vs. Anderson Silva
Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz had a memorable battle in 2015 that was considered one of the year’s best fights. Silva walked away with a decision win until the results of pre-fight drug tests came in after the fights.
Both fighters failed their drug tests, with Silva testing positive for steroids and Diaz for Marijuana. The fight was immediately overturned to a no contest. Diaz was also handed a lengthy suspension that subsequently ruined his fighting career.
Jeremy Stephens vs. Yair Rodriguez
Jeremy Stephens vs. Yair Rodriguez was one of the most anticipated featherweight bouts of 2019. Fight fans’ expectations were completely destroyed as Rodriguez poked Stephens in the eye in the bout’s first 15 seconds. The fight was never rescheduled.
Bobby Moffett vs. Chas Skelly
In 2018, Bobby Moffett fought Chas Skelly, which Moffett initially won by submission. The problem, however, was that Skelly never tapped out.
Skelly appealed the results to the Colorado State Athletic Commission and won his appeal. Resulting in the fight being overturned to a no contest.
Gray Maynard vs. Rob Emerson
On the TUF 5 Finale event, Gray Maynard slammed Rob Emerson to the mat. Emerson would submit, but Maynard knocked himself out, hitting the mat. Since both fighters were incapacitated, the ref had no choice but to declare the fight a no contest.
Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier 2
In the last fight of their blood feud, Jones dominated Cormier and won the fight by TKO. However, like most everything in Jones’ career, controversy followed him after the fight. Jon would fail another drug test, which resulted in the fight being overturned to a no contest.
Kevin Holland vs. Kyle Daukaus
The most recent no contest happened just this year. Kevin Holland cut down to welterweight to fight Kyle Daukaus at UFC Fight Night 193.
It was a highly anticipated fight that had a disappointing finish. The two fighters clashed heads, which resulted in Kevin Holland getting knocked out. An obvious accident that resulted in a no contest.
Conclusion
We don’t often see a no contest in the UFC, but they happen from time to time. Now that we’ve cleared up the definition of a no contest, you’ll understand the decision the next time one happens.
Modern martial arts would not be what they are today without the work of Judo Grandmaster Jigoro Kano. Kano not only created the art of Judo, but he changed how martial artists view and practice self-defense. Here is the complete story of the founder of Judo, Jigoro Kano. Detailing how his rough childhood led to […]
Modern martial arts would not be what they are today without the work of Judo Grandmaster Jigoro Kano. Kano not only created the art of Judo, but he changed how martial artists view and practice self-defense.
Here is the complete story of the founder of Judo, Jigoro Kano. Detailing how his rough childhood led to a lifelong love of martial arts and his development of Judo. We’ll also detail his professional life and how he was able to introduce Judo to an international audience.
Jigoro Kano’s Early Life
Jigoro Kano was born in 1860 and grew up in a Japanese village called Mikage. He was born on December tenth, but Japan switched its calendars to the Gregorian-based system in 1873. This switch is why Kano’s birthday is celebrated on October 28th in Japan and not in December.
He came from a rich family that earned their wealth from brewing sake. Since Kano’s father was an adopted son, he didn’t get into the family business.
Instead, his father would work as a lay priest and clerk for a shipping line. Kano’s father believed in the power of education and put his son in the best schools.
He would be taught by everyone from neo-Confucian scholars and learn multiple languages, including English and German.. After his mother died when he was nine, Kano’s father moved to Tokyo and enrolled him in private schools.
Jigoro Kano’s Introduction To Jujutsu
Jigoro was a small child that stood at 5 ft 2 in(1.57 m) and only weighed 90 lbs(41 kg). His small stature made him an easy target for bullies, and he would constantly get beat up as a child.
Kano’s father ignored the bullying and told his son to focus on his studies. Despite his father ignoring the situation, Jigoro wanted to learn to defend himself.
A friend of his father named Nakai Basai, who was a shogun guard, would show Kano a few jujutsu techniques. An old form of grappling with techniques designed to beat bigger and stronger opponents.
This intro sparked an interest in martial arts within Kano, but his father discouraged his son from pursuing this idea. But thanks to Jigoro’s insistence, his father finally agreed under the condition that he mastered jujutsu.
Jigoro Kano’s Time Learning JuJutsu
When Jigoro was seventeen, he began attending Tokyo Imperial University. There he began looking for bonesetters, which were doctors that generally also practiced jujutsu.
He met Yagi Teinosuke, a jujutsu practitioner who referred Kano to Fukuda Hachinosuke. Another bonesetter who taught Tenjin Shin yo-ryu in a small room next to his practice.
Fukuda would take on Jigoro as one of his students, which would be the start of Kano’s formal training. Hachinosuke’s teaching methods consisted of newer students taking falls for senior students.
This was to enable new students to learn how to fall correctly and see the mechanics of the technique. Fukuda also believed in free-form training, which allowed Jigoro to try different methods.
He began trying various techniques due to having trouble against his sparring partner, Fukushima Kanekichi. Kano initially tried sumo techniques that didn’t work and would later try western wrestling techniques from a book he discovered.
One of those techniques that proved to be incredibly effective was the fireman’s carry. This move would later be called the kataguruma within Judo when Kano started developing his own martial art.
Jigoro Kano Changes Instructors
Three years after learning under Fukuda, Kano participated in a jujutsu demonstration in front of Ulysses S. Grant. The current US president was visiting Japan for meetings and taking in the country’s culture.
This demonstration took place in the home of Shibusawa Eiichi, who is considered the father of capitalism in Japan. Another jujutsu instructor named Isa Masatomo also participated in the demonstration.
Kano’s instructor Fukuda Hachinosuke would die shortly after the demonstration and Jigor would begin training under Masamoto. Isa Masatomo was 62 and short, but incredibly strong from years of training.
Due to the years of rigorous training under Fukuda, Kano became Masatomo’s teaching assistant.
Jigoro Kano’s Time Training Under Iikubo Tsunetoshi
In 1881, Iso passed away, and Kano searched for another teacher. This time, he would find a teacher named Iikubo Tsunetoshi, who was proficient in throwing techniques. The type of jujutsu that Tsunetoshi practiced was called Kito-ryu.
Jigoro believed that these throwing techniques were some of the most effective moves that he ever learned. They would later play an important role when Kano began developing Judo.
Under Tsunetoshi, Kano would receive his only verifiable jujutsu rank and teaching credential. Specifically, the teaching credential called a Menkyo in Nihonden Kito Judo.
It was dated October 1883, and the document is on display at the Kotakan Judo HQ in Tokyo, Japan.
Jigoro Kano Begins Developing Judo
Once Kano became a certified teacher, he opened his own school with the support of his teacher Tsunetoshi. His master would attend his students’ classes and would later become Kano’s student after being consistently beaten in sparring.
This was when Kano started transferring away from jujutsu to create his own martial art. When deciding the name of his martial art, Kano would combine the “ju” and “do.”
“Ju” means piliancy and “do” meaning the way. He would take the throwing techniques from Kito-ryu and the pinning techniques from Tenjin Shin yo-ryu.
Kano stressed the importance of his martial art being self-defense and that anyone of any size could learn Judo. Instead of strength, Judo would stress the importance of technique and timing.
Since Jigoro was of smaller stature, his ability to administer these techniques on larger opponents proved Judo’s effectiveness.
Jigoro Kano Opens The Kodokan
When Jigoro Kano set off on his own to teach, he opened his own school in 1882. He would call his school the Kodokan Judo Institute.
Initially, the Kodokan was a small room with only twelve mats owned by a local Buddhist temple. In 1890, the school moved to a larger location to a space that could hold sixty mats.
The school would move two times during the 1890s. In 1897 to a 207-mat space, and again in 1898, to a space that held 314 mats.
Twelve years later, Kano would incorporate the Kodokan to enable the school to reconstruct to benefit future students. The Kodokan would move one more time during Kano’s lifetime in 1934 to a space that held 510 mats.
Kano’s school would move one more time to its permanent residence in 1958. An eight-story building that not only holds 1200 mats but is also the home of the International Judo Federation (IJF).
Judo Spreads Through Japan
Judo was able to spread throughout Japan due to Jigoro Kano’s professional life. When he wasn’t teaching Judo, he was a lifelong educator that taught at numerous private schools and universities.
Kano’s work led to him earning a position as the director of primary education at the Ministry of Education in 1898. This position allowed Kano to travel throughout Europe and learn different teaching methods, as well as share his martial art.
Jigoro would use his connections to influential members of Japanese society to his benefit. These connections would lead to Judo and Kendo being officially taught in Japanese schools.
In less than thirty years since creating Judo, Kano had spread his martial art throughout Japan.
Judo Spreads Internationally
Grandmaster Kano wasn’t just satisfied with spreading the teachings of Judo throughout Japan. At the same time, he was spreading Judo throughout the world.
He used the same methods of how many religions were able to spread internationally to spread Judo. Kano would appoint his best students to different places around the world to teach Judo on various continents.
There would also be many international students that would travel to Tokyo to learn at the Kodokan. In only a few decades, the art of Judo would become internationally practiced worldwide.
Jigoro Kano Invents The Martial Arts Kimono
Not only did Jigoro Kano develop Judo, but he also developed the very first martial arts kimono or Gi. To meet the grappling demands of Judo, Kano realized that specialized training clothes needed to be created.
Kano would get inspiration from the heavy hemp jackets that Japanese firemen would wear during the late 1800s. The Judo uniform he created would become known as the “Judogi.”
Martial arts developed later on, like BJJ, Karate, and Sambo, would also adopt variations of the martial arts Gi.
Jigoro Kano’s Professional Life
As mentioned in the previous section, Jigoro Kano was a lifelong educator. The two biggest passions in his life were martial arts and teaching.
Throughout his life, he taught at the most prestigious schools in Japan. Also serving in multiple positions within Japan’s Ministry of Education.
Along with being a lifelong teacher, Kano was also the first Asian member of the International Olympic Committee(IOC). He served on the IOC from 1909 to 1938 and was instrumental in making Judo an official Olympic sport.
The very first Japanese martial art/sport to be given this honor.
Jigoro Kano’s Influence On Other Martial Arts
Not only did Kano create Judo, but his influence had a hand in helping various other martial arts develop. Those other martial arts include Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Sambo, and Karate. Freestyle wrestling would also adopt techniques from Judo.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a direct descendant of Judo and adopted most of its techniques from the martial art. Without the creation of Judo, BJJ would not exist.
Sambo
Sambo is another martial art directly influenced by Jigoro Kano’s martial art. One of the key developers of Sambo, Vasili Oshchepkov, spent years at the Kodokan learning under Kano.
Oshchepkov would take what he learned from Judo to help develop the Russian martial art of Sambo.
Karate
Believe it or not, Jigoro Kano also had a hand in helping Karate become nationally practiced in Japan. Karate co-founder Gichin Funakoshi traveled to Tokyo to do a Karate demonstration in front of the Ministry of Education.
Kano was in attendance for this demonstration and was impressed by what he saw. He would invite Funakoshi to do another Karate demonstration at the Kodokan, which was a big success. Leading to the further growth of Karate within Japan.
Jigoro Kano’s Definition Of Judo
When developing Judo, Jigoro Kano had three ideas in mind for his martial art. He created Judo to encompass self-defense, a physical culture that stressed good health and moral behavior.
“Since the very beginning, I had been categorizing Judo into three parts, rentai-ho, shobu-ho, and shushin-ho. Rentai-ho refers to Judo as a physical exercise, while shobu-ho is Judo as a martial art. Shushin-ho is the cultivation of wisdom and virtue as well as the study and application of the principles of Judo in our daily lives. I therefore anticipated that practitioners would develop their bodies in an ideal manner, to be outstanding in matches, and also to improve their wisdom and virtue and make the spirit of Judo live in their daily lives.
If we consider Judo first as a physical exercise, we should remember that our bodies should not be stiff, but free, quick and strong. We should be able to move properly in response to our opponent’s unexpected attacks. We should also not forget to make full use of every opportunity during our practice to improve our wisdom and virtue. These are the ideal principles of my Judo.”
JIGORO KANO
The Legacy Of Jigoro Kano
Grandmaster Jigoro Kano not only created Judo but also trained how people viewed and practiced martial arts. Modern martial arts would not be as they are today without the work done by Kano.
If you’re a grappling practitioner of any kind, you must pay respect to Jigoro Kano. Because without him, BJJ, Sambo, and even MMA would probably not exist.
The Harai Goshi is one of the core throws within the martial art of Judo. It’s a simple yet powerful throw that is great to add to your grappling game. Here is what you need to know about the famous Judo throw. We’ll review different setups and important tips for hitting the throw. Who Invented […]
The Harai Goshi is one of the core throws within the martial art of Judo. It’s a simple yet powerful throw that is great to add to your grappling game.
Here is what you need to know about the famous Judo throw. We’ll review different setups and important tips for hitting the throw.
Who Invented Harai Goshi?
Harai Goshi was of course, developed by the creator of Judo, Grandmaster Jigoro Kano. It is one of the core hip throws that Judokas must know to advance in belt rank.
When Kano developed the throw, he based it on the same principles as every other technique in the martial art. Using the principles of leverage and timing to execute Harai Goshi.
The throw’s simplicity is what makes the move so effective. So much so that numerous other forms of grappling have adopted Harai Goshi into their martial arts.
Today, there are numerous setups in both the Gi and No-Gi.
How Does Harai Goshi Work?
Like all of the throws within Judo, Harai Goshi functions on the same principles. It’s all about timing, body positioning, and footwork.
For the the throw to work, you must move the opponent forward and get your hips under their hips. When you’re able to pull them off-balance, this gives you the opening to go into the throw.
You get your opponent up and over as they come forward by reaping at or below their knee. When done correctly, your opponent goes over with ease.
Harai Goshi vs. Uchi Mata
Those new to Judo or grappling will often confuse the Harai Goshi with the Uchi Mata. While they have similar setups, there are two big differences between them.
The most obvious one is the legs you sweep. With the Harai Goshi, you sweep the outside leg, while with the Uchi Mata, you sweep the inside leg.
You also step a bit deeper in with the Uchi Mata setup than you do with the Harai Goshi. Both throws complement each other very well, and it would give you an advantage to know them.
It will enable you to create different setups and fakes, going from one throw to the other.
Basic Harai Goshi Set Up
The basic Harai Goshi setup, like all basic Judo throw setups, starts with a collar and sleeve grip. You grab high on your opponent’s collar with one hand, and you grip at their elbow with the other.
Once you get your grips, you start the setup by pulling and lifting your opponent. Each grip will be moving in unison to pull your opponent off-balance.
Your sleeve grip hand lifts their arm up and pulls them forward. Rotating your elbow up is important to give you the opening to step into the throw.
At the same time, you’re also pulling your opponent off balance with your collar grip. Turn your elbow in and punch at a slightly upward angle to the side to knock them off-balance.
The footwork will be a 180-degree pivot where you face your opponent the same way. Step in and turn with your sweeping foot first, with your support foot following behind.
Remember to always step in between your opponent’s feet for this throw. Stepping to the outside is incorrect and will open an easy counter for your opponent.
When you sweep the leg, you must reap/kick at knee level while keeping your toes pointed down.
To complete the throw, you put all of these steps in one swift motion as you continue driving forward.
Harai Goshi Defense Counter
The common defense against Harai Goshi is to drop your hips and lock out your knees. Doing this prevents your opponent from doing the basic setup.
If your opponent does this defense, you can still do an alternate version of the Harai Goshi. You won’t be able to lift your opponent up, so you will have to shift your weight differently.
Connect the calf of your sweeping leg to your opponent’s outside knee to lock it out. Next, instead of trying to lift your opponent, you’re going to make them lean forward and rotate them.
Using your grips to pull them down as you roll to take your opponent over.
No-Gi Harai Goshi
The No-Gi version of Harai Goshi is commonly used in freestyle wrestling and has also proven effective in No-Gi Jiu Jitsu. Since you don’t have a Gi to grab, the gripping will be slightly different.
You start the setup by grabbing a collar tie on your opponent’s head with your backhand. Use this collar tie to pull their head down and take an underhook with your other arm.
Naturally, when you get this collar tie, your opponent is going to lock their elbow in to prevent a go-around. Your free hand will take wrist control on your opponent’s other arm.
Once you get these two points of control, you can go into the steps. Do a back step in and turn while pulling your opponent forward, then sweep below the knee, and complete the throw.
O Soto Gari To Harai Goshi
You can easily set a trap for your opponent by attempting O Soto Gari to get Harai Goshi. Start with a grip on the opponent’s elbow and reach behind their body to grab hold of their belt.
Once you grab these grips, you will quickly step in and hook your leg behind your opponent’s leg. They will instinctively defend O Soto Gari by bracing, creating an opening for your Harai Goshi.
Step your plant foot back between your opponent’s feet as you turn them and throw them over.
Harai Goshi Vs. Dominant Collar Grip
When your opponent takes a dominant high-collar grip, you can use this as an entry into a Harai Goshi variation. Start the setup by blocking the high grip by gripping under the arm.
Next, bring your back elbow up and over your opponent’s arm. Be sure to sink your weight down and grab hold of your own lapel to keep the arm in place.
When you do this, the opponent will try to recover their posture, which gives you the opening for Harai Goshi. Pull their arm down and sweep the leg to complete the throw.
Misdirection Harai Goshi
This Harai Goshi setup has slightly different footwork to create misdirection before attempting the throw. Grab a collar grip with your backhand and step across your body with the same side leg.
This first step is a fake to create misdirection. You’re then going to step back in with your other foot and grab hold of your opponent’s head. Continue breaking their posture by pulling them forward and completing Harai Goshi.
This video shows you the steps for the previous three Harai Goshi variations.
Important Tips For The Harai Goshi
The mechanics for Harai Goshi are simple but must be exact to complete the throw. Here are the important tips to remember.
Sleeve Grip: When you start your Harai Goshi, remember to rotate the elbow of your sleeve grip up. This gives you the opening to step in while lifting your opponent off balance.
Collar Grip: You must turn your collar grip inward while punching at an angle upward. This, along with the pulling of your sleeve grip, helps make your opponent off balance.
Step And Turn: For the footwork, step in and turn with your plant foot following behind.
Stay Between Opponent’s Legs: Always keep your feet in between your opponent’s legs when attempting Harai Goshi or any other hip throw.
Stay On Your Toes: It’s important to stay on the toes of your sweeping leg. Doing this will allow you to execute your throw with more speed.
Don’t Align With Opponent: Never stand directly aligned with your opponent. Always be at an angle and more aligned with their back hip.
Hook Below Knee: Always hook below your opponent’s knee and never above.
Break Opponent’s Posture: For Harai Goshi to work, you must break your opponent’s posture. Pull their head down by pulling their collar or hugging their head.
Get Under Opponent’s Hips: For Harai Goshi and all hip throws, you get your body under your opponent’s hips. Doing this enables you to lift them up and over to complete the throw..
Keep Driving Forward: Remember to keep driving forward until you complete your throw.
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The Harai Goshi is one of the core throws within the martial art of Judo. It’s a simple yet powerful throw that is great to add to your grappling game. Here is what you need to know about the famous Judo throw. We’ll review different setups and important tips for hitting the throw. Who Invented […]