JOSHI JUDO GOSHINHO

(Self-defense Techniques of Kodokan applicable for Women)

1 . Purpose or Practice

Considering the usual constitution and the common character of women, these self-defense techniques have been formalized in order to aim at training the powers of courage, the staid character, demonstrating the decisive ability in time of need, and defending themselves from danger at any moment.

2. Important points for the instruction of Joshi Goshinho

a) It is absolutely necessary for instructors to stress at the beginning of instruction of Joshi Judo Goshinho the purpose of practising Judo which is different from ordinary gymnastics or play. Therefore, instructors have to be very careful and behave themselves properly.

Further, they have to be kind and at the same time stern in giving instructions to their women students.

Instructors should not leave even trifles to chance, otherwise the dignity of Judo cannot be maintained.

b) Everybody has to keep the courteous manner throughout the practice.

c) Because women are apt to be bashful in comparison with men, it is very important for instructors to lead women students to remove bashfulness and behave themselves boldly during the practice.

Instructors have to keep in their mind that their behavior and speech considerably affect women in their behavior.

d) It is very important for instructors to emphasize to their women students that even a delicate woman can control a strong man as far as she concentrates all her attention and strength into her defense against any partial strength of a strong man.

e) Taking the common character of women into consideration, instructors have to lead them to cultivate the quick decisive action in their mind.

f) Instructors should not stare at a same woman student because it embarrasses her and interrupts her from concentrating her attention into the practice. Further, it impairs the dignity of not only instructors but also Judo itself.

g) The appropriate method of proper and effective instruction is to guide women students to acquire the manipulative and speedy body movement in order to improve the skill of body movement.

After then, lead them to apply the manipulative and speedy body movement to the escaping techniques in regular sequence.

Instruction of the self-defense techniques with counter attacks (Seigoho) should not be given to women students unless they have acquired properly the escaping techniques (Ridatsuho).

If women who have not acquired the skill of body movement and the escaping techniques, start from the very beginning practising the self-defense techniques with counter attacks, they cannot defend themselves against their opponents' attacks.

While, they might be injured by their opponents owing to their insufficient skill. When the writer travelled abroad, many women used to ask him the best self-defense for women.

He used to reply "Take off your high heel shoes and hold your handbag under your right armpit, then turn around backwards. Run as fast as possible.''

He means that it is, of course, important for women to acquire the self-defense techniques, however, it is much more important for them to be always careful in order to avoid any danger.

There is an inheritant proverb among the Asians that the wise man or woman does not court danger.


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