|
Bulletin 15 part 2 The Gleeson Controversy Revisited - Antun Sisgoreo
I have always found Geoff Gleeson’s vilification of uchi komi at odds with the fact that uchi komi to this day, is practiced all over the world, by all level of judoka.
Because of Gleeson’s obvious brilliance I could not simply discard his claims as incompetent. Yet I felt that something was amiss. Intuitively I knew that uchi komi can be useful. In my own uchi komi practice, at times I felt that it was definitely beneficial to my technique. At other times it felt that I could repeat a certain waza in uchi komi a million times, and I still would not be able to pull it off in randori (let alone shiai).This led to a realization that perhaps there were two types of uchi komi: GOOD and BAD (or right and wrong). Could it be that in his zeal to I think that is exactly what happened. Could it be that in his zeal to eradicate
all the wrong things he saw happening in judo, Geoff Gleeson may have made a mistake and gone too far?
Today I conclude that by saying “…not only will uchi komi not help to improve the skill of throwing, but will actually hinder any improvement", Gleeson threw out the baby with the bath water. In reality, it is only BAD uchi komi that will not improve the skill, and will hinder improvement. On the other hand, to paraphrase Yasuhiro Yamashita, “(Good) Uchi Komi is the backbone of the training process for any judo throw." Recently I stumbled upon an old article on judo training by Trevor P. Leggett, which seems to confirm this view. Instead of good and bad uchi komi, Legget uses the terms “alive” and “dead” movement. Here is what Legget has to say about uchi komi (aka butsukari)
“To get this feeling of live movement is one of the points of butsukari, and I might say here that some of the Budokwai members stop the butsukari movement too soon. It must be carried up to the point of kuzushi, when you can throw your opponent by the slightest twist of the loins. If it is cut short before that, the practice may simply degenerate into "dead" movement. You must get the feel of the moment of kuzushi, when, as they say, his toenails begin to scrape the ground. It is the lively attention directed towards this tiny moment that brings butsukari out of the category of dead movement. … "Live movement" is one of the most valuable things judo can give to its students’” From Budokwai Quarterly Bulletin, January 1951 To fully understand Leggett’s concept of live vs. dead movement, I highly recommend one reads this most excellent article in its entirety:
http://ejmas.com/jcs/jcsleggett_livemovement.htm
On a side note, it should be noted that Legget was Gleeson’s sensei/mentor. Also, at the latter parts of their lives, the two men headed in two opposite directions (philosophically). Gleeson headed aggressively towards the West, while Legget went towards the East - Far East. The implications of all this are numerous, and far reaching, but those we can discuss later … at this moment let’s stick to uchi komi | |
|
Time Tunnel - An Unpunctual Bulletin CLUB NEWS—From AN old Budokwai Bulletin of April 1947. This is interesting both in terms of the humour of late Bulletins and also in terms of the comparison between the spreading nature of the affiliated clubs and the general propagation of Judo with the Budokwai at a central pivotal point. A marked difference from the current position when Judo has declined and the emphasis has shifted very much away from the Budokwai who has rested too long on the laurels of the past, whilst the midlands and Wolverhampton have had their periods in the leading position. AN UNPUNCTUAI. BULLETIN. The Editor has beer told off by the Assistant Secretary because the April Bulletin did not appear until the first week in May. While admitting that Fuel Crisis might have been beyond the power of even the Budokwai to sort out, the Ass Secretary points out that it is the practice of many members pay for their Bulletins in advance. When the weeks go by and no Bulletin appears suspicions arise in their minds and letters begin to arrive inquiring whether postal orders and cheques have been safely received. This necessitates a reply and the affixing to the envelope of a 2 1/2d stamp, a deplorable waste of secretarial time and Club funds. The Editor wishes to apologize for the unpunctuality of the last number and to explain that the Bulletin is due to appear it the end of the month shown on the cover, If, however, there should be another crisis of a kind which might upset the Printer’s time-table, members are asked to be kind enough to wait patiently and their copies will be sent to them as soon as possible. GUESTS FROM FRANCE Among the guests from abroad whom we have been delighted to welcome have been M. de Herdt, who has since won the French Judo championship, and M. Beaujean. both of the jui-Jitsu Club de France Mlle, Jano Henroteau, of Le Stade de Jui-Jitsu, and Mlle. Claude Meuniez, of the St. Lazare Jui-Jitsu Club. Some reflections on French and English Judo styles, inspired by Mlle. Meuniez visit, appear on p. 25. Following her return to France, the St Lazare Club has invited any members of the Budokwai who happen to be in Paris to visit the Club premises at 7, rue du Cardinal Mercier, Paris 9. AFFILIATED CLUBS The Budokwai is beginning to resemble the hen whose out stretched wings can no longer cover her lusty brood. Hardly one more name of an affiliated club can be squeezed on to the inside of the back cover, and we are happily looking forward to an overflow on to the outside as well News from affiliated clubs and from members and friends of the Budokwai, wherever they may he is one of the most valued features of the Bulletin, and all are invited to send in an scraps of news or information which they think might interest other members. A good harvest has been gathered together in this number and we hope that there may be an even bigger one in the next. News from the affiliated clubs is already so voluminous that it appears in this number as a separate feature under the title ‘Family Affairs.’ THE BUDOKWAI ABROAD A Budokwai team visited Holland during the latter part of April to demonstrate Judo to the Dutch Forces. A spirited account of this tour by Lt Thieme, who organised it appears on p. 7. Mr. Sekine, who was a member of the team, managed also to work in a trip to Paris during which he, visited a number of French clubs with M. Sauveniére. of the Union des Sports de Combat. M Sauveniere writes that while spme French Judoka are extolling M Sekine as a teacher others are trying to discover the secret of his tai-otoshi. Several other French Judoka have expressed appreciation of M. Sekine’s visit, but as the injuries he received in Paris prevented him from completing the demonstration in Holland, we must ask our French colleagues not to smash up our members next time - at least not when they are due to take part in demonstrations. News has been received from two other members who arc upholding the traditions of the club in other countries
| |
|
KANO SOCIETY SPRING KATA COURSE At Epsom Judo Club Address: Sleeping Storm Dojo, Hook Road, Epsom, Surrey KT19 8TU Date: TBA Time: The course will focus on the Kime-no-Kata which is of interest to both Judo and Aikido players and also to other disciplines of Martial Artists. It has been described as a self-defence kata which among other applications, was also used to train Tokyo police. The Kata was developed by Professor Tomiki. Course Instructor John Cornish. John Cornish 7th Dan is a BJA Kata examiner. A former Judo Kodokan Kenshusei who trained in Aikido under Ueshiba and studied the Go-Shin-Jutsu directly under Tomiki. Price: £15 Reduced Price for Students and Kano Society Members - £10 Please sign up via the website or write to us PO Box 45408; London SE26 6WG; enclosing cheque payable to Kano Society. Please see website for map and further details. Our host at Epsom is Adrian Tyndale |
The Richard Bowen Collection
In 1949, Richard Bowen began judo training in London at the Budokwai, of which became Vice-President. He lived in Japan for four years to deepen his studies. A former British International, he fought in the first ever World Judo Championships in Japan in 1956. He was the author of more than eighty articles. Richard Bowen built up an extensive Judo Library in the course of research for his articles and books, and he kindly donated it to the University of Bath Library. Items in the collection are for reference use only (not available for loan). Items can be viewed between 9am-5pm. If you would like to look at an item from The Richard Bowen Collection, please contact the Subject Librarian, Peter Bradley. +44 1225 384784 A copy of the video ‘An Interlude with Richard Bowen’ has also been donated to the collection. |
|
Martial Arts and Zen Titles Available from www.Dial-Media.com Or email the Kano Society at sensei@kanosociety.org Videos and DVDs NEW - ‘An Interlude with Richard Bowen’ - NEW DVD or VHS 35mins £10 donation plus p&p | |
|
All above titles £10 donation each plus p&p Tapes by Trevor Leggett (Proceeds to charity) |
|
|
Coming soon
- Gunji Koizumi; Go-shin jutsu; Nagenokata Teizo Kawamura technique and Gokyo - 55 mins - £15 donation plus p&p An Englishwoman in Japan - Sarah Meyer and Ichiro Hatta - Based on letters to Gunji Koizumi - 15 mins - £10 donation plus p&p Budokwai advert 90 secs clip £3 donation Allan Zipeure Judo Man at 90 £10 donation Len Hunt – Judo Newaza Legend VHS or DVD 35mins £15 donation plus p&p (Proceeds to charity) ORDER |
|
|
|
