UWA Judo Club

OUR CLASSES

⭐ Kinder Judo (3-5 years)

Classes focus on fun, movement-based activities that lead towards the judo fundamentals of break falling, judo hold-downs and throws. These activities aim to build gross motor skills, strengthen core muscles and acclimatise children to the structure of a judo class in readiness for the 6 – 9 year old Junior Judo sessions.

⭐ Junior Judo (6-9 Years)

Suits all levels from ages 6 upwards. This class focuses on fun-packed activities to develop fundamental skills, judo-specific techniques, break falls and social skills. Coaches work with students to develop the life values of fair play, respect, friendship, responsibility and knowledge.

⭐ Junior Judo (10+ Years)

Junior Judo classes 10 years and older build on the fundamental skills that have been taught in the 6-9 year Junior Judo classes. Classes are fun and action-packed, with children progressing onto more complex judo techniques as they become increasingly proficient in the sport.

⭐ Junior Judo (Competition)

For children who are interested in learning competitive judo techniques.

Parents are welcome to train with their children at ‘Family Friendly’ sessions held each Sunday. Conditions apply, please discuss with the club before you attend.

⭐ Beginner Teen and Senior Judo

Suitable for teenagers and adults, safety is paramount in this class. Students learn the essential basics of ukemi (break falls – front, side, back and rolling) to ensure they do not get injured whilst being thrown. Once ukemi has been mastered, they will progress to learning fundamental throwing techniques in addition to ground grappling techniques.

THE CLUB

Established in 1988 and with one of the largest permanently sprung tatami mat areas in Australia, the UWA Judo Club caters for students and the community interested in the Olympic sport of judo and other grappling and submission sports.

Our international standard judo training helps students to develop good judo skills, self-defence skills, fitness and confidence in a social, inclusive and respectful environment.

Our mission is to provide a “Centre of excellence for judo that will inspire the development of youth, nurture individual wellbeing, stimulate community harmony and encourage international understanding”.

We are an inclusive club who strongly encourage and welcome people from all diversities and backgrounds.

THE HISTORY OF JUDO

Modern Judo has its origins in jujitsu, a fighting art that can be traced back over a thousand years into Japanese history. Judo itself, however, is a relatively recent synthesis and owes its existence to the genius of one man: Dr. Jigoro Kano, a Japanese educator.

Kano, born in 1860, resolved to improve himself by studying at two jujitsu schools, and soon realised that each school had its strengths and weaknesses. Because it was difficult to practice without injury, he began to reconstruct jujitsu. As he states, “…by taking together all the good points I had learned from the various schools and adding thereto my own devices and inventions, I founded a new system for physical culture and mental training.” Kano called his new system Kodokan Judo to differentiate it from the jujitsu forms. Kodokan generally means “a school for studying the way”, “the way” being the concept of life itself, with judo meaning “the gentle way”.

Judo emphasizes “Maximum Efficiency with Minimum Effort”, by using an opponent’s weight and strength while preserving your own mental and physical energy. In a judo match, a slight person can overcome a heavier, stronger opponent with proper technique. There are no kicks or punches. Instead, players score points by throwing their opponent or by using submission techniques.

Judo is a mental discipline as well as a physical one, as the second judo principle being “Mutual Welfare and Benefit”. Kano stated that “physical education should train the body to be strong, healthy and useful in actual life and also make a contribution to the culture of the mind.” His system of judo is just that.