About PCHJC
Pearl City Hongwanji Judo Club has been established for over 50 years and is registered with the United States Judo Federation (USJF). Judo is an Olympic sport and a high school sport in Hawai'i. Our family at PCHJC is always looking forward to seeing new people come learn about judo and are ready to help no matter what skill level you begin with. We highly encourage all members of our club to participate in the monthly state tournaments that are open to all skill levels and ages.
Why Us
Pearl City Hongwanji is a competitive club where we dedicate ourselves to keep working towards being the best version of ourselves. Our philosophy is that learning judo goes beyond the dojo; the knowledge you gain from practicing judo can be applied to all other parts of your life and can help you be great outside of judo.
Why Join Judo
Judo is many things to different people. It is a fun sport, an art, a discipline, a recreational / social activity, a fitness program, a means of self defense or combat, and a way of life. It is all this and much more. Judo develops self-discipline and respect for oneself and others. Judo provides the means for learning self-confidence, concentration and leadership skills as well as physical coordination, power and flexibility.
About Judo
What is Judo
Judo is a tremendous and dynamic combat sport that demands both physical prowess and great mental discipline. From a standing position, it involves techniques that allow you to lift and throw your opponents onto their backs. On the ground, it includes techniques that allow you to pin your opponent’s down to the ground, control them, and apply various chokeholds or joint locks until submission.
The practice of judo promotes teamwork, leadership and self confidence; it can also help prevent issues such as bullying, harassment, aggression and discrimination. Judo develops discipline, manners, punctuality, strength, stamina, perseverance, tenacity, and toughness. Judo builds healthy and strong muscles and improves cardio.
Judo Moral Code
The Judo Moral Code is a set of ethics created by the sport’s founder Jigoro Kano. He believed they were vital in the development of judo players and individuals both on and off the mat. The code itself is made up of 8 parts: Courtesy, Courage, Friendship, Honesty, Honor, Modesty, Respect, Self-Control
Why Judo is Good for Children
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Judo is the safest contact sport for children under 13 years of age.
(Source: American College of Sports Medicine)
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Judo is the best training sport for children from 5 to 12 years of age.
(Source: World Health Organization)
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Judo is the second most complete sport that exists.
(Source: International Olympic Committee, 2000)
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Judo is the best initial sport to train children and young people from 4 to 21 years of age.
(Source: UNESCO 2017)
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Judo is, after rowing, a physical exercise with the highest calorie consumption: 363 calories for 30 minutes.
(Source: World Health Organization)
Why Judo
1. Belts and Ranking: Belts are a great way to help children track their progress and motivate them to strive higher. Belts and ranking may help build the child’s confidence and their desire to succeed. In many cases the first belt promotion can be attained in few weeks and when children obtain that first belt, it shows them that with the right motivation, they can succeed. 2. Self-Confidence: As children become more skillful their confidence gets increased significantly. They become more self-assured and confident. 3. Exercise: Class will often be comprised of warm-up calisthenics, teaching and practicing of moves. The warm up and practice include the bulk of the time, and for that time your child will be constantly on the go. The workout each child gets will not only assist in the natural development of his/her muscles, but also help them build stronger Cardio-Vascular systems. 4. Emphasis on Individual Achievement within a positive peer group setting: In judo, each child’s success is based on his or her own individual qualities. Knowing that their own ambition and hard work will drive them to succeed, they will be motivated to follow their dreams. Also, judo is one of the few sports that individuals can only improve through the positive interaction and training with others. 5. Discipline: There is constant repetition in drills and practices with emphasis on details and rhythm. Moves are practiced and repeatedly. This instruction instills the benefits of frequent practice, and the patience in self- development to achieve a goal. Through this process, children are taught to respect one another, their opponents and colleagues, and how to play games fair and square. 6. Gender Equity: Many parents consider martial arts for their sons, not nearly as many would consider it for their daughters. However, judo is one of the few sports where both boys and girls can play together. In fact, female judo players in the United States tend to have greater competitive success internationally than their male counterparts. 7. Respect for Strength: A question parents often have when they send their kids to judo class is: “Is my child going to use this to hurt others?” Although this is a legitimate concern, it is always addressed early by instructors who remind students that the techniques they learn in the dojo stay in the dojo and should not be used to intimidate people. As children learn the ropes, they will learn to respect their newfound strength and techniques.
More Than a Sport
The word judo consists of two Japanese characters, ju, which means "gentle," and do, which means "the way." Judo, therefore, literally means the way of gentleness. But, beyond the development of physical prowess and athletic ability, judo students learn much more. They learn how to control their feelings, emotions, and impulses though the judo moral code. They learn about values of perseverance, respect, loyalty, and discipline. Through their experience, they learn about politeness, modesty, and many other wonderful values that contribute to their development as successful citizens of society.
Credits to: USA Judo https://www.usajudo.com/getting-started/what-is-judo
History of Judo
Kanō Jigorō
In 1882, Jigoro Kano founded the Kodokan Judo Institute in Japan. Kano, a martial arts enthusiast and educator, sought to create a modern martial art that integrated the best techniques of jujitsu with a focus on physical education and character development. The Kodokan became the center of Judo’s development, attracting students who would later become influential leaders and promoters of the sport. Kano’s systematic instruction, grading system, and focus on Randori (free practice) and Kata (formal exercises) contributed to Judo’s distinct identity. He emphasized the principle of “maximum efficiency with minimum effort” and “mutual welfare and benefit,” which remain central tenets of Judo today.
Credits to: Sports Foundation
Small and bullied by his classmates, Jigoro Kano wanted to strengthen his body and learn to defend himself. He studied Jujutsu but soon realized that the fight focused on a powerful body and not on the spiritual and educational dimension of people. Kano removed the dangerous Jujutsu techniques, by improving the art of falling. He imposed that both fighters grab each other and created his own method by synthesizing the oldest forms of defence. In 1882, he opened a dojo that he called the Kodokan, the "Place where the way is studied".
Judo techniques were divided into three categories: throws or nage waza, controls or katame waza and kicks or atemi waza. In competition, atemi waza are not allowed.
Judo is taught through randori, free practice, kata, imposed forms, and mondo, exchanges based on the values, the philosophy or any subject related to judo, between the students and their teacher.
The emblem of the Kodokan is an octagonal mirror, the symbol of truth, the central red circle expressing a right and sincere spirit.
In 1922, Kano created the Cultural Society of the Kodokan. He writes the two maxims that define the philosophy of his method: Seiryoku zenyo ("The best use of energy") and Jita Kyoei ("Mutual welfare and benefit").
In 1909, Kano was appointed to the International Olympic Committee. He became the first IOC Asian member and devoted his life to the development of education through judo and through sports in Japan and around the world.
Official sporting events started to take place in the early 20th century. And was in Germany on August 11th, 1932, that the European Judo Union was created. The first European Championships were held in Dresden in 1934. The Kano Method was chosen as a demonstration sport for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1940, which never took place because of the Second World War. It was not until the 1964 Olympic Games that judo officially entered the Olympic programme.
The Judo of Kano: Philosophy and Education
Kodokan Judo
Judo as a Sport
Credits to: International Judo Federation