Description

A Judo 6th Dan and European Silver medalist, Aikido 4th Dan, and boxing champion, Danny’s vast martial arts experience combines into a fighting style he calls Shinjido, or ‘Danny’s way’. On this DVD Danny shows Shinjido techniques devised for use in competitive Judo and self defence situations.Shinjido has much to offer the judoka. Approached with an open mind it can provide a springboard for endless innovation. Shinjido is not meant to replace sport Judo, far from it. Shinjido is designed to compliment Judo. However it is not so much a matter of “thinking outside of the box” but rather casting the box away altogether. We start with two questions. (1) What are the objectives of Judo (throws, hold downs, submissions) and (2) What are the rules of the game? Starting with a blank sheet lends itself to innovation, encouraging the judoka to develop an individual style. If you have not attended a Shinjido seminar before, you are going to be amazed at the variety of skills that can be produced once you start thinking outside the box.Gravity Assisted Power – GAP This is the predominate principle that distinguishes Shinjido from other throwing arts. It is helpful to use Judo as a comparison although the principle is equally valid for self defenseThe power for a Judo throw requires substantial muscular effort.Kano(the founder of judo) described Judo as “the gentle way”. If you watch judo competition, particularly at international level, you would hardly describe it as gentle. Something has been lost in translation. A more accurate description, also used byKanowas “maximum effect with minimum force”. HoweverKanodid not regard judo simply as a sport and some of the techniques today would hardly be recognized by him as judo.A throw can be broken down to 3 elements of which the first is Tsukuri or breaking balance. Geof. Gleason, British Judo’s first full time professional coach, described Ttsukuri in more detail: “the action done by Tori (the thrower) to make Uki (the recipient) move in the direction of the throw. It can be done many ways, using body weight, hand action, using Uke’s (uncontrolled) body weight….” The second element is Kuzushi or the thrower positioning their own body in preparation of the completing the throwing action. The final element is the throwing action that completes Uki’s downfall. In reality the three elements that constitute a throw are likely to merge into one continuous action . The preparation for a throw i.e. Tsukuri or balance breaking may on occasion be subtle but the driving force that makes the throw work, is anything but. The power is most frequently derived from a driving leg. Therefore a forward throw becomes the most difficult direction to throw because Tori (the thrower) must turn 180 degrees and place their driving leg behind them. The further back they place the driving leg, the more powerful the action will be. Uki will seek to prevent this by blocking with an outstretched arm or thrusting his hip forward on the side being attacked. Tai toshi, Seionage, Harai goshi, Uchimata are just a few examples of forward throws that require the action of a driving legThe other major use of muscular power is in a throw that requires a lifting action such as Ogoshi, Uranage, Katagaruma etc. Both the lifting and the driving action oppose the force of gravity. To be effective they require much skill in reducing the effect of gravity through initially unbalancing the opponent – Tsukuri and Kuzushi.The Shinjido approach is to join with the force of gravity, applying body weight directly down. The power required is not so much a muscular force. It is effortless power created by moving the body mass and adding your weight to the opponent. Tsukuri or balance breaking is still required but not to the same degree as a judo throw. Consider this, an upright body can only lean forward about 10 degrees before it needs to take a step or fall. Because Judo requires muscular effort, at the application stage there is a good deal of muscle tension. With Shinjido, the emphasis is on remaining as relaxed as possible, which allows the application of more weight. This is a very efficient way to make a throw. The most remarkable first impression is that the throw seemed effortless both for Tori and Uki.