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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (July 10, 1960)
SUNDAY. JULY 10, 1.80 8 A. MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, ORE. Popularity off Little-ECnown Sport Doorcases trTii,,iB,MJfc,-.. t 1 ' ' "J. ... F vi- WHOOPSI Wondering just exactly what has happened is Instructor Tom Ball Jr., head of the Medford Judo academy, who has been flipped by his sister,. 17-year-old Stephanie Ball. Ball, a senior at Southern Oregon college with a science major, is re ferred to as a "Second degree black belt" instructor. The white judo jacket shown is standard as is the black belt. By noticing the color of a judoist's belt, one is able to tell his experience. The darker the belt the more experince. Actually, Ball confirms, it doesn't hurt him to fall as he is doing, since the fall is half of the judo and ju-jitsu skill. Being able to fall and roll is about as easy as sitting down in a chair, he adds. (Nolte photo) Local Judo Academy Holds Classes on Regular Schedule By JIM FRAKE Mail Tribune) Stalf Writer America's security is suid to lie in the strength of lis people. Perhaps one yardstick to measure tills strength is In the physical power of the common man. Most authorities will agree that participation in sports and athletics is the key to physical fitness. Activities that one may indulge in include golf, tennis, track, football, bas ketball, wrestling, swimming, baseball, and many others. Probably the least known sport or activity in this area is judo and ju-jitsu. instructed locally by Tom Ball Jr., and ins assistants, Larry Nolte and Mike Bryne. Many Introduced to Sport Many people have been introduced o this sport, and weapon, and at the same time assisted in the time of need. Besides being a spectator sport, judo has three distinct uses off the mat for self protection, for protection of others, and for when odds are uneven, according to Ball. Ball and his colleagues operate under the title of the Med ford Judo academy currently holding its meetings on the front lawn at the home of its head, Tom Ball, Jr. When inves tigating the movements of the academy, one is cautioned that tne seating capacity at the forested location is not too great, and is advised to await the opening of their new gymnasium at Phoenix in a couple of weeks. Nevertheless, judo and -ju-jitsu are currently being recog nized as an up-and-coming activity and with simple under standing most sports-minded citizens can realize the value ana oenetits of it. DIVE Shown taking a dive for the mat Is Larry Nolte (left) who has just been thrown by Mike Byrne, both active par ticipants at the Medford Judo Academy. Also wrestling are Ben Graves (right, fac ing camera) and Dr. P. H. Rutter. The toss itself is called the "Seoi Nagie." Note the stance which is used for the throw. (Nolte photo) i i 1 , 1 MAY I HAVE THIS DANCE? Either trying out a new dance step or advocating 20th century togetherness are Lar ry Nolte (left) and Tom Ball Jr., both members of the Med ford Judo academy. They are pictured in the defense posi tion for a stomach bump call ed the Saganuki. This is one of the many different parts and phases of judo and ju Jltsu. ....... (-Nolle photo) UPSIDE DOWNI Being thrown upside down by Tom Ball is Larry Nolte. The picture shows typically how a judo ex pert may toss his opponent quickly and with considerable ease. On the other hand, if the one being thrown knows the skills of judo, he can fall and roll without being injured. By hitting the mat or ground with certain precautions, the taller will actually not feel it any more than he would by sitting down easy in a chair. (Nolte photo) 17-Year-Old Remandc1 To District Court A 17-year-old Central Pol boy was ordered remanded district court following a ji venile court hearing Friday, according to Mrs. Kay Crow- ell, juvenile department director. The youth was remanded on .Iglnal charges of violation f probation. The district at orney will have to make out a new complaint charging for gery, it was explained. The youth was arrested by sheriff's deputies and admit ted forging checks. Actually, one skilled in the arts of ju-jitsu is able to sub due an attacker without kill ing, maiming, or injuring him People throughout the United States as well as the world are finding this out every day. Although it is possible to kill a man, or seriously injure him, judo is not designed for that purpose. Simply the Japanese art of self defense, judo has devel oped from exclusive military use by the Chinese and Japa nese empires during the Chris tian era. It's history is declar ed a long and honorable one. Judo is said to date back over 4,000 years and its arts have not changed significantly. No doubt the unenlightened would hesitate to associate the sport and the techniques they teach with gentleness. To the casual and uninformed observ er, it actually looks rough. On the contrary, judo literally means "the gentle way." Meaning of Judo Broken down, ju means gen tle or to give way; do means way or principle. Thus, judo indicates the gentle way or the principle of giving way. As the president of the American Judo and Ju-jitsu federation puts it: "Judo is one of the mildest and gentlest sports I know. There are few er persons injured practicing judo than any other sport that I can name unless perhaps it be possibly chess or cross word puzzles." Many people consider judo "bone - shattering," although the experts claim it is a clean, safe sport. Besides, the partic ipants say it is even "fun." Ex perts testify that a throw re ceived by a judo expert is about as rough as sitting down easy in a chair. What is the difference be tween judo and ju-jitsu? Is judo the same as ju-jitsu, or is ju-jitsu a form of judo? Difference Noted ' Technically, judo is to ju jitsu as baseball is to sports. Ju-jitsu, being a large group of skills and meaning perfec tion, includes judo, karate (self defense arts of the empty hand), savate (french foot fighting), kendo (sword and quarter-staff), kapo (resusci tation arts), and lomi-lomi (Hawaiian foot massage). Judo itself has some 3,000 arts which each have about IS var iations, according to the local participants. According to the local in structor, there are some 40 arts of judo to perfect while still being classified as a be ginner. Following perfection of these arts the judo student is considered a "green belt" student. While watching a judo dem onstration or match, one may observe that there are differ ent colors of belts worn by the contestants. They may be white, green, brown, or black, with many degrees of color range in between. By just ob serving this difference a spec tator can judge the experience and skill of the participant. Color Is Symbol The belt itself Is called a "obi" (oh-bee), and is used to secure the judo jacket. The color is an outward symbol of the student's rank. Theoret ically, the darker the belt, the more experienced the wearer. Beginners wear a white bell; they are then called white belt participants. Be fore advancement they must prove their skill and per fection of form. Among other arts to perfect are the yawara (hand arts) and the nago no kata (throw ing arts). The next step is the green belt rank. Completion ui inese requirements take an average of three months of hard training. To become a brown belt participant, as well as higher ranks, is not as easy as the bystander may imagine, the local group points out. Be cause a person's rank symbol izes experience and skill, the different degrees or ranks arc not given casually. Following the green belt rank, the stu dent advances through three degrees or brown belt, rang ing from third to first. Black belt participants are consid ered the elite and most skilled. There are 10 degrees of black belt, with titles to go along with them. Students ranking first and second degree black belt are considered instruc tors; those with three degree black belts, masters; and those boasting fourth through 10th degree black belts, professors. Tom Ball Jr., is a second de gree black belt and qualifies as an instructor. Ball has gone through judo training at Chico State college. Nolte is a first degree brown belt, and Byrne, a green belt. It should bo noted that thesu ranks lira Just for Judo and not (or Ju-jitsu. It Is also Im portant to realize that upon advancement, a Judo student Is responsible for his own con duct on or off the mat, as he symbolizes the elite. Besides this, ho Is responsi ble for tho conduct of the oth er students who are his equal or below him In rank; there fore the higher the rating the greater the responsibility. Perilitent Practice Bull has emphasized that continual and persistent prac tice is important. Also basic is strength and employing regu larly calisthenics. It has been snicf that when u student has performed an art one thou sand times, he may begin to understand 1 1, physically. This however, does not neces sarily imply that he will also understand all of the princi ples behind the art. In learning judo, tho stu dent first starts with mat eti quette and the basic judo roll and full. One of the next steps is to learn "yawara," n system of hand arts and escapes. The philosophy behind judo nas been called unique and complicated, although it Is really using the opponent's weight and size to the other's advantage. The ways of giv ing way in order to gain ulti mate vlotory are numerous; however, all are keyed to the principle of seeming to give in to the opponent and his wishes, while at the same time utilizing his efforts and energies to gain victory and aid the defendant's aims. Having learned to roll and full satisfactorily, the student then practices various arts of throwing. Throughout tho In struction, safety and sports manship ore emphasized. In mastering the various arts of choking, throwing, and holding there are specific and individual fundamentals that have to be perfected, accord lug to Ball. Perhaps two of the most common and important phases of Judo are "kata" and "ran dorl." Kata is considered the formal practice of judo, while randori is the Judo contest. Kata, being also the basis of knowledge on or perfection of form, is named one of the most enjoyable parts of judo since, in it, ideas are tried out, many questions asked, and specific results are estimated. In kata, the student learns step by step the why's and how's of each judo fundamental. The students learn the rela tionships of one art to an other and how to employ their basic skills to Improvise when such nn improvisation Is need ed. Heflexes urn formed III kata so emergency , actions during a match will come nut n rally, After complete com prehension, the judo student then progresses Into tho art and practice of randori. Hundorl Is defined us a free style of practice In which the students attempt to defeat ouch other by the use of throws, chokes, hold-downs, locks and burs. This practice, although It may sound rough, Is declared relaxing and en joyable. Any actions which are dangerous or harmful are outlawed. The mental process in randori is Important and success depends much on how the knowledge Is used. Bull explains that randori Is much like a game of chess, the object being not so much to win, but to outmummver and outhink tho rival. Too, the participants are usually of equal physical power and may bo reasonably equal In knowl edge of the arts. The way that they use this knowledge Is the important thing in randori. ftundori, of course, can bo In volved If the mental gymnas tics used are considered. When a throwing urt Is ex ecuted, the person is actually tripped. The thrown student will protect himself by going into a full which consists of a continuous series of actions that can be explained as "es tablished" physical laws. They are, and appear to be, natural. When a student lands on the mat or ground ho Isn't hurt because he Is positioned prop erly and relaxed. A judo mutch Is similar to a wrestling match, although somewhat mora technical and psychological. For partici pants under the black belt de gree, they last three minutes. For black belters, they arc five minutes. Ball advises that one point wins the match. This Is gained by n good, clean throw or complete control of the mat. If neither ot the par ticipants scores in the ullotcd time, the match may be judged on technique or may be extended for another min ute. As in elaborate wrestling, bowing Is a part of formal Judo. This Is a sign of respect. In discussing regional judo and Ju-jitsu activity, Ball noted that there are judo academies in Salem, Ore., and Dorris, Yrcko, and Arcadia, Calif. During this month there is to be a judo mutch in Oak- hind. Local piii-llclpallon ranges from 2! to ;it) men and women from IS years of ago up. Ways Coniklered Hull emphasizes that Judo nnd Ju-JII.su can be considered in three ways-as a manner of defense, as a sport, and us ul timate perfection. Tho local group advocates also tho de velopment of the body, the mind, and the spirit. Hall adds that courtesy, confidence, anil consideration are, also ob served. Basically, character build ing is a chief goal or ulm of Judo participants or "Judo kus," tho technical name for contestants. It Is a nwYiil ob ligation and duly of each Ju Jlt.su and Judo participant to live up to these standards, Dull stresses. Locally, Medford residents have had Judo training of fered to them for about u year and a half. The Medford nead emy's officers Include Hall, ni president; Nolle, as treasurer; and llyrne, as secretary. An administrating council consist! of Hie officers plus Dr. P. H. Holler, I'hoenlx. Nationally. Judo Interest has -Increased dynamically In Ilia last few years with tint Amer ican Judo and Ju-JllHii federa tion being founded In 11)20. Tom Hull Jr., Larry Nolle, and Mlko llyrne are handing a stuff of athletes whu are on gaged In one of tho most un usual mid interesting activi ties available In the liogua valley; one that Is easily rec ognized us one of Importance and value. Proof lies In the) activities of Hie Medford Judo academy. It Is this strength of the) American pcoplo that la 10 desired. Now yon may charge money at "Monoyland"... THE ONE-STOP STORE FOR TOUR MONET NEEDS! Ym, now there's financial store where you may charge money bout like charging i hat or a pair of shoes in a regular department store! 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You will get the facts, and you will get the drama, color, and humor. .Z:tL., MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE
