JUDO FOR LIFE PROF. Marcelo Ehrlich

JUDO FOR LIFE

Prof. Marcelo Ehrlich

Hello friends readers of the Martial Arts magazine "El Camino". In this note for the month of December, we will refer to what some call "Extreme Judo". And I want you to keep in mind that in these notes, I always contribute my personal vision, not only of Judo, Jiu Jitsu, but of Martial Arts, combat sports and combat systems, based on my experience, knowledge, continuous practice and an open mind for the constant evolution. I understand that what we can develop with the mechanics of our movements is limited by physical, energetic, structural forces of our bodies and that we must make the most of these circumstances, for the best result sought (which can be various objectives). If my goal is sports/competitive Judo, I stick to a competitive regulation, which It establishes what I can and cannot do, it protects me from everything it forbids! Me training aimed at that objective, is more than studied and maximized, to do what is allowed, without harming the rival and within what is morally established. The search of not harming the opponent is an obvious and legal rule, injuring to obtain the victory over my rival, it is not necessary and I would go against the Spirit of Judo .. I train myself not to commit mistakes that impair my performance towards sporting victory. Everything within the rules, nothing outside! Today in sports Judo, I cannot execute locks or strangulations while standing up. Any of these ways and throwing the opponent to the ground, could seriously injure him. I can agree with that, or not, but the rules are clear and I can lose a fight for breaking the rules and thus the opportunity for medals, trophies, or rankings official international for my country. A few years ago it could be done, not now and I must abide these modifications or lose fights and chances of sporting triumph. Today technology is at the service of the administration of sports matches, I have access to repetition of conflicting or difficult-to-assess situations, which was previously subjective in a penalty or win decision, it is now instantly checked and awarded a target failure. Violations are seen, penalties are awarded, judgments of the referees, technical scores and violations of the regulations are modified, the administration of Justice is more objective and impartial. Of course, sports/ competitive Judo is much more advanced, fair, rational and professional, than many other combat sports, in terms of regulation of competitions, number of competitors, documentation requirements, registration, weighins, regulations, professionalization and training of people who work in the development of the championships, giving guarantee to all, in their development. From a simple championship at Club level, regional, friendly or official, national or international, has qualified personnel (table and weighing officials, referees, delegates, doctors, etc.) and the necessary tools, for the excellent performance of the activity sports, which guarantees transparency, objectivity and professionalism. everything is digitized, the competition braces are armed objectively, they are known with prior to the competition and are placed everywhere so that they are public knowledge and all precautions are taken. Schedules are respected and everything is on time. view of the public on digital panels so that everyone knows who is competing, the times of each combat, the scores, penalties and wins/losses. guarantees of good proceed! Those who are involved in this sporting dynamic see that it is becoming more professional, higher performance, athletes and

coaches, of the best level, all aiming to be in a ranking national and international sports that opens the doors to higher levels of demand competitive. This is one of the examples of an extreme Judo, the development of an empowered Judo to give the best as a competitor, leaving aside, everything that cannot contribute something to me tactics, strategy and planning of championship matches. For many years I train to use only the techniques allowed in sport and if I don't understand that there is something apart from the competition, I will be learning only a small part of Judo, which at the time is so broad and rich in so many aspects: technical, physical, psychological, cultural, historical and philosophical. And when I retire from competition, I will undoubtedly leave Judo, because it will not have meaning to practice for the sake of practicing, learning to know, to transmit the teachings and my experience to future generations. It is sad that many think like this and walk away from a activity that we can practice at any age. And when they leave highperformance Judo, many fall into a depression, which needs professional help, to continue a normal life! Here and in the rest of the world. Others begin the real learning of everything they did not see during their years of competition, great champions start with fundamental learning left behind for many years and realize everything that is in the world of Judo. Others resume the activity after many years, as adults, to continue with their preparation and learning, in order to learn and teach. Others of us did the competitor stage in parallel, with traditional learning, with the arbitration specialization, coach, teacher, etc, seeing how everything is considered in the essence of Judo. Those of us who continue to this day without having abandoned Judo, not even for a day, know what it is about. treat this Path: Sacrifice, overcoming, effort, study, practice, training, learning, teaching, and in my personal case, testing everything, reality vs. the fantasy. And complement with other Martial Arts, combat sports and combat systems, to get a more complete view. Not everyone understands it that way and they just practice their whole life, their Martial Art, and repeating everything like two hundred years ago, without realizing that everything has changed. Each one understands it in their own way, but if they don't prove what they know with another dynamic, they will continue repeating everything as before, without realizing that evolution is constant in all things. The practice of the Katas (pre-established Forms), is good, as a tradition, as saving knowledge passed down from generation to generation, that's good, but... otherwise we confront these Katas with real situations, we will only be doing a good choreography, the repetition of something, that really cannot with the current and real violence. People who only do Katas and repeat and repeat that choreography, with a friendly partner and that everything is allowed to be done, they are also doing extreme Judo, but as the Competitor of high performance that we talked about before, that one, at least confronted his Judo against that of other people. The one who only does Katas and understands that he is doing something real, still competing in Katas Championships, if he loses a championship, he will only lose points against the other contending couples. He will not get hurt, nor will he lose his life. When I teach and train with people belonging to special forces, forces police, military and security forces, I cannot teach them fantasies, choreographies or things that we have tried, because his life depends on it! They will not be in a competition, nor in a movie, they will be in real life, trying to deter, contain, control, conduct, repel attacks against him or others, to whom they must protect. And if we did not give them the basic, elemental or special tools for their professional activity, they will face a reality of violence, for which they are not prepared. If I don't practice situations based on reality, adapted to any violent movement or that may lead to them, I will not be

able to control the moment. Before attack with weapons or without them, I must be able to face them with the maximum potential, without causing serious harm if not warranted. As always, my life or that of those I protect, or those that are attacked, comes first. the lives of the offenders. I will try not to inflict unnecessary or fatal damage unless it is justified. Real Judo can provide very valuable tools to deal with these situations, not It will not be a sporty or unreal Judo based on choreography. I must adapt the techniques, applying if, the fundamental, technical, mental and moral teaching, which allows to control each situation. This is another extreme Judo, which I must study in depth in all its technical composition, adding and complemented with knowledge of other activities, to handle all kinds of Extreme situations. In the next note, we will already be in Judo and self defense rational. See you at the Dojo and in the magazine "El Camino"! Prof. Marcelo Ehrlich