Judo, a martial art developed in Japan in 1882, has been modified and adapted into a sport which is played in every country in the world. It is featured in the summer Paralympics as a sport that is exclusive to the visually impaired, and includes the involvement of 84 men, in 7 weight categories and 40 women, in 6 weight categories. This Paralympic game, (judo) included players from over 40 countries at the Athens games, and will see more countries added for the Beijing games. Judo is the only combative sport that is truly an international event of high standing for visually impaired participants. Judo is also played internationally by able bodied competitors, and is also included in the Special Olympics.
>The ease at which the sport of judo is demonstrated and taught to students who are visually impaired, is remarkable. There is little modification to neither the basic tenets of judo as an art and discipline, nor are there any significant changes to the sporting rules of play. The game of judo for those who are visually impaired is virtually the same as the one that all others play. The timeline of learning and mastery is undetermined for every judo enthusiast, each succeeding in their own particular interval.
Basic judo consists of four significant areas, those being, throwing techniques, holding techniques, choking techniques, and arm locking techniques. Chokes and arm locks are reserved from instruction until the students are teenaged, and of notable skill in the other two aspects of judo.
The instruction of any and all judo techniques are given to student in an individual, and an adaptive manner that will be of significance to the particular student. The method most used, is a tactile approach, guiding the student through the correct physical movements to accomplish a desired technique, with verbal adjunct. The students will always develop at their own rates. There never is any pressure to graduate at any given time, and each student (able bodied or not) is nurtured for the correct amount of time that he/she requires.
Judo is as safe a sport as any other. There are very few injuries realized in judo, and probably less than most sports. This is due to the safety first approach that is universal in judo dojos. There is also an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation that exists within the dojo. In a short period of time, any student will operate with confidence and self reliance, when they discover what they are truly capable of doing.
In my experience of instructing students with a visual impairment , (since 1984), it has lead me to the conclusion that visual impairment is not a reason to be unable to succeed at a desired outcome, and that judo is a perfect vehicle to demonstrate this principal to the student, and to their parents.The judo programme, which has been supported by O.B.S.A. for many years, has been an undoubted success. In the time that O.B.S.A. has advocated and assisted the judo initiative, a number of players have demonstrated a good showing in this sport. The list of names of players who have participated with some notable result are Justin Karn, John Dunkerley, Alexander Radoman, Pier Morton, and Bill Morgan. Both Morton and Morgan have been medalists in international, world, and Paralympic competitions. It is our hope that the increased attention to building a strong judo base in Ontario by way of O.B.S.A. initiatives, there will be more Ontarian judo players, who are visually impaired, standing on international podiums.
More information is available upon request at the address shown below.
info@blindsports.on.ca
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