Bowing, the belt and the words
Ready when: nothing needed.
What you are learning
The manners and words of the dojo: kneeling in seiza, the kneeling and standing bows, tying the belt with a flat knot, the words rei, hajime, mate, tori and uke, and the give-up sign of two taps. Every judo lesson uses them.
Words on this card Dojo, Tatami, Obi, Rei, Hajime, Seiza, Tori, Tap
- Dojo
- The training hall.
- Tatami
- The firm padded mat judo is done on.
- Obi
- The belt; its colour shows the grade.
- Rei
- Bow.
- Hajime
- "begin" and "stop".
- Seiza
- Kneeling with the bottom on the heels, big toes crossed, knees a fist apart.
- Tori
- Tori does the throw or hold; uke receives it and falls.
- Tap
- Tapping the mat or partner twice means "I give up"; the partner lets go at once.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Kneel in seiza at the tape: big toes crossed, knees a fist apart.
- Kneeling bow: hands to the floor, back and head level with the floor, then sit up.
- Standing bow: heels together, lean until the fingertips reach the knees.
- Tie the belt round twice and knot it so the knot lies flat; show two taps on the floor for "I give up".
Your part while they practise
Show the kneeling and standing bow.
Step by step
- Kneel in seiza.
- The kneeling bow.
- The standing bow.
- The words: rei (bow), hajime (begin), mate (stop), tori and uke.
- The give-up sign: tap twice and the partner lets go at once.
- Tie the belt with the knot lying flat.
How much: 3 bows of each kind and 2 belt ties 5 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Judo Simon says
You call judo words; the child acts them only when the call starts with "sensei says".
Who plays: 1 or 2 children; you call.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- The child stands at the tape line
- Call: "sensei says rei" (bow), "hajime" (jog on the spot), "mate" (freeze), "sensei says seiza" (kneel)
- Act only when the call starts with "sensei says"; "mate" always means freeze
- 15 calls
- Fair play
- A grown-up must also say what each word means.
- Points
- 1 point for each right action.
- Fouls
- No point, and sit out one call
- Acting without "sensei says" (except mate)
- Not freezing on "mate"
- A rushed bow
- Winning
- Beat your best from 15 calls.
- 8 points for 1 star
- 12 points for 2 stars
- 15 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Two words.
All the words and the meaning of each.
What you will see, and what to say
- the bow is rushed
Slow bow, look down, then up
A count of 3. - a word is mixed up
Mate means stop
Freeze straight away.
Self-check
The child does both bows and ties the belt without help, 3 times.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains respect, etiquette.
awiseathlete.com/sports/judo/judo-b3