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Judo Classification
Judo
classification, as well as technical classification in all martial
arts, fails
in one of two categories: 1.
Nominative
2.
Descriptive Those two
types of classification live besides each other often in a permanent
unresolved
conflict while individual elements of each switching side at times as
style
moving from one linguistic and cultural environment into another (and
overlapping at the same time – what is descriptive in one language is
nominative
in any other). Nominative
classification just assigns name, at times just arbitrary name, to a
technical
element to make possible to name it in conversation between
“initiated”. Good example
of nominative classification is Aikido: “technique number one” and
“technique
number four” are very different, but you can’t see it by name only
without been
versed in Aikido.
Descriptive
classification on the other side based on abbreviated decryption of a
technical
element. Examples are “throw over shoulder”, “hip throw”, or “foot
swipe”.
Those descriptions often point to the key visible element that
distinguishes
this particular technique from others. Both
types of classification have full citizenship rights in World of
Martial Arts:
descriptive classification is very helpful in process of training
(especially
for beginners, but not only) when nominative classification is
invaluable tool
in cross-language communications (witch is key in international
federations and
during events with multi-lingual participants). Formal
modern Judo
classification is in Japanese and in it it’s descriptive, but it’s
nominative for all non-Japanese speakers. When Vasili
Oschepkov
introduced Judo in Russia,
one of the first things he did was translation of Japanese terms into
language
of his new students. As eventually his version of Judo
become SAMBO
the new Russian terms established themselves as new formal
classification. And
when SAMBO
became
international, the whole story repeated itself: descriptive Russian
terms
became non-descriptive nominative classification for non-Russian
speaking SAMBO
students. Development of solid classification is one of key processes in transition from fighting arts into martial arts (terms “fighting”, “martial” aren’t that descriptive, but common – martial arts developed in time of “peace” from fighting arts as there refinement and adaptation for non-war environment).
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