Does anyone know a judo dojo in the Bay Area where the instructor is competent but they don’t do bowing/cowtowing, don’t call people sensei or sempai, etc? Also, preferably no BJJ haters. I’m just looking to study judo in a learning environment without irritating/humiliating distractions. In real life I’m polite enough, willing to shake hands with my grappling partners and I don’t spazz.
Bowing is a show of respect and a signal of readiness, it’s exactly like shaking/slapping hands before a match, it’s not cowtowing. You don’t have to scrape the floor with your forehead dude, when I bow it’s barely more than a nod most of the time.
All of the things that you are asked to do and the bowing upsets you? It’s fine to let someone you barely know slam you into the mat but you get hung up on the bowing? People can choke you and arm bar you but the bowing is …it might be time to adjust your focus. When we bow or shake hands or nod heads at each other, it’s just a way to keep things friendly and let each other know you’re ready. If you read much more into it, you focus is not on the Judo as much as it is on your ego. Hell, don’t bow, likely nobody will give a shit unless it’s someone else who has ego issues.
There is something intrinsically wrong, something humiliating about getting on your knees in front of another person that upsets me. No, it’s not an ego issue. However, I don’t like to feel humiliated. No, when you start grappling from the knees it’s not the same at all. The reason for kneeling is completely different.
So, is anyone gonna recommend me any good judo schools?
Even when they’re on their knees as well, as most line-ups start with? You’re kneeling, the teacher’s kneeling, and both of you bow. It’s not as one-sided an obeisance as you’re suggesting.
You’re not going to find many of even the more informal judo schools ditching the line-up and bow. It gives the instructor a chance to perform a quick headcount and decide how to tailor the session to the needs of those there. Sometimes it’ll be a standing line-up instead of a kneeling one, but I’ve yet to run into a school that never does kneeling line-ups.
Either you’re trolling, or you do indeed have severe ego problems.
Either you’re trolling, or you do indeed have severe ego problems.
Neither. I fucking don’t like kneeling/kowtowing. Maybe I should cross-train wrestling…
If your definition of good Judo schools hinges on something as irrelevant as bowing, good luck with that. If I were to advise anyone on finding a good Judo school, I would have them look at things like “does the techniqe being taught include good kuzushi instruction?” is there a good collection of ranking members, you know, is there an oppurtunity to learn good Judo kind of stuff. I wouldn’t even consider the bowing as relevant to the quality of instruction. I still think that if bowing humiliates you, you may have an ego issue you need to work on. Your misunderstanding a concept and making it something it isn’t. That’s all about you and not about the Judo.
OP:
I think you need to look for a psychiatrist not a judo teacher.
Southpaw, I think you are an idiot. Shut up.
Are you saying the ‘bow’ is a deal breaker if you find an amazing school that trains great technique, has skillful instructors and students, etc.? That would help people give you some suggestions. If it is, then I agree with your comment that you might want to just cross-train wrestling (of course you won’t learn judo this way).
I’ll give up on the idea of finding a good judo school without the kowtowing after I do some searching. Not before. There is always some chance. Or hey, I just had a thought. How about sambo? They officially do handshakes, right? Now, if only I could find one that is good and not sucky… Any good sambo schools in the Bay Area?
Not to sound like a dick but you know that a bow and a hand shake are done to basically convey the same message in most schools…?
The bow is, in Japan, almost the exact cultural analog of the handshake. There’s plenty of BJJ classes, mine included, where everyone bows at the beginning and end of the class.
you think? you bow because of tradition, you bow because of respect, you bow because you ain’t no blackbelt who’s dedicated a part of his life to teach others.
enjoy your red varrots. troll.
PointyShinyBurn
The bow is, in Japan, almost the exact cultural analog of the handshake.
Not buying it. I’m too familiar with Japanese culture.
rordogs
you think? you bow because of tradition, you bow because of respect, you bow because you ain’t no blackbelt who’s dedicated a part of his life to teach others.
enjoy your red varrots. troll.
You are a moron and I couldn’t care less about some silly rep system. Fuck you, bitch.
If you are going to keep trying to persuade me kneeling isn’t being submissive and isn’t humiliating, you are wasting your time and mine. Not sure why anyone would wanna waste time unless they are an idiot. Valuable input - info on judo or sambo schools in Bay Area, would be appreciated however.
I knew this guy was a troll, or 13 years old. Someone with that much of an inferiority complex couldn’t train in martial arts.
Odacon, right now you are trolling. If you have valuable info - I’ll appreciate it. Otherwise shut up and get the fuck out of the thread.
Based on the way you handle yourself here I imagine any Sambo or Judo school would love to have you as a member!
Based on the way 99% of bullshidoka handle themselves here I’m sure their own parents (who are probably more tolerant of them than any school would be) won’t want them…