| By far the most common misconception associated | | | | perspective. With the "win-lose" thinking entirely |
| with randori is the notion that it is just club-based or | | | | removed from the equation, a randori mentality will not |
| friendly competition. It is not hard to see why this is so | | | | encroach or threaten in any way the mindset |
| and why randori very frequently degenerates into | | | | necessary to succeed in the aforementioned |
| either Uchi Komi (repetitive fitness and fluidity building), | | | | "contests". Indeed, quite the opposite - for when there |
| or Shiai (score orientated competition).Let us state | | | | is a sudden and compelling need to win, emotions are |
| from the outset that the term "degenerate" should | | | | running high and your well being (or that gold medal) is |
| NOT be taken to mean that these practices (Uchi | | | | under threat, one cannot afford to be thinking about |
| Komi and Shiai) are lesser pastimes, but that they are | | | | "technique", there will be quite enough to worry about |
| quite distinct and separate activities of their own, with | | | | without the added burden of last minute technical |
| their own solid merits. The closest thing to randori, in | | | | revision. We have an opponent to study, a strategy to |
| terms of say tennis or squash is the "hit up", where | | | | implement, courage to muster, emotions and |
| two players are playing hard against each other, but | | | | "situations" to be controlled. On the competition mat, or |
| NOT SCORING!! That is to say, the concept of winning | | | | in the street, one wants all one`s resources focused on |
| and losing MUST be eradicated entirely from the mind, | | | | WHAT to do, or WHEN to do it, not HOW to do |
| in order that technique can be polished, and knowledge | | | | it.Contrary to popular belief, the concept of randori was |
| can be converted to instinctive physical ability, or in | | | | not the invention of Dr Kano coincident with the |
| order that one can see the effect of various tactics in | | | | development of judo. Kano did further refine and |
| a relatively full blooded contestual environment, | | | | define randori principles and he introduced groundwork |
| DEVOID OF THE PRESSURE TO WIN.We can`t help | | | | randori and the long sleeved judogi for safety and a |
| ourselves, most of us; it is after all human nature to | | | | wider range of new throws, but true randori was the |
| enjoy victory, and so we find ourselves having a bit of | | | | dominant training tool of Hachinosuke Fukuda, Kano`s |
| a pull around on the mat with a friend and we execute | | | | teacher at the Tenjin-Shinyo School of Jujitsu.Where |
| a nice throw. Someone mutters "nice throw" and we | | | | does this place randori in the larger training regime? Let |
| feel quite pleased with ourselves, and the other guy | | | | us consider five major elements of on-the-mat training |
| mutters to himself, "dam! - how did I fall for that?" | | | | and how they fundamentally differ - or more precisely |
| Sound familiar?Three things have to happen for this | | | | how they SHOULD differ:-Technical instruction - |
| process to evolve into randori . . .1. Mutual Benefit - | | | | obviously, before we know anything about anything |
| randori is the perfect opportunity to hone a strong | | | | we have to be taught the basics, the how-to of a |
| sense of ethics and unselfish goodwill towards your | | | | technique. Most dojos do plenty of this and many |
| comrades on the mat. Whatever you "give" in randori | | | | teachers and coaches, including coaches of many non |
| will be repaid many times over in good fellowship, | | | | martial art sports may feel that unless they are |
| respect, trust and perpetually improving skills.2. After | | | | providing a constant stream of technical instruction |
| doing that aforementioned throw, we should refrain | | | | they are somehow failing to meet obligations to their |
| absolutely from feeling pleased with ourselves and | | | | students. Boxers are the least guilty of this, their |
| instead, wonder what exactly allowed it to happen. If it | | | | emphasis is not in knowing a thousand techniques, but |
| was because of a blatant weak spot in your partners | | | | in doing a small number extremely well.Uchi Komi - |
| defense, then he/she should be given the opportunity | | | | includes "fit-ins", "throw for throw" and repetitive |
| to understand that, maybe you should keep doing it | | | | combinations, counters or escapes, or strings of hold |
| until the other has closed the gap and you are not | | | | downs. Osae Komi is principally a physical conditioner |
| pulling it off any more. Both of you will benefit | | | | and technique builder, practised without the added |
| enormously if this thinking pervades the exercise.3. | | | | burden of philosophical/cultural considerations or a |
| After being thrown, we should refrain absolutely from | | | | resistive opponent. Modern "western" non-martial |
| being disappointed at falling for it. For therein lies a | | | | sports such as tennis and squash place great |
| GREAT OPPORTUNITY to learn something, if only | | | | emphasis on the value of repetition of the essential |
| our disappointment can be made to step aside for a | | | | "parts" of a larger technique set.Kata - Often |
| minute and make room for objective egoless study of | | | | underrated as a training mechanism, kata in fact helps |
| what happened.If you are not quite sure what | | | | transfer intellectual knowledge into body knowledge - |
| happened, it is quite in order and quite common in true | | | | "learning by doing" - such that the mechanics of a |
| randori to ask your partner to "do it again" - so that | | | | technique or set of techniques and their interrelationship |
| you can fall for the same trick again, and again, and | | | | is understood at both a physical and intellectual level. |
| again, until something reveals itself to you. If you are | | | | Kata, most importantly, also serves to connect the |
| not prepared to fall for the same trick repeatedly, then | | | | physical to the philosophical or spiritual and cultural |
| clearly you are sliding into a Shiai mentality because | | | | ethical. "Physical meditation" some have called it - Tai |
| you would rather stay upright and "win" than learn why | | | | Chi, Karate and Yoga students are the clear leaders in |
| you are able to be thrown or locked up by this | | | | this genre of practice. As with randori, there is no |
| particular partner using that particular technique.For this | | | | concept of winning or losing in kata, nor is there any |
| reason also, do not be tempted to "referee" a randori | | | | opposing pressure against proper execution, outside of |
| session. One sees this a lot, two players are | | | | the practitioners own internal barriers. It is at the |
| supposedly indulging in randori but a third player is | | | | opposite end of the spectrum to Osae Komi, although |
| actually refereeing and awarding points and penalties, | | | | some katas and particularly Yoga Asanas are also |
| furthering the notion that someone is going to win this | | | | extremely physically taxing.Randori - As with kata, |
| bout. It isn`t a bout! The third player`s job, if indeed there | | | | there is no concept of winning or losing, yet conversely, |
| is a third player, is to be an analyst, not a referee. That | | | | as with Uchi Komi, it is highly physical. Randori requires |
| is to say, he/she (very often your sensei or other | | | | that there be added (measured) opposing pressure. |
| "higher belt") is there to help the players with useful | | | | BJJ players and wrestlers put great emphasis on a |
| third party tips - "keep those elbows in!" - "keep him | | | | randori like training regimen or something that falls |
| moving!" - "relax!" - "try the other side for a | | | | approximately between true randori and "moderated" |
| change!"Similarly, if one is successfully executing a | | | | competition."For real" - Testing the theory - the bit we |
| technique despite your best defenses, let it happen, let | | | | either hope we never have to indulge in if it is self |
| yourself be thrown. You failed to prevent it initially, so | | | | defense we are referring to, or, if sporting competition, |
| let it happen, let him prove his point and let yourself | | | | the bit we view with either relish or trepidation, |
| observe the complete process, there are no points to | | | | depending on what we think our chances are! For |
| be lost. In doing so, your partner gets a chance to | | | | jujitsukas, self defense pressures can be emulated to |
| control you right to the mat and practice his "control" | | | | some degree in the dojo with a shiai like combative |
| and kake, an opportunity that does not present itself | | | | sparring match under prescribed rules for safety plus |
| too often in shiai, or for jujitsu practitioners, in a street | | | | "prohibited" techniques; or in the case of judo players, a |
| self defense situation. The opponent (as against | | | | standard judo tournament under IJF rules - "Shiai" in |
| "partner") will be doing everything in their power to | | | | other words. Whatever the format however, most |
| disrupt control and clean kake, of course! Only in | | | | disciplines need some method by which the skills can |
| properly executed randori will these opportunities to | | | | be validated or put to the test in order that they may |
| learn present themselves and only in randori do you | | | | evolve. One could argue that martial arts grading tests |
| get a good opportunity to study your own ukemi and | | | | do this if they are sufficiently arduous and challenging, |
| transition into ground work. His success is your | | | | but for many of us it might be a long time between |
| opportunity to study, therefore, his success should be | | | | gradings, for others it is the journey not the result and |
| something you begin to look forward to rather than | | | | for still others, the "proof of concept" is found |
| view it as your "defeat" or failure.After being thrown, | | | | inescapably in improved wellness and a sense of |
| pause for a second on the mat, rather than scramble | | | | achievement or fulfillment. There are other ways to |
| away before groundwork can commence. Eventually | | | | test the theory besides competition, to be sure. I don`t |
| your partner will see the opportunity to fall straight into | | | | see many Tai Chi tournaments out there but I do see |
| ne waza, practice a smooth transition and thus give | | | | a lot of happy healthy practitioners.So which of the |
| BOTH of you the opportunity to study this process as | | | | five is missing from your schedule? Chances are, its |
| well. Later, as this improves, these openings or | | | | randori. "No" you retort indignantly, "we put aside time |
| invitations can be reduced or eliminated as both of you | | | | for randori every training session!".Is it randori? - or is it |
| get better and better at these smooth and speedy | | | | Shiai? To an outside observer, there seems to be little |
| transitions.Being a good randori partner is quite an art - | | | | difference, however those differences, whilst subtle, |
| and applies with equal importance to both jujitsu and | | | | are critical.Yellow and orange belts, ask yourselves, did |
| judo, for if done properly, presents no threat to the | | | | you feel you "won" your randori session with the green |
| underlying motivators of these two closely related | | | | belt? If the answer is "yes", then you were indulging in |
| disciplines. Randori, done properly, will have no dilutory | | | | Shiai, while the green belt was randoriing.Blue and |
| effect on the need of the judo player to maintain a | | | | brown belts, did you feel you got the jump on your |
| "match" mentality, nor will it weaken the jujitsuka`s | | | | sensei this time? Perhaps the black belt was using you |
| drivers to "get in quickly, finish it quickly".Both | | | | to study his own weak spots instead of working |
| philosophies are "win" orientated, one for a competitive | | | | towards a win. THAT'S randori! |
| sport scenario, the other from a self defense | | | | |