TOKUI WAZA – A different technique for each one or the same technique for all?

Do you think it is better to use the same TOKUI WAZA on everybody, by mastering it to the point of being able to throw your Uke in each direction? Or do you think it is better to be able to use a different TOKUI WAZA in different situations that occur when you fight?

Let’s talk about the Tokui Waza

The meaning of the Tokui Waza in Japanese is “special, favored technique”. The word “TOKU” stands for “assimilated, internalized”, and “I” means “intention, determination.”

In Judo, the Tokui Waza becomes the understanding of a movement with all our being, “SHIN GI TAI”; it can develop after thousands of uchikomi, in a split second during a randori, or it may not ever happen at all!

Do you think you can lead a student to find his own TOKUI WAZA? Or, do you think it’s better to have a technique for every situation, chasing the ideal of Kodokan Judo?

Jigoro Kano rarely talked about TOKUI WAZA as a technical and philosophical goal of his method.

Probably the idea of having a single technique to be ‘imposed’ on everybody was not in line with its philosophy of seeking the specific excellent solution in every situation of life or randori.

Remember that the term JU DO that Kano wanted (shihan) means the search for individual and social spiritual development through JU NO RI, the principle of adaptability or pliability.

You are probably wondering how Kano’s philosophy fits with what you see today in ‘modern’ judo–be patient and keep thinking… that’s another story!

If you pay attention, after all, using the same technique in any circumstance, or more techniques for different situations, does not change the technical result.

Instead it changes a lot from the Kodokan judo principle: the search of spiritual growth, open mindset towards themselves and society through the practice of JU NO RI. Jigoro Kano devoted his life to all these.

Surely it is necessary to start with one Tokui Waza, otherwise it becomes difficult to develop other Tokui Wazas and here we get back to the importance of the didactics and of having a complete method of teaching judo.

Have you ever thought about how you help a student to find his Tokui Waza?

Do you think that it is enough for him to do randori as soon as possible?

Are you convinced that by throwing himself to his knees and dragging down the other in some way is a Tokui Waza?

You can use several methods to help him find his Tokui Waza, but to do so it is necessary to start an educational progression and to know a little of what I have told you so far.

It is necessary to know the secrets of learning; how to bring a student to find his Tokui Waza may require many exercises or a single demonstration. Things work differently for each one of us.

Finding the Tokui Waza means to FEEL THE ESSENCE of a technique– it’s like a small flash of insight!

I show in “My Judo Is Your Judo” many exercises to get to TOKUI WAZA and to help your students reach the ESSENCE of technical understanding.

Alfredo Vismara Hanshi Dai Nippon Butokukai

Traduzione di Mauro Laner