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**XarokLasa** · 08-05-2010, 06:02 AM

While 1001 waza sounds impressive and seems to give the impression of "depth" and "sophistication" to the art, a very practical consequence of the approach is that often times you will practice one specific technique once in three years.

It needn't even be 1001 to be confusing. In judo we have 65 throws just in the main curriculum, and another 40 or so in other sets, in addition to a pile of ground-fighting waza. I don't know anyone locally who can use the whole set effectively. Judo Canada insists on yellow belts knowing 20-some of these throws, which is just ridiculous. Most people settle on 2 or 3 tokui waza in reality.

Reduce the set further with kendo - if I added up all the combinations, maybe I'd come up with 50 waza. How many guys do you know who are conversant in all of them? I've been to seminars where the sensei has decided to go through lists of waza just for fun, and even our national team guys can't do them all in drills, never mind in reality.

Introducing people to the toolbox is cool - but pick a few tools that suit you well and get really good at those. Asking people to use them all equally is silly.

08-05-2010, 06:02 AM	#38
XarokLasa Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 577 Senior Member	While 1001 waza sounds impressive and seems to give the impression of "depth" and "sophistication" to the art, a very practical consequence of the approach is that often times you will practice one specific technique once in three years. It needn't even be 1001 to be confusing. In judo we have 65 throws just in the main curriculum, and another 40 or so in other sets, in addition to a pile of ground-fighting waza. I don't know anyone locally who can use the whole set effectively. Judo Canada insists on yellow belts knowing 20-some of these throws, which is just ridiculous. Most people settle on 2 or 3 tokui waza in reality. Reduce the set further with kendo - if I added up all the combinations, maybe I'd come up with 50 waza. How many guys do you know who are conversant in all of them? I've been to seminars where the sensei has decided to go through lists of waza just for fun, and even our national team guys can't do them all in drills, never mind in reality. Introducing people to the toolbox is cool - but pick a few tools that suit you well and get really good at those. Asking people to use them all equally is silly.
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