[Scribe]

For those of you who don't know, I'm writing a young adult fantasy novel and my main character is into Judo (yet I know next to nothing about it). I've joined the forum in order to learn by asking specific questions relating to the story.

My main character is a 17 year old girl. She is attacked by two men who's only goal is to kill her. My editor has suggested that I have the girl hit one of the men in the solar plexus so that he tumbles down some stairs and is momentarily stunned. This would give her an opportunity to focus on the other man. Help will arrive shortly after and when it does, the people (who have never heard of Judo) will be impressed by how she handles herself.

My question is: What would she do to accomplish this (hitting the man in the solar plexus)? Would she use a kick or a hand movement? Or is there something else she'd do instead?

I want her movements to be realistic to the art, so any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[merelymortal]

the hit to the solar plexus would wind the guy ( the solar is found between the ribs and up a little), this would be suficient to knock him down the stairs. she could osoto-gari him if she wanted him to go backwards i.e down the stairs.

[JudoSensei]

The most powerful strike would be a front kick. It would be preferred, especially by a woman with multiple attackers, over a punch because it is a longer range strike keeping the opponent further away. In judo it is called sekito ate waza, ball of foot striking, or mai geri, front kick.

[Dragon]

It's done like a Muay thai front kick (holding) not a karate one (snapping)

[Keith]

Dragon, on Mar 15 2005, 11:56 PM, said:

It's done like a Muay thai front kick (holding) not a karate one (snapping)

I routinely fold people up with a karate front snap kick to the solar plexus. In fact, I think this is the only 'snap kick' with any real value outside of point sparring. It would not, however, be likely to send someone flying backwards.

That being said, I thought this girl was studying judo. Why is she kicking people? If you're going to have her do a kick, then you might as well make it spectacular. How about a spinning back kick? Unlike a front kick, her attacker will get serious airtime from this kick.

If you're going to keep it judo-oriented, why not tomoe nage? She could toss him over her head and down the stairs.

[Y-Chromosome]

A strike to the solar plexus while technically correct judo, would not be a characteristically judo response.

Perhaps this.

She is cornered in a stairwell, one assailant in front of her, one behind. The first assailant has his back to the stairs. The first assailant moves to grab her but as he steps forward she sweeps his foot out from under him. (de ashi barai) He falls to his side, hitting his head on the bannister then (perhaps with an extra shove from the heroines foot) tumbles down the stairs.

At this moment the second assailant closes from behind and tries to grab her in a bear hug. She stomps on his instep, temporarily causing him to loosen his grip, she then flips him over her shoulder down the stairs. (ippon seoi nage)

When help arrives she is standing at the top of the stairs looking down at her two stunned assailants disentangling themselves and groaning.

Consult the nage waza section as well as the kime no kata and goshin jitsu no kata sections of Kodokan Judo by Jigoro Kano for ideas.

Typically judo type moves will be throws, joint locks and chokes.

[Kozushi]

If they are at the top of a starway, then forget about the solar plexus. Just have her trip the guy backwards as soon as he grabs her (Osoto-Gari throw: 'Outer Reaping') and have him fall down the stairs. Have her fling the second guy over her shoulder down the stairs (Ippon Seoi Nage: 'One Armed Shoulder Throw') as he punches at her with his right hand sucker punch. Then have her freak out and lose her nerve and try to get the hell out of there, maybe by kicking out a back window and jumping out, only to do a breakfall (another important skill of Judo) on the grass outside. The crooks who get up and follow her to the window decide they don't want to jump, so they run down the stairs and out the back door. She is running around the side of the house and out onto the street. They then decide to leave her alone.
The idea of having girls floor grown men with quick punches or kicks is a bit ridiculous. Also, the idea that being rolled down the stairs is going to knock them unconscious is a bit of a stretch. They might be bruised, but they'll keep coming.

At some point, you can have a desperate groundfight where she strangles a guy to death (in Judo we do this primarily from behind), and this can further complicate the plot.

[merelymortal]

Quote

At some point, you can have a desperate groundfight where she strangles a guy to death (in Judo we do this primarily from behind), and this can further complicate the plot.

speak for your self =] i use the cross choke mostly.

[merelymortal]

my throws are pretty hard, my opponent usually says their to busy wondering if their back still works, and trying to get their breath back to wonder what im doing with their collar.

as long as you can take the punches to the kidneys, and the explosive force your opponent uses to try and get you off, this is an easy tap/knock out.

[Dragon]

Keith, on Mar 16 2005, 01:15 AM, said:

I routinely fold people up with a karate front snap kick to the solar plexus. In fact, I think this is the only 'snap kick' with any real value outside of point sparring. It would not, however, be likely to send someone flying backwards.

That being said, I thought this girl was studying judo. Why is she kicking people? If you're going to have her do a kick, then you might as well make it spectacular. How about a spinning back kick? Unlike a front kick, her attacker will get serious airtime from this kick.

If you're going to keep it judo-oriented, why not tomoe nage? She could toss him over her head and down the stairs.

It's in the kata. That's why I described it as such. The mae geri used in judo kata is a holding kick. I think for sending em back a thrusting kick would work best. Wouldn't try the spinning back kick though, too flashy and overcomplicated for judo.

[internerdj]

Am I mistaken or isn't a holding kick intended to use the force from a solid thrust to create large amounts of distance. As opposed to a snap kick which is intended to cause damage by cutting down the time of impact on the strike.