Contextualization

Judo, a Japanese word meaning "gentle way" or "way of gentleness", is a martial art, sport, and philosophy of life created by Jigoro Kano in 1882. Based on principles of respect for others, discipline, concentration, determination, and courage, it is a practice that goes far beyond learning techniques of self-defense.

In technical terms, Judo is a combat sport where participants, called judokas, use a series of techniques such as throwing, immobilization, strangulation, and joint locks to make the opponent give up the fight or be thrown with their back or shoulders against the tatami. Judo techniques can be applied without causing permanent damage to the opponent, which contributes to the educational character of the sport.

Importance of Judo

The practice of Judo is not limited to physical benefits, such as increased strength, speed, flexibility, physical conditioning, and motor coordination. Its practitioner also develops important socio-emotional skills, such as resilience, empathy, respect for others, and teamwork. In addition, Judo helps in developing the ability to concentrate, discipline, and strategic planning, skills that are extremely important for personal and professional life.

In the school environment, Judo proves to be an excellent pedagogical tool. Through regular practice, students learn to respect others, follow rules, deal with their own limits, and overcome obstacles, whether on the tatami or off it. In addition, Judo contributes to the development of body awareness, team spirit, and a sense of belonging.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Unveiling Judo: A Look Beyond the Tatami"

Project Objective

The objective of this project is to allow students to deepen their knowledge of Judo, not only as a sport but also as a philosophy of life. For this, students must research and present a seminar on the following topics:

1. Origin and history of Judo
2. Rules, techniques, and grading system
3. Importance of Judo for character formation and development of socio-emotional skills

Detailed Project Description

The groups, composed of 3 to 5 students, will conduct a detailed research on Judo, focusing on the three topics mentioned above. At the end of the research, each group will present a seminar to the class, divided into three parts corresponding to the three topics. Then, students should prepare a detailed report on the research conducted and the findings.

Required Materials

1. Computer with internet access for research.
2. Materials for seminar presentation (posters, slides, etc.).

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution

1. Divide the class into groups of 3 to 5 students.
2. Present the three research topics and explain the project's objective.
3. Ask the groups to start the research, using the suggested resources and other reliable sources.
4. After completing the research, students should prepare a seminar to present the collected information.
5. Conduct the presentation of the seminars in the classroom, allowing all groups to share their findings.
6. Then, ask each group to prepare a detailed report on the research conducted, addressing the three topics and the methodology used for data collection and analysis.

Project Deliverables

1. Seminar: Lasting 10 to 15 minutes, students will present the results of their research to their peers and the teacher. The groups should prepare a clear and didactic presentation, using the resources they deem necessary (posters, slides, videos, etc.).
2. Final Report: Comprising Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography. The Introduction should contextualize Judo, explaining its origin, history, and relevance in the current world. In the Development, students should detail the research conducted, explaining how data collection was done, which sources were used, and how the information was analyzed. The Conclusions should bring back the main points discussed in the report, in addition to highlighting the learnings obtained by the students during the project. Finally, the Bibliography should list all sources used by the students throughout the project. The report should be between 10 and 15 pages.