Bruce Lee knew that it wasn’t his area of expertise; he knew other martial art styles won’t be enough to counter the judo grappling and locks.
One of the best instances which proves the effectiveness of judo on the mat is during a sparring session between the legendary Bruce Lee and Hayward Nishiko, a two-time nominee for the BLACK BELT Hall of Fame for his judo. According to Hayward Nishiko, “I remember one time I was at Bruce’s house…I had done a little karate, but I couldn’t hold a candle to him (Bruce Lee). He was too fast for me; he would tap my head before I even got set.” Nishika continued, “Finally I asked Bruce what he would do if I just sat on the ground and wait for him to attack me, He said he’d just walk away.” Bruce Lee knew that it wasn’t his area of expertise; he knew other martial art styles won’t be enough to counter the judo grappling and locks. Judo teaches throws, armbars and chokes; but, the type of throws used doesn’t matter. It’s the execution that counts. The 1981 BLACK BELT Hall of Fame judo instructor Jack Williams said, “Make a throw fast enough, and they won’t get up.” Some of the most common self-defense throws are the hip throw (ogoshi), one-arm shoulder throw (ippon seonagei), two-arm shoulder throw (morose seoinage) and outside major reap (osoto-gari). Judo throws can render average street fighters helpless and can be an effective self-defense tool.