Judo
Founded in 1882 in Japan by Sensei Jigoro Kano, Judo has spread worldwide and became an Olympic sport in 1964. The second most practiced sport globally, Judo focuses on throwing techniques to defeat an opponent and includes an array of pins, chokes, and joint locks to neutralize fighters on the ground. For those looking for an outlet to fight and/or stay in shape, we have free sparring every night that can tax you to your limits, should you so choose. Older or injured participants also come, taking it light on the sparring and focusing on refining techniques into pieces of human art. Led by Jon Bertsch, who started Judo thirty years ago in England, Cal Judo currently has 11 black belts from 6 countries and has a strong and ever-growing competition team that boasts an impressive history of winning.
Email: judo@ucmap.org I Cal Judo on Facebook
Yongmudo
The Self-Defense Yongmudo Club (formerly Hapkido Club) was established in 1974. Yongmudo has been practiced at Yongin University in Korea since 1953 as a self-defense art (doe-soo-bang-ur, or “Korean way of barehand training in self-defense”). Yongmudo techniques are modern, open, and dynamic, combining martial arts such as Taekwondo, Judo, and Ssirum to develop a futuristic way of self-defense through physical, psychological, spiritual, and mental training with up-to-date scientific knowledge. The UC Yongmudo Club, along with thousands of martial arts masters all over the world, spearheaded the formation of the World Yongmudo Federation in 1999.
Techniques for Self-Defense Yongmudo Club include strikes, throws, joint locks, grappling, and pressure points.
Email: ymd@ucmap.org I Cal Yongmudo on Facebook
Taekwondo
Taekwondo, “the way of foot and fist,” is based on ancient Korean methods of self-defense. It emphasizes flexibility and kicking techniques, but hand techniques are also widely employed. A means of self-defense, physical conditioning, recreation, and mental discipline, Taekwondo is recognized not only as a martial art, but also as an exciting sport with powerful kicks and punches that emphasizes continuous action, endurance, skill, and sportsmanship. This martial art has been an Olympic event since 2000.
Email: tkd@ucmap.org I UC Berkeley Taekwondo on Facebook
Wushu
Wushu means “martial arts,” and in ancient times it was used primarily as a form of combat in China. Since 1958, China revised the old traditional Wushu forms, combining them with Peking Opera, gymnastics, and acrobatics to create a contemporary art form that is aesthetically pleasing, visually exciting, and physically demanding. While the forms still contain kicks and punches, emphasis is now on developing the physical abilities of the performer and on interpreting the flavor and spirit of each particular style of Wushu. Chinese Wushu contains more than 300 different forms: Northern and Southern styles, internal and external forms, and forms that imitate animals. Because there exists such a multitude of forms to study, Wushu may be practiced and performed by persons of any age.
Email: wushu@ucmap.org I Cal Wushu on Facebook
Karate
Karate-do means “the way of the empty hand.” Of ancient origin, it is practiced throughout the world in many different styles. The Japanese style studied at Cal emphasizes physical, mental, and spiritual conditioning. Training consists of learning and practicing basic techniques (punches, kicks, blocks, and guards), kata (prearranged sequences of offensive and defensive techniques), kihon kumite (prearranged sparring forms), and jihu kumite (free sparring). A martial art and competitive sport, Karate is governed nationally by the USKA and internationally by WUKO.
Email: karate@ucmap.org I UC Berkeley Karate Club Website
Taiji
Taiji (also referred to as Taijiquan) is an internal martial art founded about 300 years ago in China. It is called an “internal” martial art because its training focuses on relaxation, alignment, and energy cultivation instead of strength training and athletic conditioning. Once considered one of the supreme combat arts in old China, Taiji has since evolved into an art stressing health and fitness, although the self-defense aspects are still practiced.
Email: taiji@ucmap.org I UC Berkeley Taiji Club on Facebook
