Kindle Notes & Highlights
Yet in many ways what Maeda and later the Gracies did was a step back from the developments that Kano had made. With no kata involved and no moral backbone to the activity as there was with Kodokan judo, Gracie jujutsu could be seen as having no merit outside the actual combat effectiveness, which by definition can be no greater than judo, since it derives almost exclusively from judo. It was this lack of depth that had caused the old jujutsu to wane in Japan before Kano revived martial activities.
Many involved in martial arts that claim to have a greater level of realism, or those that have adapted traditional arts to what they claim is more akin to a modern street-fighting system have a misconceived conception of what is and what is not effective. The ability to disarm and dissuade an assailant from continuing a battle should suffice. The continued damage to a person beyond ‘reasonable force’ is usually only a sign that the attacker has a sadistic or psychotic mind. It neither proves that he or she is a good fighter, nor that they are using the most effective fighting system. As
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While some of his former protégés were earning money around the world in music halls, challenging all-comers to fight for prize money, Kano made no effort to instigate judo as an international sport. Indeed, there are numerous quotes from the founder indicating that he did not at any stage regard his art as a sport: “Judo is the way to the most effective use of both physical and spiritual strength. By training you in attacks and defences it refines your body and your soul and helps you make the spiritual essence of judo a part of your very being. In this way you are able to perfect yourself
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“Although Kodokan judo begins with the randori and the kata... it is based on the principles of physical education and lays stress on the harmonious development of body muscles. The principle described as the way to use body and mind most efficiently is indeed the great principle of humanity. It is a moral doctrine.”
The current guidelines from the Kodokan state: “In screening candidates for dan promotion, personality, acquirement of judo spirit, extent of the understanding of judo and mastery of technical arts, practical application of judo in everyday life, and contribution to judo are considered. Those who are mean in character and whose speech and behaviour are deviated from judo spirit will not be promoted irrespective of any other merit.”
In 1931 Kano wrote: “Judo is a mental and physical discipline whose lessons are readily applicable to our daily affairs. The fundamental principle of judo is that whatever the objective, it is best attained by the maximum efficient use of mind and body for that purpose. The same principle applied to our everyday activities leads to the highest and most rational life. “Training in judo is not the only way to grasp this, but it is how I arrived at an understanding of it, and it is the means I attempt to enlighten others. “The principle demands above all that there be
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“I have been asked by people of various sections as to the wisdom and possibility of judo being introduced with other games and sports at the Olympic Games. My view on the matter, at present, is rather passive. If it be the desire of other member countries I have no objection. But I do not feel inclined to take any initiative. For one thing, judo, in reality, is not a mere sport or game. I regard it as a principle of life, art and science. In fact it is a means for personal cultural attainment. Only one of the forms of judo training, so-called randori or free practice, can be classed as a form
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It was an echo of pre-war ideas that Europeans could head up the standardisation of what was essentially a Japanese invention and once again ignored the fact that the Kodokan was quite capable of establishing its own modus operandi and indeed had been doing so since its inception. The irony of this imperialistic attitude was almost certainly lost on the self-aggrandising westerners.
