JUDO
From Mod Mania
Dr. Jigora Kano, the creator, developed and changed its context from being perceived as violence, a way of showing anger, individual’s masculinity and a sign of intimidation. Through culture differences, evolution, and with the collaboration of different styles of martial arts, traditional techniques developed from a samurai’s perspective, to suit the new millennium. Judo has changed, today it’s all about self defence, exercise, physical education and responsibility on your own actions and to others.
Judo has a grand history in Japanese martial art, an art formed from the ancient Japanese skill of jujutsu, a style of “hand to hand” combat. Dr. Jigora Kano revived and modernised the art from various martial art techniques and developed judo. From a combination of Kodokan (Throwing techniques), to the understanding for the practice of the word "judo" which has the same concept as "jujutsu": "jū", which may mean "gentleness", "softness", "suppleness", and even "easy", depending on its context.
Jujutsu started its life in the early 1532, a collaboration of throwing (nage), Groundwork (asae, shime, kansetsu), and striking (atemi), at the time of the bushi (samurai) of feudal Japan. A method for fighting while fully clad in Japanese armour, to them which was known as Jujutsu or at their time Yoroi Kumi- uchi. Adapting types of diverse fighting skills, they may include; archery, spear fighting, swordsmanship, horsemanship, manoeuvring, etiquette and even more, these are vital skills need to the bushis while on the battlefields, but only one of these arts require no weapons and solely self defence while fighting the enemy, using their weapons against them, The uniqueness behind jujutsu is not the brute strength to overpower an opponent, but instead focusing on the skill, fitness, flexibility, strategy to preserve energy, balance and grace of the user, and judo has a strong influence from these findings.
However this tradition lasted for three hundred years. Until the mid 1850’s, Commodore Matthew Perry visited Japan, he showed the Japanese people what the world had developed to, and ever since this led to enormous changes in Japan's political and social structure. And through the changes the Tagugawa Imperial imposed new and harsh martial arts codes to the Meiji restoration regime in 1868, the government strongly discouraged people from learning or practice martial arts, which resulted in the extinction of the bushis.
As time passed these systems have been filtered down to a hand full of martial art branches, they even changed names and orientation, Some of the common ones we know now; Kyujustu became Kydo, Iai-Jutsu became Iaido, Aiki-Jutsu became Aikido and Jujutsu became the one we all know as Judo. Dr Jigoro Kano, was often picked upon during his mid-teen, he was only 5'2" weighting in at about ninety pounds. But part of growing up is dealing with frustrations, harassment, but by being strong-minded, Kano resolved not to be intimidated by these travails of adolescence. And jujutsu was the solution to his problems. However, with his father’s resentment viewing the art as an unworthy cause as the art of jujutsu was coming to dawn and it’s incompatibilities with society at the time, Kano was told to learn something more up to date. Kano believed the key to any progress in human life, is the way to improve on skills, mature with the art Kano then obtained his doctorate degree in the studying of jujutsu, a degree equivalent to the twelfth dan, awarded to the originator of judo only. Kano studied vigorously in his youth as a pacifist, he studied martial arts to find a way to live in peace with others, and he studied jujutsu under a number of different masters. His first sensei (teacher) was Teiosuke Yagi, and at the age of eighteen he entered the dojo (martial art school) of Tenshin-Shinyo sensei. Just shy of graduating from Tokyo University, he then studied the traditional art; kito (energy) under Likubo sensei. By presenting true passion towards the art, while in his mid- twenties Kano had been taught the secrets of both ryus (schools). By 1882, Kano started his teachings at the Eishoji temple to encourage his “school to learn the way” (Kodogan) to his students. From there on out Kano built its system around three major sets of techniques; Throwing (naza waza); descendant from the Kito ryu, divided into two separate styles; standing (Tachi waza) and sacrifice (Sutemi Waza) techniques. Stranding benefited with the use of the hands, hips, and foot throws. Sacrifice techniques incorporate the full and side sacrifice throws.
Secondly, Kano’s groundwork techniques were heavily influenced from the Tens Hin- Shinyo ryu. Groundwork is organised into holds, strangulations and joints locks. As a precaution measure Kano also teaches the secrets of the strangulations and joint locks to his students at the higher ranks to know the art of resuscitation, to conduct their training in a safe and responsible manner.
Finally, Judos striking techniques, this includes the upper and lower limb blows. Within the striking techniques, students were encouraged in adopting the use of their fists, elbows, hand edges, fingers, knees and feet as striking points. However because of its dangerous character, Atemi Waza (striking techniques) was only taught exclusively to higher ranking students at the Kodokan.
To complete the transition from Justu (martial art) to Do (way of life), Kano added a strict code of ethics and humanitarian philosophy to his system to protect those who are inexperienced. Kadokan instructors and students were expected from the beginning to be outstanding examples of good character and conduct honesty. Any hand to hand combat with outside of the dojo, public demonstrations for profits, or any behaviour that may bring shame the school could lead to suspension or expulsion. This would minimise the harm or criminal rates around the community. A way of respect was shown in the learning of Judo, Kano’s teachings was more than just physical contact, the teaching method behind judo was also the concern of students being responsible to the community. Judo is not a violent sport dependent on the practitioner, they will only use the art on those who are attacking as self defence, and used to prevent.
Judo is more than just a sport it was complete physical education the sport that provide trained teamwork, an art developed for an individual to become a team player. Although birth from a wartime Culture under its ancestor, Jujutsu, values have also changed, the obvious ones would be the ‘Kill to survive” during the busi era, to become one with Judo, living day in day out by its codes, keeping in mind the cause and affects on the ryus, communities and the artist themselves.
1. www.geocities.com/tokyo/pagoda/6968/judo.htm, the history of judo, Last updated June 2nd, 2007, Neil Ohlenkamp, viewed August11th , 2009.
2. http://judoinfo.com/jhist4.htm, The author of this page is Phil Rasmussen and it is provided here by Neil Ohlenkamp, Encino Judo Club, USA. Copyright © 1999/2003. Judo’s History. Last modified August 11, 2003, viewed August11th , 2009.
3. www.bstkd.com/JudoHistory/HistoryTwo.htm, page 2 viewed 21/08/09
