"It is not absolutely commit a regrettable mistake, but it would be extremely dishonourable twice repeat the same mistake."

Like all things of the world, including Eastern martial arts of the first generation, when they ceased to be able to perform the task for which they were born, namely secure survival in a world in which the battle was on the days, replaced by methods and technologies able to give one man the strength and destructive power of hundreds of men, avvitarono to a rapid decline that would soon bring the total disappearance. The remaining members of the ancient and noble caste samurai, after the reform Togukawa prohibiting the Japanese feudal lords have an army, found themselves jobless, homeless and without a particular social role.
It aggiravano malconci and torn on the streets, begging for some 'food or money making fun bystanders with the fake fights in public squares, more or less as is the case today in Wrestling. Perhaps some of these ancient arts would be left over from a historical or traditional, as was the case for the power, but would be the end of our ancient war, which, as we have already said was only athletic gesture. The launch of the javelin, weight, the disk or hammer for example, while taking origin from ancient forms of combat, in their sport where regulations only reward the distance, have lost all those characteristics, such as the accuracy shooting or need to control the direction that made disciplines complete.
If this did not happen was thanks to the work of a man of extraordinary intellect and great culture: Jigoro Kano (1860-1938), which intravide in methods of fighting the good old educational disciplines, able to give those who practice a balance psychological and physical presence exceptional. With his Kodokan judo born second generation of martial arts, which will no longer have as a goal or physical survival in combat, but teach people how to direct their energies positively to obtain, through friendship and the collaboration of the highest possible welfare.

Jigoro Kano
Jigoro Kano Mikage was born in a small village in the province of Hyogo. He was the third son of Jirosaku Mareshiba Kano, diplomatic, military government. His family was well known for the production of sake, liquor typical of Japan, whose working methods were kept secret and handed down from father to son for generations.
But Jirosaku broke this tradition, which lasted hundreds of years, leaving the sake of the trade to become official supplier of the Japanese Navy. This choice of the father even if indirectly had some influence on the formation of the young Jigoro. In fact, between the regular home Kano there were people like Admiral Kaishu Katsu, who became famous for the capitulation of Edo castle, or Baisei Narai old knight government shogunista, whose personality and their strength of character, certainly fascinated the little Kano. Nell'infanzia Jigoro was considered a child prodigy, with superior intelligence, mieteva a success after another at school, but equally could not be said of his success in physical activities.
As a very frail constitution was the smallest in its class, and this often forced to endure the harassment of his companions that taking around his weakness sfogavano their envy for its success in school. Although the small Kano always had the intelligence not to respond to these provocations was born in him a strong desire for revenge and just discovered that there were ways of fighting that has at least allowed to prevail over physically stronger and that is the ancient styles of ju jitsu, decided that a major aim of his life was the apprenderli, but it was not so easy.
When announced to his father that decision got a total and absolute disapproval. Jirosaku expressed itself with these words: " 'inconceivable that a future intellectual might think of throwing away his time practicing arts exceeded, especially vulgar." Words that perfectly reflected the low esteem in which they were at that time falls martial arts. A nothing served also help Baisei Narai, who had studied at the ju jitsu Tetsushiro Imai, great master of Kyushin-ryu, or Ryuji Katagiri, guardian of the villa of his parents to Maruyama-cho-Koishikawa and expert ju jitsu, as both , knowing the views of his father, refused support.
This not the least discouraged the stubborn Jigoro, which began secretly studying these disciplines with some friends and especially with his faithful servant Tsunejiro Tomita. But the few sporadic knowledge that had managed somehow to get on ju jitsu were not sufficient to achieve something, and it was always stronger and pressing in him the desire to be a teacher.
When in 1877 the Kaisei school and the school of medicine in Tokyo got together to form the University of Tokyo, Jigoro Kano enrolled in the faculty of letters going to live with Tomita in a room furnished at Saga-cho. Finally far from paternal control could realize his dream. In fact, thanks to the recommendation of his friend, the masseur Teinosuke Yagi, managed to become a student of Hakinosuke Fukuda, a master of Tenshin-Shinyo-Ryu.
With Fukuda Jigoro Kano began a study that brought him into contact with all the schools ju jitsu then remained, among them the great importance had Kito Ryu-directed by Tsunetoshi Iikubo (which actually was called Kuwakichi, Tsunetoshi was his name Teacher), and his method of training the kodokan judo that in a few years conquer the world.
For example, when Kano died in 1938 on the ship Nikawa-Maru, was returning from a meeting of the International Olympic Committee
Where was the decision to include judo between the disciplines of the 1940 Olympics, which took place not because of the Second World War.
We will not here a description of how discipline could codified by a brilliant student of 22 years in Japan spread with a rapidity impressive throughout the known world, leaving this argument in a forthcoming publication:
History of judo, because what we are interested in this discipline is the logic with which transformed both in form and substance in the world of martial arts.
And nobody could better describe this same logic of Jigoro Kano. There is a book, practically unknown, he published English language in a very short time before his death, and then written in the full maturity of his thought in which he sets out in very clear terms not only how but mainly because he decided to codify the judo . We therefore propose the literal translation of some songs, from our point of view fundamental to the understanding of psychological and motivational not only judo but of the whole world of martial arts.
What are Ju jitsu and judo
From Judo Professor Jigoro Kano
Many people will undoubtedly heard the names ju jitsu and judo, but probably few can say exactly what these names mean. Try, then, to explain this booklet the distinction between these words and how the word judo came to replace ju jitsu. During the feudal period, there were many Japanese martial disciplines, such as fencing, archery, the use of the spear, and so forth. Among these there was a call ju jitsu, and sometimes even tai jitsu or yawara. It was a practice complex, which included various methods of attack: as the lanciere, hit, kick, pugnalare, fendere, choke, hold the opponent on the ground, bend or stretch their arms or legs in such a way as to cause pain or even fractures, as well as a wide variety of ways to defend themselves against such attacks.
A similar exercise has existed in Japan since very ancient times, but it was only about three hundred and fifty years ago that began to be taught as a method. During the Tokugawa period (1615-1867) developed in art developed, and was taught by a number of teachers representing different schools.
I learned this in many distinguished masters of the late feudal period
Who were still alive in my youth. The teaching of their
Was of great value, since it was the result of a thorough search
And a long history. However, the education I was given as the application of a ubiquitous principle, but simply as a list of gimmicks or inventions of individual teachers.
Consequently, each time was different solutions in their techniques, I was often difficult to discover what was the most correct. This led me to make myself for a study as much as possible on this subject, and finally convinced me that, whatever the objective, which had hit a certain point or throw your opponent in this or that direction, there should be a principle that omnipresent governasse the entire field, and that this principle should be: the highest or most efficient use of both physical and mental aimed at achieving a certain defined purpose or aims.
Having understood this fundamental principle, studiai yet all the techniques of attack and defence and then taught my reach and put to the test their value in accordance with this principle. So could select those who had agreed with this principle and eliminate those that were not. Then, in place of those removed, put new techniques which I considered to be the correct application of that principle. The method is as follows all the techniques of attack and defence at the Kodokan hours taught under the name of judo, identified by ju jitsu taught by teachers of different feudal times.
Let me hours to explain the meaning of these words: kodokan, judo and ju jitsu. Kodokan literally means a school to study the way, where the road is the concept of life itself. Judo and ju jitsu terms are composed of two words: ju means gentle or give way, and jitsu is the art or practice, but do mean street or principle. So judo means the path of kindness or give way first and then gain victory at the end, while ju jitsu means the art and practice of judo.
What this really means this kindness or give way? To answer this question, let's calculate the strength of a man in a unit. Suppose then that the strength of a man who is before me is represented by seven units. Now, if he pushes me with all his strength, I will certainly forced to back or thrown on the ground, even if usassi all my strength against him. This happens because I used my strength against him, opposing force to force. But rather than oppose him I cedessi up his strength back my body as he pushed, preoccupandomi at the same time to keep my balance, then he will naturally sporgerebbe forward making his precarious balance. In this new position, it may become so weak (not actual physical strength but because of his awkward position) to have its strength represented, for the moment, alone three units, instead of its normal ten units. While I, maintaining balance, keep all my strength, originally represented by seven units. At this point I am currently in a position of superiority, and I can beat my opponent by using only half of my strength, and that is half of my seven units (three and a half), compared to its three. This leaves a half of my strength available for any other purpose.
If I instead had a force greater than my opponent, I could obviously unfounded. But even if I wanted to reject it and had the power to do so, it would be better for me always yield the first step, because doing so would economizzato better my energy
And so exhausted that of my opponent. This is a simple example of how, giving way, a fighter can defeat his opponent, as there are many other examples in competitions ju jitsu where this principle is applied, and it is always why the term ju jitsu (ie the gentle art or give way) became the name of art.
Now let me show with a few simple examples, as half of this art can be made some of the finest action in physical competitions. Suppose a man is erected in front of me. This can be compared to a ciocco wooden rests on one end. In this position if man is not exercising its power or forward or backward, the strength of a single finger will be enough to move it forward if they go from the front. If my port side right in front of him when it leans forward and shake my arm around his life, his whole body is pressed against my hip so that functions as a fulcrum balancing one half of his body on each side. At this point I can throw it to the ground with a slight rotation of my hip, or pulling his arm or his sleeve with one hand, even if it were two or three times heavier than me.
This happens when the opponent is firm and not proceed forward. Now we see what happens if we move forward in order to maintain its equilibrium. In this case I can run it by pressing the plant my foot against the heel of his foot that moves, just below the Achilles tendon, when his weight fell to a
Some extent on the leg that moves, but before the foot touched the ground. This is an example of the highest and efficient use of my energy, because through a slight my energy use can defeat a man of considerable strength.
Let another example: suppose that a man suddenly jumps on me from the front and try to go with all his strength. In this case, rather than push it back, bow my knees and putting one foot close to his followers and pushing the lower part of his abdomen with the plant of the foot, and at the same time pulling his sleeves or baveri with both hands, and finally extending my leg as much as possible, I can launch the opponent in a deadly jump on top of my head.
Suppose again that the opponent that I am facing is štrli slightly forward and push me with his right hand or left. So, taking advantage of his loss of balance, pull, taking the top of his sleeve with my right hand if he drove with his left hand and the left hand if he pushed with his right hand, while turning my body so that my back is in contact with his chest, then grasping his shoulder with my free hand and bowing suddenly my body forward, launching one's body on top of my head right into the ground.
From these examples, one can see immediately that although give way to strength is often very important, the principle of using sometimes it is equally important in order to launch.
If we consider that hit, kick, choke and other types of attacks can be effective used in competitions ju jitsu real name ju jitsu or art of kindness or give way, does not interpret the true meaning. The real ju jitsu is something more. If the ju jitsu as the art or practice of more efficient use of physical mental and judo as his street or principle, we can say for the first time that we came to the true definition of these words.
In 1882 founded the Kodokan and began to teach this neo-made art. After a few years pupils increased with geometric progression, and then also those who were trained in schools of the old masters were the Kodokan from all parts of Japan. The name ju jitsu was replaced by the new name judo, so much so that today nobody speaks in Japan more than ju jitsu although the name will survive abroad.


The phases of judo; physical education

I had success in applying the principle of maximum efficiency techniques attack and defence. Encouraged by this success, I asked if the same principle could not be applied to improving the health and physical education ie. But first of all it is necessary to clarify the purpose of physics.
Unfortunately, people are not in agreement about the purpose of physics. On this subject I have done many studies and exchanged views with different people, and today I have come to believe that the aim should be to make the body healthy, strong and beneficial, giving due regard to mental and moral discipline.
Chiarito finally Physical Education, the next step to take is to find ways to apply our principle. The ways in which young people are trained physically are many and varied, but in most civilized countries athletics (including all varieties of sports) and gymnastics are the two most widely practiced. So I will confine myself to making this a critical from the point of view of principles.
There are so many athletic sport that is difficult to speak of them indiscriminately. However, it is clear that these sports were not originally designed to develop the body harmoniously or to make the body physiologically perfect, but to compete or for some other purpose outside of them. Following that course in their practice some muscles are exercised excessively while others are not sufficiently used. It is therefore often unknowingly caused damage to some parts of the body. Instead, according to our principle, whatever energy we spend, whether mental or physical, should be used in the most efficient way to achieve the goal of physics, namely obtain health, strength and usefulness.
By putting this as an end, it seems clear that many types of athletic sports now widely practiced, should be either eliminated or improved, perhaps better ideandone others who agree with the principles of kodokan.
At this point it is natural to ask what was the result of that analysis about the gymnastics. To answer this question that gymnastics is good because it is not harmful but generally beneficial for the organs, because it aims in the same manner to the harmonious development of the body.
However, as is commonly practiced today, lacks two very important things: the interest and usefulness mental practice. Although there may be many systems to add interest and utility to gymnastics I prefer especially those forms that are more arising from the application of the principle of maximum efficiency. Significant movements in the combination of limbs, neck and body, while able to represent a certain idea, so that their practice can result both in the harmonious development of the body as nell'inculcazione a high moral ideal.
I have published a booklet in a Japanese form I designed, consisting of a combination of different physical movements targeted to the harmonious development of body and at the same time as a useful training in the methods of attack and defence (refers to the kata ' National physical education based on the principle of maximum efficiency, which will be published by us on technical manual judo).
From what I said at this point it appears that the physical shape of training can be obtained
Only starting with a study based on the principle of the highest and most efficient use of mental and physical.
I hope very much that in the future evolution of physics is based on this line. I have talked about the first two stages of judo: one aimed at a training in the methods of attack and defence in the second, which aims a harmonious development of the body. For both,
What we call randori and are generally kata
The methods used for training.


The phases of judo: randori

Randori which means free exercise is practised under the same conditions as a real competition. Includes launch choke, hold the opponent to the ground and bend or twist his arms or legs. The two contenders can use any technique they want, providing that you do not harm one another or, in other words, making sure not to apply the techniques as if they were in a real battle
And not forgetting to obey the rules of etiquette, judo,
Which are essential to the proper functioning.


The phases of judo: kata

Kata, which means literally shape, is a formal system of exercises including preordered the strike, cut, kick, pugnalare, fendere, etc., according to rules in which every fighter knows in advance what his opponent is going to do exactly.
Training in the strike, kick, pugnalare and fendere is given in kata and not in randori because if these techniques were used in randori could occur often injuries. When they are taught in kata is not likely that you have accidents because all attacks and methods of defence are prebooked. The randori can be practiced in different ways.
If the objective is simply training in the methods of attack and defence, attention should be directed especially to the most efficient ways to run, bend, twist, etc., without specific references to the development of the body or of a culture mental and moral. (This crucial statement of Kano presupposes the existence since then have two different interpretations of discipline kodokan: a sports-racing and another philosophical education. While we can not openly criticize the first, which probably should Development World judo, Jigoro Kano suggests, even between the lines too, as this version has very little to do with the principle of maximum efficiency and optimum use of energy from him, and we considered essential). The randori can also be studied with physical education as a primary goal. Like anything else, to be ideal must, as I said, be executed in accordance with the principle of maximum efficiency.
A great value randori is in an movements which provides for physical development. Another virtue is that every movement has some purpose, and is followed with spirit, while in ordinary gymnastic exercises and movements lack of interest. The goal of a systematic physical training in judo is not only to develop the body but also capable of making a man or a woman in perfect control over mind and body and prepare it or prepare to meet any emergency, it is purely accidental or as a result of an attack by others.
(From this sentence we can understand how Kano for the concept of application of judo defence staff, is not quite contrasting, but fully agree with the principle of maximum efficiency).


The phases of judo: judo and mental

The mental training in judo can be obtained either through the practice of kata that through the practice of randori, but with more success through the randori. Since the randori is a confrontation between two people who use all resources at their disposal, though abbedendo the rules laid down judo, both sides must always be vigilant, striving to detect weaknesses's opponent and ready to attack whenever the opportunity permits. Such a mental attitude in the media attack tends to make students more conscientious, sincere, thoughtful, cautious prudent in all its modes of action. At the same time there is training to early decision and Immediate because in randori, unless you decide quickly and act immediately, we will lose the opportunity to be in that in defending themselves.
And also, no contendente can know what is in randori for his opponent, so that both have to always be prepared to face any sudden attack by the other. Getting used to this kind of mental attitude develops a high degree of peace of mind. Acquiring this ability to concentrate and observation in the gym or at the training course is very useful in daily life.
Devising means to defeat the opposition will also exercise capacity imagination, reasoning and judgement which then developed spontaneously, randori. And finally, since the study of randori is the study of the report, mental and physical, between two contenders from what you could draw hundreds of valuable lessons, but for now I shall do even some examples.
In randori teach the students to act on the fundamental principle of judo without giving importance to what may seem physically inferior opponent, but could easily subdue the other with the use of pure force. If we act against this principle opponent will never be convinced of his defeat, regardless of the amount of brute force that has been used against him. I think it is unnecessary to draw attention to the fact that the way to convince your rival in a debate not to use this or that advantage that you have on him, resulting from power, knowledge or wealth, but according persuade with the inviolable laws of logic. What we can gain from randori is the awareness that persuasion is much more effective than coercion, and this awareness is really valuable in real life. And we also teach the, when it needs to resort to any trick to subdue the enemy, only to commit that much of its strength that it is absolutely necessary to achieve the goal that he had set himself, putting it on guard against excessive that insufficient use of force. There are many cases where people fail in this undertaking simply go too far, not knowing where to stop, and vice versa.
There is granted yet another example of what can be learned from randori. We teach the students, when facing an opponent that is overly excited by the desire to gain the victory over him, not to resist with power and decision, but playing with him until the power and fury of his violent adversary run out for themselves.
The usefulness of this type of behaviour in daily transactions is obvious. As you well know, no amount of reasoning or quality can giovarci when we are faced with someone so shaken by seem to have lost their reason. All we can do in this case is to wait until his ardour is consumption alone.
All these lessons we can draw from the practice of randori. Their possible application to conduct daily business is a topic of study very interesting and valuable especially in educating young minds.
The phases of judo: judo and Ethics

Before talking phase ethics of judo, we see how the principle of maximum efficiency can help us to promote moral conduct. A man is often very eccitabile and led to anger for insignificant reasons. But when you consider that going to be excited is a waste of energy and does not need any utility to anyone, but rather harm themselves and others, we readily understand that the students need for judo must refrain from such conduct .
It can happen to a man being shot down or sad because of a disappointment and no longer wants to work. A man in similar conditions, the judo strongly recommend to find out what the best thing we can do, given the existing circumstances.
As may seem paradoxical, this man, for my thinking, it's in the same position one that is the zenith of success. In both cases, there is only one path to follow, the path that, after due consideration, he estimated to be the best decision at this time. So the teachings of judo can be used to drive a man out of the depths of disappointment and dell'inedia towards a state in vigorous activities with joyful hope for the future.
The same reasoning applies to those people who are dissatisfied. People are often dissatisfied and scontrose instead of solving their problems, they tend to blame others for what is their fault
The teaching of judo will understand these people that this conduct is against the principle of maximum efficiency, and enable them to realize through full agreement with that principle certainly become more serene. In this way, the teaching of judo is, in many cases, return to the improvement of moral conduct.


The phases of judo: aesthetics in judo

Finally, I would like to add a few words about the emotional aspect of judo. Siamo tutti coscienti della piacevole sensazione che ci viene data dai nervi e dai muscoli nel compiere un esercizio, e proviamo anche soddisfazione nell’ottenere abilità nell’uso del nostro corpo oppure attraverso il senso
di superiorità sugli altri in gara.
Ma a parte questi piaceri, esiste un amore per la bellezza e la conseguente estasi derivante sia dall’assumere splendide posizioni e dal compiere
eleganti movimenti, che nel vedere e apprezzare queste qualità negli altri. L’allenamento in tal senso, insieme al piacere ottenibile dalla competizione della bellezza dei movimenti simbolizzanti le differenti idee, costituisce
quello che noi chiamiamo l’aspetto emozionante o estetico del judo.


Conclusioni

Riassumiamo ora quanto detto finora. Il judo è uno studio e un allenamento teso al miglioramento della mente e del corpo così come della capacità di disciplinare la propria vita ei propri affari. Dallo studio approfondito dei diversi metodi di attacco e di difesa mi convinsi che essi dipendevano dall’applicazione di un unico, onnipresente principio, e cioè: qualunque sia l’obiettivo, può essere meglio ottenuto tramite il più alto o il più efficiente uso della mente e del corpo per quello scopo.
Una volta compresa la vera importanza di questo principio, esso può essere applicato a tutte le fasi della vita e dell’attività, permettendo così di condurre in maniera più razionale e più appagante la propria esistenza.
Non necessariamente si deve giungere alla reale comprensione di questo
principio attraverso l’allenamento nei metodi di attacco e di difesa, ma come io stesso sono giunto a concepire questa idea attraverso l’allenamento in questi metodi, ho tratto da tale allenamento nel confronto e nello sviluppo
del corpo e della mente il metodo più facile per giungere al principio.
(La grande saggezza di Kano è ancora una volta dimostrata da questa affermazione, in cui non assolutizza solo nel suo metodo l’ottenimento
della conoscenza, ma si limita a descrivere la strada da lui seguita,
senza escludere che ve ne possano essere infinite altre, attinenti
o no ai metodi di attacco e di difesa).
Il principio della massima efficienza, sia quando è applicato alla
promozione o al perfezionamento della vita sociale, sia quando è applicato alla coordinazione mente-corpo nella scienza dell’attacco e della difesa, richiede, prima di tutto, ordine e armo
(tratto dall’Enciclopedia delle arti marziali in vendita tramite il portale)

(This article was translated by a machine translation software and not by one person)