What is judo?
Judo comes from Japan, two people fight and fight without weapons, standing close to the body and on the ground. There are throwing techniques for throwing your partner to the ground from a standing position, falling techniques for landing safely on the ground, grab handles and many other ground techniques.
There are also kicks and punches in judo. However, this is not practiced in children and youth training and is strictly forbidden in competition. Kicks and punches are part of different katas. Kata is a form of exercise in judo. A kata (form) consists of fixed sequences of techniques intended to convey the principles of technique. In this way, even demanding techniques can be practiced safely. Kicks and punches can also be trained as part of judo-specific self-defense by adults.
Judo (“the gentle way”) was founded by the Japanese Jigoro Kano (1860-1938) from various styles and techniques of Jiu-Jitsu, which follow the principle of “victory by yielding” or the principle of “maximum effect with minimal ( Effort) expenditure” follow. The judo techniques are designed in such a way that the greatest possible effect can be achieved with skill and as little (force) effort as possible. For example, the opponent’s kinetic energy and strength is used to successfully implement one’s own technique (defense). Consequently, judo is also well suited for self-defense.
Founder Jigoro Kano formulated two basic principles for practicing judo:
- The best possible use of body and mind (seiryoku zenyō, 精力善用)
- Mutual help and understanding for mutual progress and well-being (jita kyōei, 自他共栄)
According to Kano, the internalization of these two principles is the goal of any judo training. The first principle relates to the attainment of physical, mental and athletic performance, beyond which, from an athletic point of view, victory in a duel becomes possible. The second, moral principle, can be related to training together with a partner. In contrast to almost all other martial arts, judo can only be practiced with a partner. The exercise form kata, which is carried out without a partner in other martial arts, is only possible in judo with a partner. This results in a mutual responsibility, from which mutual help and partnership is essential and present in every training session. The two principles together result in the goal of learning the judo techniques as well as possible in order to defeat the opponent in a sporting duel and at the same time to ensure his progress and health.
In Kano’s understanding, however, these principles go well beyond sport. The sport, the practice of judo, should lead to a lifestyle that includes both principles.
Judo is the way to get there, ie practicing judo (Ju-gentle, Do-way) leads to personality development and thus contributes to human well-being and happiness.
Sources:
Jigoro Kano, Dieter Born: Kodokan Judo, 2012
Kyuzo Mifune; The Canon of Judo Intl., 2004
Ulrich Klocke: Mastering Judo, 2017
