Judo Values

Gunji Koizumi, the father of European Judo, wrote in April 1954, some 60 years ago, about the values in judo in an article entitled, “Live and let live”. In this blog we consider the relevance of his words today.

In today’s modern society it is impossible to miss the speed at which technology, industry and lifestyles are changing. Civilisations are progressing rapidly and these developments are incessant and inevitable and can be reflected in the world of sport. So judo has changed over time. Koizumi, describes how judo in 1954 was growing into an organisation that demanded rules and regulations - far from the origins as a ‘formless form’. 

The growth in participation opens up the opportunity for differing opinions to enter the judo world. This was taking place 60 years ago and is no different among today’s judo family. People may train Judo for mental development and stimulation, recreational enjoyment and social factors, exercise and health, for self-defence, or indeed as a dynamic modern competitive sport.

Koizumi describes how these different incentives are born from urges within individuals that were thought at that time to be mainly influenced by age. He was of the opinion that at a young age judo is mainly appealing for emotional satisfaction; then at the age of physical prime our focus shifts to a more competitive nature, before at approximately 30 years, when our physical capability is diminishing, our interest shifts into that from a more mental perspective.

We believe that there are more factors at work than age in influencing an individual’s motives in judo, those of most significance being an interaction with their surrounding environment and their previous personal experiences.  A person’s characteristics and experiences along their judo path have a significant impact on their judo values; differing judo values result in differing views as to how judo should develop.  This of course means it is difficult to find the all embracing progressive solution that Koizumi deemed necessary - however it seems that 60 years ago he may have been onto something. 

How many times have you heard (or even some of you may have said) how much better judo was back in the day? That the traditions of judo must be upheld and protected from modernisation of the sport? That competing was harder back then? 

Of course, sometimes you would be right, and sometimes, you are looking through rose-tinted spectacles. It is also interesting to reflect on whether Kano-shihan was trying protect judo from modernisation, or in fact the opposite.

The fact is that there is no single answer to pleasing everybody; but judo can be inclusive of all motives, judo can provide something for everybody if everybody works to support each other. Jita Kyoei.

This does not mean to change your values to suit another, as long as you hold on to your values and learn to pass them on and promote them they will remain and be safe. It means to work as one to embrace all values born through judo, to promote the fulfillment that judo brings to anyone that seeks it. For the judoka, an understanding of this lesson may be better achieved through reflecting upon the fundamentals taught in practice. These being the importance of the body working as one to be effective in movement. If all of us with different motives work together as one to include and promote all aspects of the way, we as a judo family will be stronger. As Koizumi stated: “man is no judge of man, live and let live”. 

We ask you to think over your judo values, how you came about them and what you are doing to pass them on. We ask you to consider whether you share the respect for other people’s judo values as you do your own, even if you may not fully understand them. 

Recently we had the sad occasion to attend the funeral of legendary coach, Don Werner of Pinewood Judo Club. Afterwards Dr Callan was asked by EJU Level 5 Graduate, and England Team Manager, Matt Divall, what he had learnt from the days events. He responded;

"Good coaches teach judo, great coaches teach values. 
Good coaches build systems, great coaches build cultures."

(Callan, 2014)

As a coach are you just teaching technique, or are you building people, and teaching values. In your dojo, is judo more than a sport?

We work to help coaches shape and reflect on their values, through our delivery of the EJU Advanced Coach Award and Performance Coach Award, together with our colleagues at Anglia Ruskin University. Find out more here…

Good luck to you trying to instill good judo values to younger members of the judo family.

Thanks to our friends over at Judo Klub Samobor for the great photo.

[Ref: Koizumi, G. 1954. Judo, Budokwai Quarterly Bulletin. April. p 21.]

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Judo and Science

We found an article published in 1949, some 65 years ago, written by eminent judoka and Budokwai member Douglas Mann, entitled, Judo and Science. In this blog we consider its relevance today.

We present this to contrast our earlier blog on the art of judo.

In hearing the word “science” what’s the first image to be pictured in your mind? A man with crazy hair, a lab coat and a board full of equations? Do you welcome science as a method of learning, or shun it because of anxiety about its complexity. 

But the judoka among you are learning a science every time you step on the mat. We hypothesise, when we think about how we might throw, who might beat who, or how we could deal with a tactical situation. Randori practice is the trials and testing of the scientist; then our throws are displayed in competition, donated to the collection of others – in the same way that significant findings are exhibited and published in science.  With this comparison, Mann explains that we as judo players become the experts of our own science.

Mann goes on to state that “By painstaking, objective study of nature, man learns to control the powers of nature”, in this example Mann refers to science as an objective method of study. This can then be applied further; through study of the body we can learn to control our health and our physical conditioning for performance and through study of judo we can learn technique, tactics and develop control of our actions. 

As Mann identifies, science plays an important role in judo, he describes the scientific approach to learning judo as the study and application of biomechanical principles and the understanding and manipulation of an opponent’s cognitions. Over time developments have been made in the core sciences, leading to an influence by sport scientists in many sports. Such developments in judo have allowed us to gain a greater depth of knowledge about how our sport is evolving and about those partaking in it. 

Effective coaching requires keeping up with and driving forward the direction of sport science – in order to effectively educate others it is vital to first educate one’s self. Is this something you too feel is important in order to be a great judoka or coach? Are you utilising and making the most of resources available to you to be the best you can be? 

“In order to effectively educate others it is vital to first educate one’s self.”

Some readers may insist that judo is instead an art, as if by being an art, something cannot therefore be a science. This view is clearly flawed. One only has to consider the fibonacci numbers we see in nature to realise that, science and art are locked together. Mann recognises this when he concludes his article with a comment about the “Middle Way”. An important concept in judo and budo. 

At Judospace, our view is that coaching needs to be founded on evidence. We call it evidence based coaching. Science relies on evidence. If we are not using evidence based coaching, we must be using “guess based coaching”, at Judospace we believe that athletes deserve more than that.

We work with the European Judo Union, and many forward thinking federations to help coaches apply science into their work. Module titles on the EJU Level 4 Coach Award at Anglia Ruskin University include; Applied Pedagogy in Judo, Physiology for Judo, Biomechanics in Judo, Judo Technical Principles, Talent Development Pathways in Judo, Strength and Conditioning for Judo, Performance Analysis of Judo, and Psychological Profiling for Combat Sport. These courses are delivered by some of the top judo expertise in the world. Four members of the IJF Hall of Fame have taught on the EJU courses, (George Kerr, Kosei Inoue, Peter Seisenbacher and Neil Adams).

This Easter (April 2014) on the EJU course, Juergen Klinger, Nuno Delgado, Emanuela Pierantozzi, Yoshiaki Tsuruoka, Katrina McDonald, Bob Challis, Darren Warner and Mike Callan will share their expertise on subjects related to Judo and Science. You can find out how to enrol here.

To find out more about Judo and Science visit our research pages.

Wishing every success to you and your athletes.

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(Judo and Science by D. Mann. First published in Judo, Quarterly Bulletin, January 1949. Vol. IV. No. 4. Published by the Budokwai. London. p 33-34.)