Judo and Education

“The three objectives of physical education, fighting and spiritual growth are expressly sought in judo. By practising judo, the student will be able to acquire the benefits of physical education, become versed in methods of combat, and concurrently nurture their intellect and morality.” (J. Kano)

This quotation is from one of the oldest lectures given by 29 year old Jigoro Kano, on 11 May 1889, which considered the contribution of judo to education. I think it is as relevant to consider this today in the second decade of the 21st century.

The traditional terminology of sensei has been replaced in many cases by the term, coach, or trainer. In some western European countries, there is a distinction made between a judo trainer and a judo teacher. In other cultures the term coach is used as a catch-all. The characters that make up the word sen-sei, 先生 are often translated as “one who has gone before”. This is a particularly relevant translation, if you consider the martial ways, or budo, as a path. So your judo sensei, is one who has trodden the path before you.

If we think of this from the perspective of the sensei, we are guiding our students along the path of judo. Along that journey we are told that our students will become versed in methods of combat and also nurture their intellect and morality. So I suggest that our role is to keep them safe along the journey, lead them the right way, and help them in the attainment of the three objectives of a physical, intellectual and moral education.

Physical
There are plenty of resources for the judo teacher to help them become a better physical educator, and to help them teach methods of combat. There are books, and videos, about a huge range of topics, all relating broadly to helping create a better physical specimen. There are also countless examples of resources of a technical and tactical nature, all designed to help the coach teach methods of combat. In my experience, most coaches spend most of their preparation time in this area, essentially focusing on the physical education side of their role.

There are much less resources which help the coach to lead their student toward an improvement in their intellectual or moral education. I consider these aspects below.

Intellectual
Intellect, is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as; “The faculty of reasoning and understanding objectively, especially with regard to abstract matters.” So perhaps the coach could help the student develop an ability to look at things objectively. That’s about being impartial, not being influenced by personal feelings, but just considering the facts. In the combat of a judo match, this is really important. It really doesn’t matter what your personal feelings are about the last waza-ari, or if you thought it was only yuko. The process of randori encourages you to be honest with yourself, about your strengths and weaknesses, about what will work and what won’t, rather than what you would like to work.

At the Judospace Educational Institute, in our work with coaches, we challenge them to be objective in their coaching. To coach what they know will work, rather than what they think will work. We call it Evidence-Based-Coaching. So we try to develop the reasoning and objective understanding of the coaches, we try to develop their intellect.

Moral
What about morality? What’s that? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it’s the “principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behaviour.” So as judo coaches, leading our students along the way, we need to help them understand the differences between right and wrong. We do that every day in training, when little Jimmy hits little Joey, we tell him it’s bad. When little Susie is kind to little Sarah, we tell her it’s good. We try to set standards of behaviour in the dojo. We don’t tolerate bullying, we don’t tolerate arrogance or rudeness.

These behaviour standards are what help us teach the moral educational part of judo. If we allow the behaviour standards to slip, if we tolerate a little bullying, for example, then we are not guiding our students along the path of judo. We could simply be teaching any other form of combat training. The moral educational aspect of judo is at the heart of what makes judo “more than a sport.”

At the Judospace Educational Institute we are proud to work with the European Judo Union, whose motto, is Judo – more than a sport.

The International Judo Federation, define World Judo Day, annually on 28 October. I suggest you help your students find out why it’s on that date. The IJF encourage us to focus on the moral aspect of judo, by theming the day around a moral principle, this year was Honour, and next year will be Unity. I encourage you to build on the lead given by the IJF and the EJU, and to take moral education into your dojo. 

Do it by encouraging standards of behaviour. As you drive to the dojo for your next class, in addition to thinking about how to improve the students uchimata, think about how you can improve their behaviour. By helping them to take responsibility for their behaviour, you are helping their moral education, helping them to become valued leaders in society.

If you are interested in this approach to creating effective and efficient judoka, who are highly proficient in methods of combat, have developed their intellect, and have a strong moral compass, then we would love to hear from you.

Good luck to you and your student along the journey.

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References:

Quote is from: KANŌ, J., & BENNETT, A. (2009). Jigoro Kano and the Kodokan; an innovative response to modernisation. Bunkyō-ku Kasuga, Kōdōkan judo institute. p 7.

Main photo is Anto Geesink after ippon was called in the final of the 1964 Olympic Games Open category, demonstrating his nurtured combat skills and morality.

Principles of Judo

I share below some thoughts from a module entitled “Judo Technical Principles”, about some fundamental judo principles. In particular, the 3 principles of judo as outlined in the Illustrated Kodokan Judo, 1955 edition; the principle of softness, the principle of maximum efficiency, and the principle of mutual benefit. (I led this module as Visiting Senior Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University, teaching the European Judo Union Coach Award).



Principle of softness

We see the concept of jū, [柔] in Ju-jutsu / ju-jitsu as one of the six martial arts, or Roku-bugei, the 6 compulsory martial arts for all samurai, these are; Kenjitsu (sword), Kyujitsu (archery), Bajitsu (horse), Sojitsu (spear), Hojitsu (gunnery), and Jujitsu (hand to hand).

柔, is also known as Yawara. Commonly translated as softness, yielding, pliable, as in the example of snow falling on the willow tree. 

In the year 700 there was a Chinese military code in Japan, Lao Tzu's "Three Strategies", the "San-Ryaku". In this code we find the four character phrase: "jū yoku sei gō”. Another way to say this is; jū yoku gō o seisu, 柔よく剛を制す, meaning "Softness subdues Hardness" meaning that flexibility overcomes rigidity.

As we all know the techniques of Judo enable a smaller person to utilise the opponent's own power to throw him in spectacular fashion. Thus demonstrating the principle that "Softness overcomes Hardness". Indeed it is this drive to show the spectacular throwing techniques of judo that motivates many of the rule changes to international competition judo, brought about by the IJF in recent years. It could be argued that the implementation of the IJF rule changes are in fact a desire to demonstrate the fundamental principle of softness overcoming hardness, the principle of jū, enshrined in the first kanji of the name judo.

Lao Tzu illustrates the point with the phrase; 

“Water is the softest thing, yet it can penetrate mountains and earth. This shows clearly the principle of softness overcoming hardness.”

In 1922 at the age of 62, Jigoro Kano founded the Kodokan Cultural Council, The Kodokan Bunkakai. This was the 40th anniversary of the Kodokan. He chose the founding of the Cultural Council to launch the two underpinning principles of judo. By considering the date of the launch we can understand that these principles were formulated after 40 years of reflection about the principles of judo. Each of them is expressed as four word phrase.

Principle of maximum efficiency

seiryoku zen'yō, 精力善用, the maximum efficient use of power, also described as; maximum efficiency, minimum effort, or maximum efficient use of physical and mental strength. 

Jigoro Kano realised that the principle of jū alone, did not encompass all of the techniques in judo, for example, armlocks, or atemi-waza. The answer was about applying your power in the most efficient way. This underlying principle for training in the techniques of judo, can be applied to all actions in daily life.

The judoka learns to be efficient with their training, to be efficient with their time, to fit all the training around other commitments of work, study and relationships. The ideas of “not too much, not too little” that underpin maximum efficiency can also be applied to daily tasks, such as cleaning. Trevor Leggett often gave the example of holding the pencil half way up, for more efficient writing. (I had the great fortune to study zen under Trevor Leggett in the 1980s.)

Principle of mutual benefit

jita kyōei 自他共栄, or mutual prosperity for self and others, often translated as mutual welfare and benefit.

At the opening of the Kodokan Bunkakai in 1922, Kano explained that seiryoku zen'yō  was required to provide the platform for jita kyōei.

For individuals, anger, worry and conflict, are not efficient uses of their power. In fact they are a waste of power. For a society, if many people are inefficient in their power, the society will fall into decline. The most efficient use of power for a group, relies on them supporting each other, providing mutual welfare, and then the whole society can benefit from that mutual application of maximum efficient use of power. In this way when seiryoku zen'yō is applied to society it becomes jita kyōei.

Examples of jita kyōei, include; respect for others, consideration to ukes, consideration to losers, helping people who need help, and helping the world to be peaceful. 

Often some of these ways to communicate jita kyōei in the dojo, is by encouraging young judoka to follow a version of the judo moral code.

I believe that a judo club can achieve great things, and make a significant contribution to their community, by the judo coaches and teacher taking efforts to apply the principles of judo into their daily classes.

If you would like to understand more about how to coach judo to build your club, improve your athletes, and improve society, then consider following the path of hundreds of successful coaches, by registering on the EJU Coach Awards.

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Trees on a judo mountain

“Looking at the poems of Basho (one of the most famous Japanese poets), one finds that the concepts of Immutability and Change are very much at the centre of his thought.

The immutable backbone of Judo is the aim of human perfection through judo training, the ideal being the peak of universal morality.

In judo this high ideal is accepted as the aim, but in the practice of the technique (jutsu) itself it is made clear that the ideal is always to be kept before the mind, and this I think is the immutable aspect of Kodokan Judo.”

Kano, R., 1953. Immutability and Change. Judo Quarterly Bulletin, July, IX(2), pp. 14-15.

These are some of the words of Resei Kano. The former President of the Kodokan and the International Judo Federation, written in April 1953, in the Kodokan magazine, Judo. (The reference is for the English Translation in the Budokwai Quarterly Bulletin).

That took me to research a little more about Basho. Born in 1644, near Ueno, now part of Tokyo, he is famous as a writer of haiku poetry. Then I came across this haiku by Shoji Kumano. It seemed rather topical at the moment;

Enjoying three bowls of zoni 
At the New Year's breakfast;
Millionaire as he is!

三椀の　雑煮かゆるや　長者ぶり  (Sanwan no　zoni　kayuru ya　chojya buri)

 (http://www.hokuoto77.com/buson00.html#new year's day)

Background: 'Zoni' is a soup containing mochi (rice cakes), vegetables and other ingredients. To cook zoni was very expensive for the common people in the Edo period(1603-1868). 

Earlier in my career, I was lucky enough to be employed as a manager by Syd Hoare. Syd is a legendary judoka, who competed in the Tokyo Olympic Games. His company was called Yamagi Ltd. Hi told me that the company name was drawn from a traditional poem about a secret principle of judo;

The trees on Mount Tsukuba are extremely thick but from time to time a moonbeam penetrates.

(Tsukubayama ha yamashige yamashige keredo
Konoma konoma ni tsukikage zo moru)

This is article 171 in Syd’s book “Judo Strategies”.

Earlier this month I had the privilege of giving a lecture at Tsukuba University. It was formerly known as Tokyo Higher Normal College, and the Principal for 25 years was Professor Jigoro Kano.

I was talking to around 200 undergraduates. Discussing matters related to violence and bullying in sport.  I reminded them that they are the generation to deliver the legacy of Tokyo 2020, and that one legacy could be the eradication of violence from the Japanese sporting society, far more lasting than any bricks and mortar.

Hopefully some of you reading this will have athletes with aspirations to compete with distinction at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Judo Competition. As they eat like millionaires to celebrate this new year, they will dedicate themselves to another year of hardship and hard work. They are trying to create a personal legacy.

I have chosen to dedicate the rest of my career to supporting the athletes, coaches and federations who choose that journey of hardship and hard work. I founded Judospace Ltd, so named as S.P.A.C.E. (supporting player and coach education). I work with a remarkable team of people, committed particularly to helping coaches transform their athletes into judoka.

As we step into another year, another step along the way, we would like to thank everyone that we have worked with in 2013, and re-commit ourselves to having even greater impact in the coming 12 months.

Happy New Year.

Breaking Balance

Kuzushi. Syd Hoare suggests it "is still the undiscovered secret of judo". I thought I'd try to discover a little more.

Over the years I've come to realise that people are so much easier to throw if their balance is broken. As I mature I find that I seek out any possible way to be more efficient with my efforts. It seems to me that practicing with partners
who are in a state of unbalance would be much more efficient. So how do I achieve that?

Murata Sensei, of the Kodokan, discussed with me the idea that kuzushi is an integral part of tsukuri.

Moshanov suggests that five of the most basic methods of kuzushi are to be found in the Itsutsu-no-kata, the Forms of Five. If kuzushi is so fundamental to the application of waza, then why is
itsutsu-no-kata so rarely taught? Perhaps if it was taught more then kuzushi wouldn't be such an undiscovered secret.

Leggett and Watanabe suggest that "the idea of judo is not to smash an opponents strongest point, but to get him off balance and keep him off balance...", applying less force to his weak point.

Kano states "Even if your opponent has two or three times your power, if you can execute your move at the precise moment he is off balance, you can easily throw him by something as simple as tripping him."

Sounds to me like the idea of maximum efficiency with minimum effort. Best use of energy. Seiryoku saizen katsuyo.

Hmmm... So it seems that the application of kuzushi is the manifestation of seiryoku Zenyo. There's a thought.

If you are interested in finding out more about the application of kuzushi, why not enrol on the Advanced Coach Award with the European Judo Union. Visit http://www.judospace.com/ to find out more.

Hoare. S., (2002) Judo Strategies. pp 48-49. Ippon Books.

Leggett. T. & Watanabe. K., (1964) Championship Judo. Foulsham.

Moshanov. A., (2004) Judo from a russian perspective. Ipa-Verlag.

Kano. J., (2005) Mind over muscle. Kodansha.

Three Levels of Judo

I would like to quote below from Mind over Muscle by Jigoro Kano, page 94-95.

"We have now established judo's three aspects - training for defense against attack, cultivation of the mond and body, and putting one's energy to use. We have also affirmed judo's highest goal as self perfection for the betterment of society. For the sake of convenience, let us place the foundation - training for defense against attack - at the bottom and call it lower level judo. Let us call training and cultivation, which are by-products of training for defense and attack, middle-level judo. The study of how to put one's energy to use in society comes last, so let us call it upper leve judo.

When we divide judo into these three levels, we can see that it must not be limited to training for fighting in the dojo, and even if you train your body and cultivate your mind, if you do not go a level higher, you cannot truly benefit society. No matter how great a person you are, how superior your inytelligence, or how strong your body, if you die without achieving anything, as the proverb says: 'Unused treasure is a wasted treasure.' It can be said that you perfected yourself, but it cannot be siad that you contributed to society. I urge all practitioners of judo to recognise that it consists of these three levels and to undergo their training without undue emphasis of one aspect over another."

I feel this message is of great value to coaches.

Of course you must strive to ensure your players have the technical ability to apply defense against attack, the first level. Some coaches also step up to the second level, and seek to cultivate the bodies and minds of their athletes, encourage them to develop physically in a balanced way, and encourage them to better their minds through education. Only some coaches work hard to study how to put their energies to use to benefit society.

Try to be a coach who benefits society, it's one of the things that makes judo more than sport.
I hope you have the time to vist the European Judo Union Level 3 Coach Award at www.judospace.com.