HISTORY OF JUDO

The seeds to Judo were sown in 1878 when Jigoro Kano, at the age of 18years, entered University; he became interested in Ju Jitsu. In1882 Kano founded ‘The Kodokan Judo Institute’ in Tokyo Japan. Having practiced Ju Jitsu for several years, he took the gentler and less dangerous techniques, adding some of his own and called the new Martial Art “Judo”. The name Judo was derived from two Chinese characters, ‘Ju’ meaning “Gentle” and ‘Do’ meaning “Way or Path”. Thus Judo is “The Gentle Way”. With the new martial art formed, Kano adopted the following principles and philosophies:-

(1) Use negative resistance to opposing strength, therefore to push when pulled and pull when pushed.

(2) ‘The Principle of Maximum Efficiency with Minimum Effort’. This principle included, in its application, the study of strength and weaknesses of the body, when applied; it allowed the best technique to be used, at the most effective time, without wasted energy.

(3) ‘The Principle of Mutual Welfare’. Kano believed that the practice of Judo could affect the spiritual and mental aspects of everyday life together with the physical development of the body. Therefore: a healthy body a healthy mind

In 1889 Kano visited Europe and America, teaching and spreading his art. In 1909 he became the first Japanese member of the International Olympic Committee.

He travelled abroad teaching Judo, a total of eight times, on his last voyage, in1938, he died on his way home from Cairo, having attended an Olympics Committee; ironically Tokyo had just been approved as the venue for the next Olympics Games. Kano never intended Judo to be the competitive sport that it is today; it was to be a way of life, spiritually to bring harmony with physical and mental training. The first International Judo tournament was in 1947 against France and Great Britain, Great Britain won. In1951 the French team took revenge by winning the first European Championships. By 1956 Judo was being taught in many schools across Japan; Kano was never to witness the fruit of his success.

Although some of Kano’s ideals have changed, today it has become a sport as well as a martial art and a method of self-defence, equalising people’s size and strength; it is a sport / art for anyone, age, race or gender, being no barrier. The practice of Judo brings to the judoka (Judo practitioner), an inner confidence and well being. The spirit of Kano lives today.

By Stan Eley