mitesco - judo

Background: Mitesco is online since January 2008. It is a non-profit initiative of a Dutch judoka, with the purpose to promote the more intrinsic values of the original judo spirit, in the Netherlands, and also in the English- and German-speaking countries.

Updates: The pages of Mitesco are updated until the end of March 2008; by then it’s only necessary to refine a bit, update the links, or translate further in German. Updates are announced in the main entrance-menu, by a scrolling text..

Privacy: Mitesco tracks visitors, but believes not to offend your privacy. We don’t share personal information or IP-addresses.

Copyright: It is possible and to be encouraged if you make a print or a copy of pages, contents and other material from this site, exclusively for your own benefit or non-commercial use. If you want to copy any material to other webpages, it will be no problem as long as you don’t change the content. It would be kind to send us an email and let us know where our philosophy used to be shared. All original and published work as quoted in the dark-blue texts is copyrighted.

Links: Other webmasters can of course be free linking to this site. We don’t feel responsible for the links we make to other websites (see ‘Disclaimer’, below)

1. Generally spoken

A. Gender

This web page will speak of judoka's in the male form. We can of course also read ‘she’ of use the female form. We have chosen only for convenience and readability the male word, instead of ‘he/she’ and ‘his/her’.

B. System of techniques

Mitesco chooses for the throws to maintain the original Gokyo no Waza (1895-1920) and its subsequent Shinmeisho No Waza (1982), instead of the Kawashi system. For children, the latter system with numbers for the techniques might be nice, but not effective. Mitesco uses anyway only the Japanese names. Therefore the ‘katawaza’ are to Mitesco part of the ‘tewaza’.

C. Sources

Mitesco uses the texts available in English. Otherwise he translates most sources himself from Dutch or other languages. He makes translations as carefully as possible. Wherever possible he also provides the source. But some quotes come from web pages and are indicating no sources - even judoinfo.com cites without saying exactly where it is found.
Mitesco is fundamentally an academic and really hates this procedure, but in internetland it can be apparently not otherways.

D. Images

In addition to the graphics that Mitesco itself has made, a lot of material come from all the internet. If someone is owner of imagery and is determined not wanting it to see on this web page is used, he can write me. Then it will be removed without delay.

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2. The basis to speak about Kano and Mifune and their texts

Restriction

First this. We westerners must have the humility to admit honestly that we never can get into the skin of an oriental thinker. We are soaked through and through in the patterns of our Judeo-Christian world, and the transformation in the Enlightenment and the great ideologies, while now the competitive mentality of capitalism is dominant.

We need therefore to be careful describing these great judo legends:

A. Anachronism

The time when Jigoro Kano lived, when the Japanese empire for the first time accepted Western influences, caused the philosopher already concerns. On one side Kano was an innovator and intellectual, on the other hand however, through and through rooted in the Japanese traditions. He would possibly not feel at home in the current Japan (and maybe even in the modern Kodokan?). In fact, Japan has become part of a Western-dominated global economy, and Kano's ideals of the common good (the jita kyoei) were different from what it is worldwide now. That also has to do with the following, on he religion. 'His' judo in Japan is also a simple sport, and thus is all we write about judo in the spirit of Kano, difficult to understand for the reader in the right time and context. We call this an 'anachronism': consider past times with the eyes of the present. We should be careful. Do we know exactly what the 'original' principles are? Even if we stay close to the texts of Kano? It’s the only way of research, and we are still somewhat safe working. But further, when we move around the Internet we can read so many articles and texts who all claim they have properly understood what Judo in the spirit of Kano would be – if only it wouldn’t be so much the spirit of 2008 determining the observations…

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B. Role of religion and egocenteredness

In our country we do not have the sense of connectedness with the world we live in, and the religious load. We consider the Self as the center of everything. Everyone and everything around us is at the service of the Big Ego - or is like a competitor for the ego. That creates a totally different competitive atmosphere like it was in the days of Jigoro Kano and Kyuzo Mifune. They had respect for others as for themselves, even in combat.
We have also no deep sense of the religious load of the cosmos, the Earth, the elements and humans. Most judoka's in our country live without religion. (What in the USA for example, is not so ordinary!)
If people know something from oriental religions, it is often a floating, emotional approach, as it is in the ‘New-Age-shops’ - and then men are (strange enough) often opposed to judo because it is too violent (!) Would be.
In the years about 1960 and later many thought to find in the east their refuge. Few succeeded to make the principles of Zen Buddhism as their own and to make them somewhat loose from their roots. But most meditated and exercised until they weighted an ounce, but remained as a western human in the same way excitable and stubborn as before. We just have a different soul than Oriental, it seems.
If Jigoro Kano and Kyuzo Mifune talk about harmony, unity, conformity etc. they will mean somewhat different from what we usually believe. We consider it as a discipline (from the outside), while they see that as a spirit (interior). The same is true for judo technique, as a means to a higher goal. We Europeans interpret their words often too technical, unreligious and sporty.
Comparative religious studies can tell that each religion to a large extent culturally determined, in terms of origins and experience. Every human being is born into a particular culture and he / she can change it not that much. Colors of skin and genes are determined by your parents, but also your culture and character. And thus the predisposition to certain forms of religiosity in the way we are looking at things. Let us be realistic: to realize that we never can be Japanese. Mitesco knows this and tries to make no stupid assertions.

Non-religious judoka could have therefore - in a certain way – difficulties with the philosophy of judo. Even regardless of whether they belong to a church, a lot of people do not believe that there are more than 'something' beyond the world we see. Who has inherited such opinions from home, must make a whole mental makeover to understand deeply the ideas about 'ki' and the divine to recognize (such as the Japanese experience that of course) and rituals to accept (such as judo) who want to express deeper spirituality. For a non-religious man religious rituals miss the content that they have - that is true if they visit a church, but it also applies on judo. Maybe non-religious readers will find this web therefore in advance too complicated. Also because many people practice judo without worrying for the genuine spirit.

Christians might understand it more easily (if they do something about it at least). Jigoro Kano was an intellectual who used a syncretistic philosophy (various denominations to merge) based on a model where he religiously focused on Buddhism, Confucianism and Christianity. Who is really inaugurated in the teachings of the Bible, Jesus and a church as the Catholic Church, already understands much more of the 'way' that wants judo, the religious charge of the creation, and especially the way in which a fellow is a 'neighbor.’ In essence, all three denominations are quite peaceful, and seek a world of harmony after all. Jigoro Kano knew well what religions he could unite with judo - or not. Rituals and its contents are (especially for Roman-Catholics) the most normal thing in the world. If they are only open to the elements of truth that are everywhere to find in the world, Jigoro Kano is much closer to believers than to unbelievers. He says:

Buddhism, Confucianism and Christianity each have their own guiding principles which may be found through study, but this is very difficult. I often have occasion to exchange opinions with authorities on Buddhism, Confucianism and Christianity. Those who have made such profound study and cultivated their minds, say the same I do: the path may differ, but in the end the aims of both religion and learning are ultimately the same, and I consider these authorities as my colleagues. (...) So, through judo, we are teaching a principle that can work together with the highest principles of Buddhism and Christianity and the exhaustive studies of philosophers, one which, like the other great philosophies and religions, can be put into action.

Jigoro Kano, Mind over Muscle, p. 82

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C. Limited resources

Jigoro Kano has written a lot, but much of his work is not available. Only a small part of it is accessible and even in translation. The Japanese collection is much bigger, but only readable for people who really know Japanese as a Japanese. Kano speaks on the one hand in a simple style (as a teacher) but is on the other hand broadly speaking and repeating himself endlessly. His diaries are the best-kept secret of the Kodokan. Since his death they are kept safe, but no one made them accessible.
What we understand little about, is the endless fusion of philosophy, religion, and martial arts. The Japanese martial arts as known in the days of Kano are divided into so many different schools and expressions, with or without weapons. What was jujitsu before 1860? Since no one can give a clear answer to it… The intertwining of the martial arts and traditional military structure of Japan makes it even more difficult to tell all influences on Jigoro Kano properly.

The big questions at each study about Kano will therefore be: how was he influenced, of whom has he 'borrowed' something, and in which he was original? Moreover, it is hard to distinguish what he stresses in some cases: the martial arts, philosophy, or educational principles? There might be a load of dissertations te be made, but preferably by Japanese scientists.
We must be honest. Mitesco can only unveil a small piece of the puzzle. Certainly not enough. Who reads on the Internet all articles contributing to the history of Kano, Mifune and judo, will soon be tired. Because everyone has his own opinion and nobody seems to really know. With the proviso that Mitesco even knows a little bit, he writes this webpage ...

What, in any case, is not good - which in some forums for martial arts is frequently done - is like suggesting interrelationships between martial arts. Chinese, Japanese and Korean martial arts differ greatly in terms of cultural roots. Although techniques can sometimes seem to be the same, there can be found only a few linear relationships between jujitsu and judo. All interdependencies are too diverse for drawing meaningful cultural lines. However, some general principles are to be applied, like the culture of religions (see above) and the idea of 'ki'. Beyond that, we will be careful about these tendencies.

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D. The style of the texts

If Mitesco quotes texts, as he tries to translate accurately. Almost all the texts of Kano, Mifune and other variables that can be found on this web page is, are found in books, on the internet or translated by Mitesco himself into English. This translation has been a hell of a job. The style of the old masters Kano and Mifune (and more contemporary judo legends) is for us sometimes very lengthy. They are almost 'ritual' texts. Moreover, the teachings about the principles are set by constantly repeating, and to draw conclusions which we westerners cannot always follow with our logic seem. We really need to get used to them. We are not Japanese and are always keeping short and concise. We drink our tea and coffee and have no ceremony. The same way we read and practice judo.

Mitesco chooses not to remove fundamental thoughts from the text because the writer has already expressed them. Judo texts are just like judo exercises; you have trained a technique already one hundred and fifty times, but they you practice them for the one hundred and fifty-first time ... If you have read these texts on Kano and Mifune, as well as the rest of the Mitesco menu on seiryoku zenyo and jita kyoei, you are so steeped in judo theory and judo spirit, that you can dream the principles. Well, the great Sensei would have liked nothing better. Mitesco works a bit ‘in style’.

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3. Disclaimer

We reject any responsibility for the content, commercials, popups, and possible enemy attacks from spyware and viruses that come on your computer, if you click any of the links above. We remind you in advance to the challenge of improving your own computer security. As a judoka you are always on your guard and you know to defend yourself in any situation. If you can on the tatami, but not with your mouse, this webpage is certainly of interest to you, namely: the application of judo in everyday life. Where Mitesco is just as responsible for your own lack of surfing-protection as your trainer for losing a contest.

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