mitesco - judo

Who listens to some judoka's and coaches often meets some frustration. Especially at the level of the competitions. Although dr.Kano teaches us that frustration and anger is waste of energy (and thus totally against seiryoku zenyo) we can hear besides the tatami and at home (after the match) too much complaining. That is more destructive than we want. Frustration makes the motivation to be happy and to continue judo-practice - and enjoy judo as a great life experience - not stronger. Many judoka's do no (more) competitions. It motivates quite a bit, but if you want to keep fun, you can have it sometimes better without tournaments.

There seems to be a dichotomy to grow again, as in the time of the founder already existed. A separation between:

Judoka's sportively and selflessly accommodating others (see below, no. 3 for what we mean)
Egocentric judoka's only practicing judo for winning and personal gain.

But who encouraged them? Who's teaches judoka's especially (only) to win prices and awards? Who teaches a judoka not to grant the other their victory? There are many teams and judoka's who returned home after a tournament, disappointed because they were not assessed on the real judo quality of their hearts and their art. There are still too many winners who did go home as losers only to put their own pride on the shelf.

Of course the loss of a tournament is in itself not a disaster, because you will learn from that and cups ultimately end up in the attic in a box, while judo spirit lasts. But it is a question of principle. We can prevent that Jigoro Kano almost every tournament turns around in his grave. Because the principles (noble goals of judo) are missing, unfortunately increasingly because they are exchanged for hard, result-oriented judo. Or 'koka-judo', in which the very calculating judoka's do as least as possible, practicing judo without the risk being thrown. (No, that's not seiryoku zenyo!)

By that unilateral competition element even good judoka's and gyms may be dragged into a downward spiral. What a shame ! Because judo is so much more. That is why so much emphasis is made on the points in the menu on the left.

The ideal of jita kyoei allows of course no egocentric mentality. Judo is never a means to raise your own ego, but rather to improve your own life at the service of humanity. But that judo ideal is at odds with prevailing mentality in the whole world. That world of hardness and competition has slithered into the tatami ...

The judo practitioners of today do not make enough effort to achieve the goals of judo and have overemphasized becoming string or winning in the competition, which are merely means rather than ends. This is not to say that there is no inherent value in becoming strong, but it is necessary primarily as a means to achieve higher goals.

Jigoro Kano, Mind over Muscle, p.100

The real problem is competition. Should we therefore abolish tournaments?

The problem is likely to be the one-sided emphasis on the contest. Jigoro Kano was a supporter of shiai, even at Olympic level, only ... with the higher purpose of jita kyoei - the unification of people and nations by the way of judo. As the Olympic ideal of Pierre de Coubertin (see menu 'sportsmanship') was meant to be. Judo was never intended to be a ruthless competition! The one-sidedness is the imbalance.

Anyway it is obvious - wherever you read in his writings - that the tournament was for Kano not the most important. Nonetheless, the balance in everything, with a higher purpose. The modern judo is in a very specific way kuzushi: main focus on competition and training for it, the second accent on randori and techniques, the third emphasis on fitness and strength training and maybe a little kata - if you need it for your dan-examination. Well, you do not need to be an expert to know that this is certainly not what Jigoro Kano wanted.

In your everyday practice, as well as in competition, an upcoming contest is often emphasized, while the essential spirit of judo is neglected. While it may be a proud moment, competition between schools is not the ultimate goal of the study and practice of judo. Students should practice judo not for the purpose of competition, but rather to become able to use it to attain a greater purpose in life. Therefore, interscholastic competition is not a goal but a means toward attaining a more noble goal.

(Jigoro Kano, Mind over Muscle, p.132)

And what about the emphasis on strength and condition? Who lives all day in total balance, trains all his limbs in appropriate exercises and has necessarily a top-condition - not only in the arms and legs, but an overall flexibility. But let us be honest: judoka's just like to be strong and they are obliged to be, unless they cannot perform against others who are. Thus everyone is making each other mad. But is it good? Judoka's need the devices just to prevent injuries or for the treatment of injuries arising after the training. But further? The mere fact that judoka's give so much attention to extra body-training apart from the usual warming-up, says something about the imbalance.

In summary, there are three problems that arise from each other:

The egocentric mentality and the competitive thinking of society is at odds with the real judo spirit (jita kyoei), but is an engine for performance in competition judo.
The competition-mentality hardens the judoka, and requires a (too) great emphasis on muscle, even against seiryoku zenyo. This changes the gentle and flexible element of judo in the direction of fixed and hard muscle-tricks.
Those powerful judo changes the application of the principles of attack and defense and the techniques in a way that often acts very strongly against the principles of seiryoku zenyo.

See for a more detailed analysis, with comments and recommendations, the menu 'judo as a sport. "

To top

2. Sporting mentality: respect and purpose

Jigoro Kano was the first Japanese who was invited to be a member of the International Olympic Committee, in 1909. The international Olympic Movement was a fundamental renaissance of the original Greek Olympic spirit. A romantic ideal of a harmonious world. The French Baron Pierre De Coubertin (1863-1937) was the person who made this idea true.

The IOC is still representing that thought, and writes on its website : "Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."
(Olympic Charter, Fundamental Principles, paragraph 1)

It will surprise no one that Jigoro Kano particularly could combine those thoughts with its ideals of the jita kyoei. The symbol of the Olympic Games, the famous five rings woven together, is a symbol of the whole world, the five continents. This symbol was created in 1913 by Pierre de Coubertin designed and used for the first time at the Antwerp Games in 1920.

In accordance with the judo philosophy one of the Olympic motto's is: "The most important thing is not to win but to take part."

Sportive behavior consists of two elements:

Fair play: respect for rules and people (general)
Keep the main purpose of judo in mind (see above, the Olympic thought and generally the way of judo)

Fair Play

Generally a lot of attention is given to the connection between sportsmanship and respect (by all sports federations).

All sorts of policy memoranda are written, and actions organized regarding fair play. We translate the following from the website sport.nl of the NOC * NSF, the Dutch Olympic Committee.

With Fair Play we mean: sporting and fair sport practice. It means attention to the way in which rules are treated and how others are treated during the practice of sport (competition).

The Fair Play policy is part of a broader policy which is aimed at promoting sporting behavior and respect in the sport. This goes beyond what happens during competition. The manner in which parents are watching on the line, opponents are received, spectators are encouraging and the language which is used by the club, falls to the attention of Sportivity & Respect.

In Fair Play promotion, we are focusing on three areas.

1) Dealing with rules

Written rules: you stick to the rules and any rules of a club

Unwritten rules: you stick to 'proper behavior' which is not always described

Adjusting rules: if you can thereby promoting Fair Play

2) Dealing with others

Behavior towards others: fellow athletes, opponents, referees ..

The impact of your behavior on others: your (negative) behavior has (negative) impact on others

3) Equal opportunities

Sports-organizations can guarantee equality of opportunity, such as a honest competition format or if the accommodation provides unequal opportunities, adjust the competition.

This general policy applied to judo means in particular:

Apply competition rules consistently. There is often a lot of criticism towards the referees. That is of course only acceptable on the sidelines and afterwards. Because one of the elements of fair play is: respect for the referee, even if he is terribly wrong. But the impression could arise that there is nowadays a little too much possible - at least in the over-tolerant Netherlands. Some rules are not consistently applied and if someone is to be punished, some judoka's do not accept their righteous penalty, because it used to be tolerated earlier. It's like in traffic. Everyone drives too fast, and the one caught has no acquiescence, is 'flipping out' against the police-officer. Fair play has to do both with players and the arbitration. (See for our ideas for the arbitration also menu 'judo as a sport', 2d)
Dealing with others should be based on rei. The individual aspect of judo as a sport, must never degenerate into individualism or selfishness. Even individual sports are practiced together, unless you are going to do squash or jogging on your own. But otherwise it means always that you will attune on others. And certainly according to the judo principles, respect will go much further (see menu 'respect'). Some judoka's don't realize that a higher kyu also means to be an example. A brown belt who regularly lets himself go or claims priority to his own profits, should quickly return his belt. Judoka's with an own web page might sometimes realize better what kind of example they are giving. For example: Mitesco doubts whether it is such a fine sporting testimony, if he reads that a ichikyu-competition judoka of a well-known Dutch gym tells proudly on his website that he had a huge meal after the weighting, with photographs of the loads of food shown. Or a judo page where a bunch of brown and black belts of a successful gym show their 'respect for others' by standing in a row showing their bare %&$@# to the camera. Puberal behavior course, but the question is whether these teenagers realize that a judo page with such immature stories is a good example of judo spirit or not...
Equal opportunities? Paragraph 3 of the recommendation seems to be okay because the weight-categories are so strict. The drawing-system is randomly, so fair. But some would judoka's might ask themselves whether they compete in the weight class they really have, or that they manipulate the time of weighting by extra losing weight before. Muscle, fat and weight have a certain amount of consistency when it comes to strength. Who trains body mass off, is not only behaving stupid and unhealthy, but also unsporting.

Keep the main purpose of judo in mind

Jigoro Kano can not emphasize enough that the goals of judo never lie in a purely sporting performance, explosions of brute force and winning tournaments. The aim is jita kyoei, as the menu says. Sporting mentality is part of the jita kyoei, a means to achieve it. Another time, never to forget:

The judo practitioners of today do not make enough effort to achieve the goals of judo and have overemphasized becoming strong or winning in the competition, which are merely means rather than ends. This is not to say that there is no inherent value in becoming strong, but it is necessary primarily as a means to achieve higher goals.

Jigoro Kano

"Participating is more important than winning."

Pierre de Coubertin

Fair play and Olympic tradition

On a website about the Olympic spirit (multimedia.olympic.org) we found this excellent explication about the history of the notion Jigoro Kano adopted:

Fair play is a western notion. Its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, to the period of knights. Knights were expected to live by a code of conduct (chivalry) which entailed military, social and religious responsibilities. Here are some examples:

• never attack an unarmed enemy;

• demonstrate self-discipline;

• be courageous in word and deed;

• avenge the offended; defend the weak and the innocent;

• never abandon a friend, an ally or a noble cause;

• keep your word, and remain true to your principles;

• have good manners, apply the laws of propriety, respect your host, authority and women;

• be faithful to God, the sovereign, his kingdom and his code; show respect towards authority and the law;

• be generous and hospitable to strangers;

• avoid pride, lechery, false oaths and treachery.

The transfer of values continued with the development of sports practiced in the 19th century by the aristocrats and gentlemen who succeeded the knights. These people were amateurs, that is, people who had enough money not to have to work. Chivalrous values, inculcated into the representatives of this social class, thus became important in the practice of the sports they played. In British colleges, sport was part of the educational program, along with the moral values attributed to it such as fair play. Pierre de Coubertin was particularly impressed by this during his trips to England and North America. It reminded him of the chivalrous spirit, and at the same time made him see sport’s educational potential.

“In our view, the Olympic idea is the concept of a strong physical culture based in part on the spirit of chivalry – which you here [in England] so pleasantly call “fair play,” and in part on the aesthetic idea of the cult of what is beautiful and graceful”.

Pierre de Coubertin, in: Selected Writings, p. 588

That should be the mentality of a judoka, a real sportsman, always practicing fairly. It is one of the main influences on Jigoro Kano, by his contacts with De Coubertin, devising the concept of Jita Kyoei, and the Kodokan Culture Association (Kodokan Bunkakai).

To top

3. Jita kyoei sporting mentality : accommodating others as much as possible

Jigoro Kano however teaches a sporting mentality which goes yet further. If the other judoka never used to be an opponent, but a fellow who will be treated with respect, you must also try to put yourself positively into the other. Clear observation is not only necessary to be able to overwhelm him adequately, but also for accommodating him, do him a favor. And not a little bit, but as much as possible. You have to do your best to help and love the fellow judoka, and grant the other a pleasant fight.

Who looks back to the discussion on the principle of ki and aiki (see menu Seiryoku zenyo) understands that in judo your inner energy is searching for harmony with the energy of the other (aiki). Combat is not against one another, but a way to each other. This is for many other athletes an incomprehensible approach, but for judoka's absolutely true. Judo is in the deepest sense 'rapprochement', while the techniques would suggest that there could be a separation occurring by throwing and winning. Only those who still understand judo as an art of violence might understand that wrong. But if judo has to do with ki, peace and welfare, it means even in the sporting experience: get closer to each other, not only physically, but even more spiritually.

In your everyday practice, as well as in competition, an upcoming contest is often emphasized, while the essential spirit of judo is neglected. While it may be a proud moment, competition between schools is not the ultimate goal of the study and practice of judo. Students should practice judo not for the purpose of competition, but rather to become able to use it to attain a greater purpose in life. Therefore, interscholastic competition is not a goal but a means toward attaining a more noble goal.

In this way it is sadly often the case in the competition between judo schools: using various dirty tricks, or merely running around trying to escape your opponent in order to avoid losing is not in accord with the spirit of judo. When students compete against other students at school, they should accommodate their opponents as much as possible, and if they achieve victory as a result of superior skills, then that is the true victory.

Let us say you have a useful reference book that you reserve for yourself and don't show anyone else, or a fellow classmate is off sick for a day, and you don't show him the notes from that day. If you get a better test score, that is not a real victory. In the same way, in competition or in fighting, feeling proud of yourself after winning by inconveniencing your opponent does not fulfill the spirit of judo. Insofar as possible, you should accommodate your opponent and compete in such a way as to allow him to use his waza on you freely. If you do not win by using waza superior to those of your opponent or by turning his waza against him, this cannot be said to be a true victory. (Mind over Muscle, p.132-133)

Jigoro Kano goes very far with this. It means as much as: you can only really win, if you give the other a fair chance to win. Defeating someone with majeure force, someone who could never defeat you, is no big deal, and at worst a sign of cowardice. If the other is so much weaker that he would never be able to defeat you, a real judoka should give him first the opportunity to show the best of his waza and not immediately reap him down. The only true victory according to Kano is the superiority of the technique. If the technique is better, you will and must win.

Of course, Jigoro Kano will stress that you should do your best to win, even though he considers it as a failure to be obsessed by the immediate victory. Better is it according to him, to learn the techniques so perfectly, that you can learn gradually to be really good, and let even stronger opponents stumble by proper waza because of their own imbalance. (Cf. Mind over Muscle, p. 136-137.)

So, sporting behavior in the dojo is particularly:

Choose stronger opponents; they will teach you to fall and to get up or to win by technique and not by force - in the long run you will learn to defeat stronger opponents by superior technique.
Accommodate a weaker opponent, so that he can learn from you that technique is more important than power - give him the opportunity to prove his skill in front of you and if his technique would be better than yours - acknowledge your legitimate defeat.
Make the contest in no way a show of strength and never use methods that do not correspond to the spirit of judo. It will give you a inner hansoku make by acting against the judo spirit.
Make competition not that important. Winning is not the medal but the victory of perfection and technique - and keep always the higher purpose of judo clear in your mind.
Grant another judoka his victory - if he is technically good or better, his victory will be obvious. But you can also wish everyone success in your heart, before a tournament begins.
Encourage others to achieve the best of themselves and encourage perfect technique everywhere around you.

See for a more extensive commentary also the menu judo and sport. "

To top

click to give your comment

on mitesco

This site is optimized for MS IE7 or Mozilla Firefox 3.x

Resolution1024 X 768