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Seiryoku zenyo
The philosophy of seiryoku zenyo is twofold:
For being a 'stable' judoka, he must mentally and morally put well together. That's what ethics is for. Physically he must also be 'stable'. That's what judo doctrine is for. Ethics and philosophy are part of the same way to perfection (jika no kansei).
The applications in the menu on the left can be classified as follows:
Distinction between purpose and means
What we find on this page about seiryoku zenyo?
What is seiryoku (势力)? The Japanese word means: physical energy. The physical energy is driven by spiritual energy, and comes physiologically from the food-intake by the body. Someone who is in balance for combat, will have his mind and body in harmony, so the flows of mental and physical energy are optimally exploited.
Seiryoku is comparable with the energy as we learn about during physics class - expressed in 'so many joules'. But it's not the same as physical strength (tairyoku (体力) or muscle-power. You won't get seiryoku in the gym. There you will lose your energy, along with the body fat. Nor is seiryoku the same as your condition - seiryoku has nothing to do with the capacity of heart and lungs, or stamina.
Seiryoku is the raw material, the content, the means by which the judoka is performing. It is the fuel in the vehicle.
Zenyo is the shape, literally the correct way in which energy is used or applied. It is according to Jigoro Kano the principle of efficiency. Seiryoku (energy) use without major doryoku (effort) is the only way to attain a goal. It's like the so-called "new driving" in the car, a Dutch concept to drive without spoiling precious oil. (Could perhaps be an opportunity for Americans, who just recently discovered the advantage of hybrid cars!) When you want to know what that is: it is nothing more than to take advantage of everything which makes you give less gas (and thus save petrol): control your pedals, use the engine instead of the brakes when you slow down, and especially anticipate situations. Seiryoku zenyo in traffic is exactly the opposite of the 'wild ride' at high rpm, with high fuel consumption. As in traffic you need a certain maturity to understand that "young, fast, wild" is no application of seiryoku zenyo - not to judo and nowhere.
Judo is the most energy conscious way of moving and life, a school for the traffic between people and effort for the good. A form seiryoku how you can use both physically and mentally and morally.
Kuzushi and the application in judo
Why is judo the most energy-conscious way of moving and life? In judo you still use a lot of energy? A judoka should be powerful to apply the techniques? Or?
Indeed. But: The fundamental discovery of Jigoro Kano in Kito Ryu was the principle of kuzushi. Who uses the imbalance of the other, is not forced to invest all energy by themselves. Moreover kuzushi makes it possible to throw judoka's much heavier than normal, using the natural laws. Therefore we can easily say: kuzushi is the application used in relation to the seiryoku-zenyo principle in judo. (See the menu: 'kuzushi')
To act like that, a judoka needs his intellect and will:
We can divide the means to achieve the goals into two elements:
The means is seiryoku or any form of energy. The way can be judo or any form of efficient use of energy in any situation whatsoever. Judo has a number of fundamental principles to be achieved in the practice of the dojo (Kuzushi).
Efficiency in energy consumption is universally applicable in all situations of life.
What jita kyoei means, can be followed in the menu. It is something like: everything that is good, true and beautiful for all people on earth. In other words, welfare, happiness, peace, freedom, harmony, respect, love, good sportsmanship, tolerance, all making people more perfect, thus realizing the harmony between mind and body in every man for the salvation to the whole world .
The resources, energy and its efficient use, are bringing this goal closer. Without proper, diligent, but also balanced and controlled application of energy, there will be no way to the goal.
Purpose and resources are closely linked.
We should all note that Jigoro Kano didn't find his inspiration for his philosophy about seiryoku zenyo and jita kyoei only in Eastern philosophy and spirituality. Kano was a well-educated man, was known in particular to the English (Western) perception of sports and the British world (cf. the idea of Commonwealth). In the English system, especially in the utilitarian philosophy of Herbert Spencer, he found a concrete breeding. In short, this system of utilitarianism is: 1) your own interest should be the public interest; 2) you need to act in the most efficient and useful way, in order to the general interest of all. Well, it is not so difficult to understand that Kano mixed this idea up with his oriental philosophy, in particular Taoism and martial arts. (Note on Herbert Spencer)
The goal should determine the application of the means. But not in the sense that everything is permitted. It is not. In these things Jigoro Kano was not a Westerner. Judo according to the founders is always corresponding with traditional principles. Individualism and unrestricted human autonomy is incompatible to Japanese mentality. The moral component of judo in the spirit of Jigoro Kano consists of a number of elements:
Therefore, the application of seiryoku zenyo with the aim of jita kyoei needs a scientifically based theory and a consistently sustained exercise in the achievement of the good. Judo is a way for all these moral principles to be achieved, for the tatami and beyond.
NOTE 1 ON THE WORD SEIRYOKU
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seiryoku
