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WHAT
IS JÛDÔ? |
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Jûdô stems from jujutsu, which is grappling
techniques that were developed during the Japanese
middle ages. Sometimes it was referred to as yawara.
Ju or yawara means "gentleness" and jutsu
means "technique." This name was adopted
because jujutsu is physical techniques by which one
may control an opponent without going against the
strength of an opponent but by utilizing an opponent's
strength. This theory of gentleness and principle
of ju was essentially the same and could be used whether
the warrior or stiff heavy armor or not. |
After the 16th century various jujutsu schools
were created, such as the Takeuchi School, Sekiguchi
School, Yoshin School, Ryoishinto School, etc. Schools
generally declined gradually after the 1868 revolution
in Japan. It was at this time that the Tokugawa Shogun
was defeated and a constitutional monarchy was born.
Later a small young man by the name of Jigoro Kano
entered the department of literature at the Tokyo
University. Although he was mentally brilliant his
concern was to conquer his physical weakness in order
to become a useful in the future. Thus, he became
interested in the art of jujutsu in spite of its declining
importance. Professor Kano studied Tenshin Shinyo
Ryu jujutsu from Hacinosuke Fukuda and then Masatomo
Iso, and Kito Ryu jujutsu from Tsunetoshi Iikubo. |
In 1882, Dr. Kano opened a dojo, which he named
the Kodokan and started to train students. The dojo
was a small room of less than 400 square feet within
the Eisohoji Zen Temple in Tokyo. In time promising
students, that respected and trusted Professor Kano,
came to study at the Kodokan. Among these students
were Sakujiro Yokoyama, Gisho Yamashita, Shire Saigo
Tsunejiro Tomita, and others whose names are well
known by the present day public of Japan. The jujutsu
instructors were living hand-to-mouth at that time
and did not listen to Professor Kano's principles,
but instead they attempted to oppose to him. Many
times Professor Kano and his students were challenged
with unreasonably methods of combat by the old fashioned
jujutsu. |
Professor Kano became the principal of the Tokyo
University of Education and later became a senator.
Meanwhile, the Kodokan moved to different locations,
in order to accommodate the increasing number of students
as Jûdô became more popular. Today, the
Kodokan is located in Kasuga-cho, Bunyoku, and Tokyo,
Japan. The main dojo consists of 500 mats and there
are many smaller dojos where students from all over
the world receive training. The mottoes of the Kodokan
are Seiryoku Zen'yo (maximum efficiency) and Jita
Kyoei (mutual prosperity). Jûdô is a development
of mind (good character), body (healthy and in harmony
with the mind), and spirit (maintaining a good, healthy
attitude about learning and applying the principles
to every aspect of life). |
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