Since the beginning of the 20th century, jiu jitsu, which means “science of softness”, has been known in Cuba. This is the name given to the combat techniques created in Japan by the Bushi (knights). In 1882, Jigoro Kano, drawing on knowledge from two major schools of jiu jitsu to which he added his own contributions, founded a new system of physical culture and mental training which he called Kodokan Judo.
Judo, with an incomparable load of morals and ethics, took root definitively in Japan in 1886. It was also at the beginning of the 20th century that the expert in Japanese judo, master Mitsuyo Maeda, fourth Dan of the Ju Do Kodokan, one of Master Jigoro Kano’s first students.
The famous Japanese fighter Mitsuyo Maeda, known professionally as Count Koma, arrived in Havana for the fourth time in January 1912, accompanied by three other Japanese judoka named Ono Akitaro, Satake Nobushiro and Ito Tokugoro.
In the 1930s, Japanese immigrants to the island taught various forms of jujutsu and Judo in an extremely secret manner, only to relatives or close friends in the Japanese community. But Judo would soon have its heyday.
Kano and Kolychkine Jigoro Kano, the creator of judo, wanted to spread this martial art throughout the world and Kolychkine was able to crystallize that dream in Cuba. Kawaishi Mikonosuke, was the student that Kano sent abroad to spread judo and he himself arrives in France, prepares Kolychkine, and then sends him to Cuba.
Kolychkine was a very upright person with extraordinary discipline and we Cubans are not like that, but thanks to his perseverance and mastery he managed to introduce judo on the island. At the same time, several teachers taught karate classes in Cuba, highlighting among them the fourth dan of Wado Ryu who was nicknamed the Indonesian, who left the country around 1962.
In June 1964, several Japanese citizens arrived in Cuba to transmit the technique of tuna fishing in our country, including Masaaki Kohagura, a specialist in telecommunications, who has been recognized as the introducer on the Island of the practice of karate- do Shorin ryu style, emerged in Okinawa.
But without a doubt Andrés Kolychkine, born in Russia and with a long sporting life in boxing, wrestling and judo, has been the figure who promoted martial arts in Cuba. He created the Cuban Judo Foundation (1951) and a year later he held the first National Championship at the Palacio de los Deportes.
It must be explained that the categories within Judo are expressed through the color of the belt, and each one has a meaning. For example: White (naivety), fifth Yellow Kyu (discovery), fourth Orange Kyu (love), third Kyu (hope), second Blue Kyu (idealism) and first Brown Kyu (initiation to knowledge). Already the judoka with a brown belt is an outstanding expert.
The pass from one kyu to another is not obtained only by competitions, but by a comprehensive assessment of the technique and competence by the sensei under his sole responsibility. This is done without the mediation of any higher entity or body as in the case of the granting of Dan degrees.
From then on, they come what is called Dan, which means step and they go according to the dan reached. These go from the first to the tenth, they are considered as sensei, teacher or teacher, Judo expert who ascend from black, red and white and red. Grade 12 is reserved for Jigoro Kano. After the revolution, fishing cooperation between the two countries is established and new Japanese immigrants arrive, although in small numbers.
At the beginning of the 21st century, only fifteen first-generation Japanese remained on Cuban soil. However, up to the fifth degree of consanguinity, there are more than 1,200 members of the Japanese-Cuban Community. These have a presence in all Cuban territorial divisions, except in Guantánamo.
In Cuba, unfortunately, this boom could have been greater. However, Cuba’s own government policies have in a way scared away some of the world’s most lucid and hard-working workers. I wish and this presence had been more numerous.
Without a doubt, its influence is, in many aspects of life, the main reason that Japan is among the most developed countries in the world. Now, if we ask ourselves what remains of Japan in Cuba, we must say that its presence is now much greater than in our entire history. But even so, it would have come in handy, but very well, to have much more of a Japanese essence in the Cuban melting pot.
By NGM All Cuba
