[Dongying Caifeng]Judo: Make good use of energy to prosper yourself and others | Cultivation | The Epoch Times

There are many industries in Japan with the suffix “Dao”, such as “tea ceremony”, “flower arrangement”, “fragrant way”, “calligraphy”, “budo”, “bowdo”, “kendo”, “judo” and so on. The “Tao” here not only refers to a certain profession, but also means that the profession is actually a way to hone skills, benefit the body and mind, and comprehend life, a method of practice. Among them, judo is based on fighting, and it was born in Wumen. Naturally, its attributes have a strong color of martial arts. However, judo was not created for martial arts, nor was judo popularized in Japan and even the world for fighting, and has been passed down to this day.

First and second life

The so-called Judo refers to martial arts that cultivate morality and righteousness through jujitsu. Since ancient times, some martial arts have been passed down among different classes in Japan. After the 12th century, martial arts were officially born as fighting techniques in samurai families. It is said that warriors master eighteen kinds of martial arts. After the end of the Warring States period and entering the Edo period, jujitsu was born as a form of martial arts and formed its own system. But jujitsu is not judo.

The founder of judo was Jigoro Kano (1860-1938). He was weak since he was a child, so he began to practice jujitsu in order to strengthen his body. In 1877 (Meiji 10), Kano Jigoro learned jujitsu under Fukuda Hachinosuke of the Tenjin Shinyang school. In addition, he also studied the inverted genre in depth. Afterwards, based on the body shapes and techniques of the two schools, he deeply studied some of the principles he learned from the reverse school, and added practice methods such as self-cultivation, body training, and victory and defeat. He studied the strengths of various sects and continuously improved them, thus creating a brand-new Jiu-Jitsu technical system and guidance system for popularization of education.

In 1882 (Meiji 15), Kano Jigoro opened the dojo “Kodokan” in Yongchang Temple Academy in Shitaya Kita Inaricho (now Taito District), Tokyo, and began to give lectures and teach judo. This is recognized as the origin of judo, and it is also Japan The beginning of modern martial arts education.

He developed the ancient jujitsu principle of “softness can conquer rigidity” into “the most effective use of physical and mental strength”, and based on the principle of first having the way and then the new technique, he named it “Judo”. Based on this, he created a place to teach judo and named it “Kodokan”.

A short history of judo

Through the teaching of “Kodokan”, Judo spread rapidly in Japan, and its popularity and influence increased day by day. In 1895 (Meiji 28), the Dainippon Wutoku Association was established in Kyoto to reward martial arts, cultivate martial arts, enrich education, and improve national morale. The Great Nippon Wutoku Association consists of three divisions: swordsmanship, jujitsu, and archery. People can participate independently beyond their respective schools. In 1898 (Meiji 31), judo entered middle school education and became a compulsory subject.

Kano Jigoro also founded the Japan Sports Association and established a gymnastics major at the Tokyo Higher Normal School. He has made great contributions to the popularization of judo throughout his life and is known as the father of Japanese sports. During this period, he actively recommended judo to the world, making it popular in the world. Now, 204 countries and regions in the world have joined the International Judo Federation, and there are many judo practitioners.

In 1909 (Meiji 42), Kano was invited by the International Olympic Committee to become a member of the Olympic Committee, the first member of the Olympic Committee in East Asia. After Kano became a member of the Olympic Committee, he further promoted judo to the world and further developed judo. Since the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964, Judo has officially become an Olympic event, and its international influence has also increased accordingly.

The theories on which Judo is based, the concepts it upholds, and the systems it stipulates, etc., have laid the foundation for modern martial arts. Because of its great influence, it ranks first among the nine major martial arts in Japan (the nine martial arts groups that have joined the Budo Association and are recognized).

According to the judo classification of “Kodokan”, judo wrestling techniques are divided into two categories: “throwing techniques” and “solid techniques”. There are 68 types of throwing techniques, namely throwing techniques, including techniques such as joint throwing and body throwing, and are divided into two categories: actual combat use and training mastery. Solid skills refer to the skills of blocking opponents in fighting. There are 32 types, most of which are reflected in lying skills, and they are also used to attack opponents’ weak points. Today’s international judo competitions almost still follow the rules set by “Kodokan” judo.

Rise from the ashes

After World War II, martial arts was once banned by the U.S. troops stationed there, and judo was not allowed to be taught in schools. In 1956, Japan successfully held the first world judo competition, coupled with factors such as the brilliant record of the Japanese judo team in the Tokyo Olympics, which promoted judo into an unprecedented prosperous period. In 1989, the new learning guidelines were promulgated, and the name “Budo” was restored. Since April 2012, “Budo” has become a compulsory course for middle school students, and male and female students can choose one of judo, kendo, and sumo. Judo in Japan is widely popularized in the education field. Almost every middle school, high school and many universities have judo clubs (societies). Moreover, its popularity is not limited to schools. When students enter the society, they will participate in social judo training in another way. It can be said that Judo has almost covered the whole Japanese society. Therefore, there are relevant organizations in various folk areas, and many judo halls are set up to teach and practice judo. Enterprises, etc. are also huge promoters of the popularization of judo, providing all-round assistance from personnel to economy, and their contributions are remarkable.

Interestingly, in Japan, the police must master judo. According to “My Judo Career” written by Kano Jigoro (serialized in “Zakuxing” in 1928), in the 21st year of Meiji (1888), at the Martial Arts Conference of the Metropolitan Police Department, only two or three contestants participated in Kodokan. All games won except a draw. Impressed by this, after the meeting, the police chief at the time, Mishima Tongyong, decided to make Judo at the Kodokan a compulsory subject for the Metropolitan Police Department and promote it to the whole country. So far, Japanese police officers still take judo and kendo (female police officers can choose aikido) as their compulsory subjects. When entering the police academy, those who do not have a rank must obtain a junior rank during their schooling.

The Heart of Judo

In traditional Japanese sports circles, “heart”, “skill” and “body” are often mentioned. “Heart” generally includes elements such as will, spirit, concentration, and psychological preparation; “technique” generally includes force, technique, and skill; Players are required to achieve a balance of “heart”, “skill” and “body” and a perfect combination. However, the relationship between the three is by no means a simple addition, but a multiplication. This is the basic realm pursued by “heart”, “skill” and “body”.

In Japanese traditional ways, in addition to “heart”, “skill” and “body”, it also pays attention to “shou”, “bro” and “li”. These three essentials not only mean the three stages that need to go through after becoming a teacher, but also mean the journey that needs to be taken for self-growth. At the beginning of becoming a teacher, one must act according to the teacher’s orders and abide by the teacher’s instructions to practice. This is called “keeping”. In the process of practice, you will find new or more suitable practice methods, but these go beyond the rules of the teacher and break the original body. This is “breaking”. With the deepening of practice, you will eventually have a deeper understanding of skills and even yourself, so as to abandon the inherent stereotypes and move towards the road of self. This is “Li”.

In 1882, Jigoro Kano founded Kodokan in the Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo as a dojo where he taught judo theory and practice. Later, the museum became the base camp of judo. “Kodokan” judo, there are two famous teachers’ sayings: “use energy well” and “self-prosperity with others”. It means: the ability cultivated through judo training should be used well in worldly affairs to promote social development and civilization progress; through learning skills, mutual trust and mutual assistance can be achieved, so that both oneself and others can be sublimated. Kano still has a teacher’s legacy: “Judo is the most effective way to use physical and mental strength. Its practice uses offensive and defensive exercises to exercise the body, cultivate the spirit, and realize the essence of Sidao. This is to complete oneself and benefit the society. This is judo practice. The ultimate goal.” It seems that the purpose of judo is not to control people with skills, but to conform to the way.

It is true that with the changes of the times and the weathering of the world, in various traditional competitions, people seem to pay more attention to physical appearances such as physical fitness, skills, and victory and defeat, while ignoring, forgetting, and even abandoning the original martial arts and morality. , practice and other spiritual aspects of the essence. Ineffective mentality is the taboo of all behaviors, and it is also the root cause of mutation and decline. Therefore, restoring the tradition, emphasizing morality and upholding the Tao, and abiding by the law of the heart, is the way to return to the right path for all walks of life. @*#

Editor in charge: Gu Rong