The International Congress “Jigoro Kano and Education: Its Legacy and 21st Century Challenges” brought together experts from 57 countries in Tsukuba, Japan, to examine the intersection of martial arts and modern pedagogy.
Held as part of the University of Tsukuba’s Global Science Week, the event focused on the educational philosophy established by the founder of judo.
Representing the Argentine Judo Confederation, Education Director Daniel de la Cueva addressed the opening session of the congress. His presentation, titled “Martial Art from the Perspective of Olympic Education: Values for Human Development,” explored the parallels between Jigoro Kano’s vision and that of Pierre de Coubertin.
“This discipline, beyond being an Olympic sport, is an educational system for the development of human beings,” de la Cueva said. He emphasized that the formal bowing ritual practiced at the beginning and end of each session serves as a mandatory regulatory requirement in competition, reinforcing that an opponent is a partner rather than an enemy.
Beyond the academic sessions, the congress included practical demonstrations and technical courses at the Kodokan Institute in Tokyo. Participants studied the Itsutsu No Kata, an analysis of physical principles such as centrifugal force and the dynamics of action and reaction.
De la Cueva also participated in Ju No Kata sessions led by instructor Noriko Takebuchi. This practice focuses on analytical movement and technical precision, utilizing body mechanics without the impact of traditional throws. These sessions were complemented by daily training regimens alongside local Japanese competitors and international visitors residing at the Kodokan.
The program extended to historical landmarks associated with the sport’s development. Attendees visited the Ei-Shoji Temple, the site of the original Kodokan school, and the Budokan gymnasium, which was constructed for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games when judo was first integrated into the official program.
The congress was coordinated by Dr. Michel Brousse of France and Sensei Joji Kijima of Japan, with support from the International Judo Federation and the Kodokan Institute. The University of Tsukuba, where the academic portions took place, maintains a direct historical link to the sport through Jigoro Kano, who served as the institution’s first rector.
The participation of the Argentine delegation was supported by several provincial and municipal entities. De la Cueva noted the assistance provided by the Argentine Judo Confederation, as well as the government of the Province of Catamarca through Governor Raúl Jalil and Cabinet Secretary Luz María Soria Seco. The delegation also received support from the Municipality of the Capital, represented by Mayor Gustavo Saadi.
The academic and technical activities concluded with a formal recognition of the Argentine delegation’s contribution to the congress.
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