Product Description

In 1882 Jigoro Kano (1860-1938) founded Kodokan Judo at Eishoji Temple in Tokyo. It was the culmination of a lifelong devotion to the jujutsu of the past, which he reorganized while taking great care to retain its classical traditions. Historically, martial arts were practiced only by the elite in Japan. Kano, a renowned educator as well as a sportsman, is credited with popularizing the martial arts, and in particular, judo, among people in all levels of society.
When he was young, Kano studied jujutsu, a martial art practiced in Japan since feudal times, which involved throwing, hitting, kicking, stabbing, slashing, choking, bending and twisting limbs-and defenses against these attacks. After years of studying, he realized that although many different jujutsu techniques were taught, there was no one core value holding them together. Kano identified an all-pervasive principle- to make the most efficient use of mental and physical energy-and combined only those techniques in which this principle was correctly applied into modern judo. "Ju" means gentleness or giving way. "Do" means principle or the way. Judo, therefore is the Way of Gentleness, which implies that first giving way leads to ultimate victory. The Kodokan is literally, "the school for studying the Way." This book is a collection of Kano's essential teachings, selected and compiled from his wealth of writings and lectures spanning a period of fifty-one years. Today the International Judo Federation has 187 member countries and regions. As an official sport of the Olympic Games, judo has inspired young people of all nationalities, and Kodokan is universally recognized as the Mecca of Judo.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #110387 in Books
• Published on: 2006-02-17
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

From the Author
"Judo is not merely a martial art but rather the basic principle of human behavior. When that basic principle is applied to defense against attack or applied as physical education in randori at the dojo, these are applications of that principle in judo, but are only one aspect of judo—it is wrong to assume judo ends in the dojo."

"Judo is not what many people believe it to be; that is to say, judo is more than a fighting art practiced at the dojo. The basic meaning of judo is quite different, and is universal and profound." —Jigoro Kano

About the Author

JIGORO KANO became a professor at the age of twenty-five and, as an influential educator, played an important role in transforming Japan into a modern nation. He served as Chairman of the Japan Amateur Sports Association and was the first Asian to be elected to the International Olympic Committee. YUKIMITSU KANO wrote the Foreword to this volume. He is the fourth president of the Kodokan, the president of the All Japan Judo Association and the grandson of the author.

Customer Reviews

what mind over muscle ?
if you are interested in the history of Judo then may be this is the book as it is "supposed" to be written by the founder. But there are more comprehensive books around on the history and the evolution of judo from jujitsu and how it became a sport in Olympics. However, if your expectation is to read about how to use the "mind over muscle" or learn practical competition skills and technques, they just aren't there - zero.

Must Read
This is one of the best books on judo for the serious student or accomplished instructor. Most books on judo offer good information on applying competition techniques and certainly have their place. What is lacking in many of those books, however, is the fundamental philosophies and principles Jigoro Kano envisioned as the basis of this art and, ultimately, where in life it should lead its students. It is a must read for all judoka.

Higher Thoughts about JUDO
This book caught me by surprise. I expected it to cover throwing techniques. Instead, Dr. Kano covered his philosophy of Judo in a very thorough definitive manner. He says the throwing techniques are just the base level of Judo. And, he divides JUDO in to 3 levels, first-Physical, then perfection of the person, and finally on the highest plane, contributing to society. He mentioned that there were so much ME, ME, ME in Japan, that everyone is responsible for contributing to the improvment of society. I have studied Judo for 30 plus years. I am a nidan. I know about maximum efficiency minimal effort and mutual welfare for all man kind. But I have not heard it described in this manner. WOW...!!! TP