History
Traditional Judo
Judo originated from the martial art of ju-jitsu. This art was taught in secret and practised non-competitively, as it relied on the element of surprise when used against those who did not know the movements. In the latter part of the nineteenth century, Dr Jigoro Kano, a Japanese educationalist, studied at a number of ju-jitsu schools, and selecting the best movements from each, he formulated a system that could be practised safely as a means of physical training and as a sport. He founded his first club 'The Kodokan', in 1882 and called his system 'Judo'. This is the name by which the art is known throughout the world today.
He enunciated two basic principles:
Maximum efficiency - Minimum effort Mutual Aid
His method thus retained the original ju-jitsu ideas that strength was not the deciding factor, but skill, and the whole purpose of practice was to help each other to become better physically and mentally, hence better able to play a useful role in the community.
The tendency in the West has been to concentrate on the competitive aspect of Judo, and with its inclusion in the Olympic Games, this tendency has been even more marked. Many masters feel that this has led to neglect of the more fundamental aspects of the study.
Some of the judo throws are depicted on a frieze on the walls of a Shaolin Monastery in China. This was founded in the sixth century AD, and the movements are taken from a series of excercises designed by the Abbot, Tano, in order to fit the monks for their religious exercises. The fact that they formed an excellent self-defence system was secondary to that of promoting bodily fitness. Judo has this same basic aim.
Tze Tan, an early Chinese martial arts master said:
"If you only practice fighting and not the skills you will become decrepit in old age."
In her introduction to her book "Judo - A Pictorial Manual" Pat Harrington, 5th Dan writes:
"I have felt for a long time that there is too much emphasis placed upon the Shiai, or contest aspect of Judo today, and not enought attention is given to the technical, kata, mental.....aspects of judo."
In a circular to members of his organisation, Kenshiro Abbe, 8th Dan, founder of the Kyu Shin Do school of Judo, wrote:
"The meaning of Kyu Shin Do is not a specific series of mere techniques, but a method of applying such techniques to achieve a deeper understanding of this universe of ours. In this way we can attain harmony with our fellow men and take a step to universal understanding."
Traditionally, judo is a method of self defence, not involving great strength but depending on skill and on yielding to an opponent's attack in order to overcome him. At a deeper level it becomes a way of life as the disciplines of practice and the spirit in which it is undertaken are extended into daily living. Knowledge of these traditional methods is preserved in the purest form in the katas, which are a ritual demonstration of sequences of movements.
Today there seem to be two forms of judo, traditional judo and sport judo. In the latter weight training often forms part of the preparation. This was unknown in traditional judo, which did not have weight categories in comptetition, since the proper application of a technique should enable even a weaker man to overcome a stronger...
The benefit of studying these traditional methods will last for ever. Physically, health, fitness and co-ordination will be improved. Mentally, students will become more alert, and gain a deeper insight into the basic principles and into themselves and their fellow men...
(taken from the book Traditional Judo by E.G.Bartlett).
A Potted History Of Judo
1500BC to 720AD -
This is the period when the Japanese Nation is said to have come into being. There are references to the art and technique of wrestling and the use of competitive strength721AD to 1140AD -
During this time the Sumai techniques of kicks, chops and throws developed. A great exponent of Sumai, Sukune Nomi is said to have formulated the Japanese wrestling sport of Sumo, still popular in Japan to the present day.1156 to 1526 -
The Japanese Samurai became the influential class in Japan, exercising political control of the country. The Samurai began to study the code of Bushido and gifting techniques, involved the use fo armour and many different weapons. It was during this period that the fighting arts were refined and many new theories were introduced.1598 to 1881 -
Jujitsu developed as an unarmed means of self defence and towards the end of the era there were over 300 different theories.Jigoro Kano was born in 1860. As a young man he studied different Jujiten theories and devised his own method calling it Kodokan* Jiu-Do.
*Ko = teaching, Do=the way, Kan=hall
1882 to today -
In 1882 Kano opened a school naming it the Kodokan, he was 23 years old.Dr Kano died in 1938 on the 5th May on board the vessel 'Hikawa Maru'. The Butokukwai was founded in 1895 for the study and teaching of all the Japanese Samurai arts.
Judo is now an International Sport and is entered as an official event in the Olympic Games.
Notable Dates in British Judo
April 29th 1892
Takashima Shidachi of the Yoshin Ryu gave a lecture on the history and development of Jiu jitso, Jiu-do and Yoshin Ryu at a meeting of the Japan Society on London.
1897
EJ Harrison, Journalis and Diplomat, arrived in Yokahama to work with a British newspaper. He joined the Tenjin Shin Yo Dojo.
1899
Yukio Tani arrived in London.
1900
Sadakazu Uyenishi arrived in England.
1904
The British Society for Jiu Jitsu was founded by William Bankier with Yukio Tani as Instructor.
Yukio Tani opened the Japanese School of Jiu Jitsu at 305 Oxford Street, London W1
Tarro Miyake, a Judoka and Yoshin Ryu Jiu Jisuka, arrived in London.
1905
Tarro Miyake joined Yukio Tani at the Japanese School of Jiu Jitsu.
Akitaro Ono, a 4th Dan Graduate of the Kodokan, arrived in London and worked with Uyenishi.
1906
In May Gunji Koizumi arrived in Prestatyn, North Wales. He travelled to Liverpool where he took up the post of Instructor at a school for Jiu Jitsu.
1907
In May Koizumi went to America.
1910
By May of this year Koizumi had returned to England.
1918
G Koizumi opened a Dojo in Grosvenor Place, London SW1 and called it the Budokwai. His first chief instructor was Yukio Tani.
1919
Masutaro Otani arrived in England.
1920
Jigaro Kano, founder of the Kodokan came to England accompanied by Hikoichi Aida, 4th Dan. Aida was appointed as Kodokan Coach to the Budokwai. Otani started studying with H. Aida. and Y Tani and G Koizumi were awarded 2nd Dans in Kodokan Jui-do.
1926
Masaturo Otani became assistant instructor to Yukio Tani.
1945
M Otani founded the Jubilee Judo Club.
1948
The British Judo Association was founded and named as the National Governing Body. The European Judo Union was formed.
1954
M Otani founded the Masaturo Otani School of Judo.
1955
Kenshiro Abbe arrived in England.
1956
P Butler founded the A.J.A.
1958
K Abbe founded the British Judo Council.
1964
R H Bleakman founded Budo of Great Britain, a Martial Arts Society with a Judo section.
1970
The M.O.S.J. and the British Judo Council amalgamated.
1974
Zen Judo founded by Dominic McCarthy, England.
In an effort to preserve the philosophical and spiritual aspects of Dr. Kano's art Zen Judo was created in England in 1974. Judo had been introduced to Great Britain in the early 1900s with Sensei Yukio Tani. He was followed by Sensei Uyenishi who taught Judo to the British Army at Aldershot. Sensei Gunji Koizumi founded the most famous Judo club in the country, the Budokwai of London, where he and Tani taught for many years. The post-war period saw the organization of several major Judo associations in Great Britain. The British Judo Association (BJA) was the largest and most influential. Not long after the BJA's creation, the British Judo Council was formed under the influence of Sensei Tani, and a third organization, the Kyu Shin Do, was created by Sensei Kenshiro Abe. Zen Judo originated from the Kyu Shin Do.
Shihan Dominick McCarthy, the founder of Zen Judo, was trained in the Kyu Shin Do system. When the Kyu Shin Do began to emphasize more Western aspects, Shihan McCarthy created a separate group to preserve its original spirit. In September 1974 the Zen Judo ryu came into life at the Community Centre on Love Lane, Petersfield, England.
Since its creation, Zen Judo has spread across England. There have been clubs also in Germany, Canada and the United States. In December 2002 Sensei Ray Pulman brought the Belfast Kyushindo into the British Zen Judo Family Association and thereby opened the first Zen Judo club in Northern Ireland. In 2004 Zen Judo clubs were opened in Perth Scotland and in Greater Manchester England.
Zen clubs tend to attract a good following, with low membership dropout and high retention rates. Student interest in the art seems considerably greater than in the competitive styles. As an effort to preserve the traditional style of Judo pioneered by Dr. Kano, Zen Judo dojos' do not participate in tournaments or competitions, though some individual members may do so. As a Judo ryu it is devoted to technique, skill, and merit rather than the athletic ability.