From Bulletin for the Scientific Study of Kodokan Judo,
1969, Vol. III p. 129
Kodokan Judo and its Technical
Development which Contributed to the Modernization
of Budo
By: K. Tomiki (Waseda University)
CONTENTS
Introduction
I) Essential Quality of Old Budo
II) From School Budo to Athletic Budo
III) Technical Constitutions of Jujutsu and Judo
IV) Clarification of Old-Style "Technique"
Based on Judo Principle
V) Achievement of "Randori-Method" and
Its Future Technical Development.. . . . About Establishment
of The Second Randori Method.
Introduction
Professor Jigoro Kano, the founder of Kodokan Judo, is a great
man who brought about an epoch to Japanese Budo history. At
this modern age, he gave new direction to Budo cultivated in
one thousand and several hundred year tradition.
Budo is intangible cultural properties, whose right technique
is handed down from person to person only by physical movements.
A book telling about Budo is only an assistant existence for
endorsing this. It is almost impossible to know this only by
a book telling about it. Moreover, the founder of Old Budo established
schools by subjective conviction and experience, and objective
valuation of the real ability could be made only in "the
place for actual fight". And partly because of feudal and
political circumstances, techniques were not exchanged. And
many schools are opposed to each other as secret methods.
There are many kind of old Budo, but all arose as a killing
technique in "the place for actual fight". Ancient
man not only trained technique but studied inner human nature
deeply with severe life conflict with enemies (opponent) as
a momentum. Some experts deviced to reach the religious mental
situation of nonconflict over impetuous conflicting world such
as surprise, terror, fear and hatred.
These facts show Japanese Budo feels pride in its technical
subtlety and also an incomparable spiritual culture. But it
was difficult for posterity to understand and realize this.
Much more, it was difficult to make this a wide, general education
and nobody could carry it out. Professor Kano studied Jujutsu
which is one subject of old Budo and made it alive as a human-making
way from world and educational viewpoint. This brought one great
conversion to the step of old Japanese Budo history.
[130] In old Budo actual fight, religion and play are all mingled.
And its important points changed from generation to generation.
Professor Kano systematized it scientifically and educationally
without denying these three natures and advocated it widely
for mankind as practical morality.
Namely, this means the modernization of old Budo. Substantially,
it came to be practiced as "a game" by arranging and
revising techniques of Jujutsu and in this way, mental training,
moral training and aesthetic training could be made, not necessary
to say of health maintenance and promotion. This is quite the
same as the significance expected of modern physical education.
Professor Kano gave old Jujitsu moral and guiding idea which
is universal among human beings, fearing it was Superstitious
because of strong religiousness and inclination of narrow nationalism.
Moreover, old Jujitsu sticked to actual fight and secret method,
so he clarified it scientifically and prevailed it all over
the world as gymnastic culture.
It is 85 years since Kodokan Judo was established and it has
developed greatly and prosperously until today. But on the other
hand, big change of era brought various problems concerning-
with the view toward Judo and the future way of it. We should
quietly look back upon the real meaning of Kodokan Judo and
understand it from modern gymnastic viewpoint and moreover try
to develop Judo in the future.
Advance of Judo is parallel to that of Japanese fencing and
other Budo. This is shown in Japanese Budo history after Meiji
era. Modernization of Judo in the early Meiji era brought about
the modernization of Japanese fencing and archery.
In this essay, I first intend to explain Japanese Budo generally
and next mention the significance of Kodokan Judo and then consider
its future way of development.
I. Essense of
Old Budo
Today, Budo passes for general term for Japanese fencing, Judo
and other kinds of Budo. This was called Bugei or Bujutsu in
old days. As the old saying "18 kinds of Bugei" there
are many kinds of subjects. Bugei, required as a samurai education
in Edo period, consists of six skills such as a sword, a spear,
a bow, a horse, yawara and gun. In "Shinsen-Bujutsu Ryusoroku"
in 1843, Bujutsu was a general term for many kinds. In short,
word, "Bugei", or "Bujutsu" was used in
the old days. And it is after Meiji era that the name of Budo
came to be used.
The reason why Budo was considered to be the spiritual training
from old days was that in "the place for actual fight",
"technique" was studied completely in order to "win"
and moreover through the "technique" the training
was recommended to the every day attitude of mind and even to
the important things in living. Therefore, spiritual training
in Budo cannot be the training of "mind" separated
from "technique".
Now, this "mind" means the "mind" which
is not agitated by victory and defeat. And the victory and defeat
lead to life and death, so it means the "mind" which
is not agitated by facing the terror of death.
However skillful the technique is, it is relative, so players
cannot be dependent merely on it. They should get some religious
belief in order to get "mind" which is not defeated
by any force. Thus, there is an old saying that in the training
of Budo, "mind" should be learned by all means.
As for the "mind", masters and experts mentioned their
subjective belief according to their respective experience from
old days. Thus their expressions of the "mind" were
much varied.
In a book telling about old Budo, many Buddhistic expressions
such as "immobility of mind" "uninhabiting mind"
and "empty mind" can be found and especially in ancient
documents in Jujutsu, many Confucian expressions such as "spirit"
"harmony" "gentleness" and "cosmic
dual forces".
Thus Budo was begun with the "technique" of brutal
conflicts. And the study of "mind" which tries to
get over the victory and defeat world at last led to Buddhistic
view of death and life and Confucian way of great nature union.
Essence of Budo includes, as mentioned before, the "mind"
facing "actual fight". Now, I intend to analyze it
from the point of "technique".
[131] (1) Fundamentals of Budo are right "posture"
and its "body handling".
"Upright standing" and "upright sitting"
should be provided when attacked limitlessly by the opponent.
These are "Shizentai" (natural posture) of Judo and
"Muno-Kamae" (empty posture) of Kendo.
"Upright standing" (seiritsu) and "upright sitting"
(seiza) are true of fundamentals of etiquette which teaches
right living attitude of human beings. As "etiquette is
namely preparation" ("Bukyo Zensho Koroku" Yoshida
Shoin) it is why the etiquette was strictly taught in the training
of Budo.
By assuming this right "posture", "body handling"
is possible, dealing with hit, push and kick from the opponent
and attacks by another weapons. This light and free use is developed
as the technique of "metsuke" (fixation of the eye),
"maai" (pause) "principle of gentleness' and
"principle of breaking".
(2) The nature of "technique" of Budo is dangerous.
After dodging an opponent's attacks by "posture" and
"body handling,-", active method is taken for controlling
the opponent. This method is classified into various kinds of
weapons. The general classification is as follows.
(A) those whose attacks are made by using various weapons
Kenjutsu, Sojutsu, Naginatajutsu, Bojutsu, and etc.
(B) those whose attacks are made by empty-hands
(a) hit, push and kick at a distance
(b) throwing, pressing down, tightening and crushing by grappling
Those using weapons are trained as so-called one attack and
certain killing "technique". In the case of attack
method by empty hands, the purpose of hit, push and kick is
one attack and certain killing as that of weapons. On the other
hand, "techniques" such as throwing, pressing, tightening
and mastering do not always aim at killing and wounding. The
meaning is "Violence only is controlled and its life is
not wounded" (Volume of Yoshin school resolution), but
even in this case, the using method is dangerous.
In short, the nature of "technique" of Budo was dangerous
one which had the killing and wounding power to human life.
Moreover, these various "techniques" were contained
indefinitely in each ancient Bujutsu. In the case of Kenjutsu,
"technique" of empty hands was also trained. As Jujutsu
had the nature of comprehensive Bujutsu "technique"
of fencing, lance and club was necessarily practiced on the
basis of being empty-handed. (Shibukawa School Jujutsu Taiseiroku)
II. From Class-Judo
to Athletic Judo
It has been discussed from old times how this "technique"
of Bujutsu -- dangerous and indefinite -- should be practiced.
Fortunately, the ancients left results of the pain as a "form".
This can be learned by repetitive practice. The "form"
is accumulation of techniques and mind methods which ancients
learned in the actual fight at the risk of their lives. This
is inevitable for the right learning of "technique".
But, practice cannot be completed only by the "form"
because its practice is done by limiting the activity of free
will of both or one side. Difficulty of training "technique"
of Budo is caused by the competition of "technique"
by both free will activities, the discipline of mind and the
study of reason of defense changes. Therefore, in practicing
"form" an application place for acquiring the living
activity of the "technique" becomes necessary.
In warlike ages "place for actual fight" as its application
existed. But in peace time of Edo era, it was lost. Practice
method sticking only to "form" inclines to lose reality
and falls into complacency by losing objective "strength"
indulged in form. This was called "Kaho" technique
at that time and was looked down upon. Then practice method
of Shinai (Bamboo-sword) Kenjutsu was invented by Fukuro-shinai
of Yagyu school, Shirozaemon Naganuma (Shotoku period), Chuzo
Nakanishi [132] of Itto-ryu school (Horeki periods) to correct
this and "technique" made great progress. This is
the beginning of athletic Kendo today.
In the case of Jujutsu, the invention of practice method by
both free will activities, so-called "Randori method"
was late. In Meiji era, Randori method of throwing techniques
and grasping techniques was made for the first time by Kodokan
Judo. But even after this new practice method was begun, the
idea of training in "the place for actual fight" could
not be lost. And method of making athletic was not complete,
so practice of Budo was considered to be dangerous.
In ancient Budo, an attitude facing with "death" was
necessarily required as that in "the place for actual fight",
so its "technique" was dealt with as religious one
meaning absolute invincibility. And Budo defending one's own
life changed to that in defense of a group to which he belongs.
And, it was taught only among those whose ideologies were the
same. This was taught as a secret method. And it was strictly
prohibited to tell it to others which could be known from many
old books telling about Budo. These circumstances brought about
many classes and developed the system of the original-house.
At the survey of developing process of Budo above, it could
be found that religious Budo, secret method Budo, and class
Budo had their respective historic meanings, while they had
the nature of exclusiveness, complacency and superstition at
the same time. Therefore, there existed something which cannot
be adapted to modern thought and social circumstances.
In the first place, the origin of the word "Bu" is
"to stop a halberd", which means the appeasement of
evil by capable subjugation in order to realize the social "peace".
Namely it means "Katsujin-ken" which kills one and
make many alive. But nowadays, Budo is made public as excellent
gymnastic culture. And those loving it are called for. Budo
plays the part of uniting people's mind all over the world beyond
nations and frontier.
Now, what are the main points for the development from ancient
Budo to modern Budo? I can point out the following problems.
(1) The former narrow-minded ideology should be revised and
high moral ideas be given in order to guide the people throughout
the world.
(2) Positions among various kinds of Budo should be made clear,
and technical merits of each one should be kept and technical
confusion be avoided.
(3) Rational and educational practice system should be regulated
by the scientific clarification of each technical nature.
Japan has many old-styled Judo. According to the record, Kenjutsu
has 718 schools which is the most, Jujutsu 179 schools and spear
exercise 148. ("Documentation of History of Physical Education"
Yoshio Imamura) Therefore many remain even today. Useless repetition
and friction cannot be avoided when content and style of the
"technique" prevail without its arrangement in modern
ways.
Kodokan Judo, when founded, took the merits of each school and
arranged itself in the system of modern exercise. Namely, "place
for actual fight" is changed to "place for athletic
sports". And its real ability is made objective, self-reflection
and self-improvement are made. Moreover, it is applied for the
modern education as training of "mind" which is moved
by victory and defeat. This is the beginning of modernization
of old Budo.
III. Technical
Constitutions of Jujutsu and Judo
Old-style Jujutsu in any school has the principle of defending
himself from enemy in an emergency. So the investigation was
made even into daily attitude of mind and posture. Professor
Kano made this the fundamental attitude true of each Jujutsu
and induced "natural posture". And he taught "the
use of natural posture" as its function. Besides he defined
Jujutsu as follows. "It is the technique of attack and
defense based on being empty-handed. But it is not only the
facing of opponent's empty hands but of their sword, spear and
club. And at times he himself uses the weapons.
[133] The art of defense, though influenced by living conditions,
has the nature of total Bujutsu as the original form. Therefore,
not only the "technique" of empty-hands against empty-hands
but that of empty-hands against weapons are required. It was
necessary to be well informed about the art of sword and spear
for responding opponent's weapons.
Now I have no space to mention the history of Jujutsu development
in detail but whatever it is called, the beginning of empty-hand
struggles was essentially old and it is difficult to tell it
from Japanese wrestling. Especially Japanese wrestling of a
military family after Kamakura era was recommended as the fundamental
of empty-hand struggles made in battle field. Jujutsu and Japanese
wrestling were clearly distinguished for the first time when
the wrestling ring of Japanese wrestling was invented in the
last stage of Muromachi era.
In Japan, the last decision in battle field consisted in "a
grapple" since ancient times. This influenced the victory
and defeat of total army. An established theory is that the
oldest old-style Jujutsu is Takenouchi school in 1532. It was
called "Kogusoku" (small armor) and also "Koshi-mawari."
Besides in another old-style schools, those which can be included
in Jujutsu are Hoshu (catch), "Hojo", (arrest), "wa"
(harmony), "wa-jutsu", "Jitte-jutsu," "Yawara",
"Taijutsu", "Kenpo". Kumiuchi (a, grapple)
in the battle field of the Middle Ages bad main aims of twisting-down
and capture as they were dressed in armor and "techniques"
of hit, push and kick were seldom used. But in the peace time
of Edo era, they were lightly dressed. And the interchange with
Min brought Ken-po from the land. Above all, life wearing a
sword developed greatly "body movement" and "hand
movement" moreover "Kansetsu-waza" (joint technique)
to control weapons by empty hands. And it made "technique"
of Jujutsu abundant many-sidedly. This is proved by still remaining
records, illustration and "form" of old-style Jujutsu.
Besides, Jujutsu players at that time seem to have learned "Ken-po"
and "Iai" technique actively just as Ryoishinto school
Jujutsu players studied under Yagyu school Kenjutsu players,
and this influenced the content of "technique" of
Jujutsu very greatly.
We can conclude as follows historical facts
above.
Old-style Jujutsu all had the technical constitution of defending
technique even if various schools have their respective characteristics.
(1) Various kinds of "techniques" intermingled in
order to deal with various attacks and defense.
(2) The various "techniques" were constituted subjectively
by school founders' experience and imagination of "place".
Therefore, school Jujutsu brought about many branches and in
practicing them, only the repetition of established "form"
was made. And it was not "competition of techniques"
with all one's power by mutual free will just as modern athletic
Judo, and, "competition of techniques" meant actual
fight by which one of the two was wounded.
As many of school Jujutsu had the "technique" defensively
constituted, the form and practice method were that sitting,
standing, from behind, from left and right, a short sword or
a sword, a spear and a club and moreover "technique"
against many enemies were practiced over and over again as a
"form". This means in the case of Kenjutsu the technical
constitution of Iai technique.
But "techniques" complicated, intermingled should
be analyzed and arranged, and revise them by types in order
to develop these school Jujutsu into athletic Judo.
In the case of Kendo, its technical contents are confined to
"technique" of a sword, so its revision is rather
easy. Namely, "competition of techniques" could be
made by the invention of a bamboo sword and defending instruments.
Then, in the middle of Edo era, Shinai Kenjutsu was already
done. But "technique" of Jujutsu was so various and
complicated that it was not easy to do so. It was planned for
the first time in early Meiji era by Professor Kano.
It is difficult to study the fencing principle and master fencing
technique only by the sword method and "form" of lai
technique. Strict training of "Shinai Kenjutsu" is
required. At the same time, only practicing the "form"
of school Jujutsu is not enough for the practice of "technique",
[134] and "Randori" is by all means necessary. This
was proved by a game between Kodokan and Totsuka Yoshin school
held in the Metropolitan Police Board in 18th of Meiji (1895).
This means the victory of practice-method of modern "Randori"
in Kodokan over that of old-style school "form". The
characteristic of practice-method of "Randori" consists
in demonstrating "technique" actively by mutual free
will. Namely in the reason of technique, the practice of "Sen"
(farsight) or "Sen-Sen-noSen" (entensive farsight).
is possible. But in the practice-method of defensive "technique"
the "technique" seems to have many kinds and varieties.
But the practice-method is passive, so it is inclined to become
negative, that is to say, it is the practice of "Go-no-Sen."
When emphasis is put on the instructive significance of Budo
spirit, it is important to get the active spirit. And for that
it is meaningless if technique principle of "Sen"
(farsight) is not mastered. Therefore in Budo education, training
of "technique" itself should be done first, and too
many "techniques" be learned in vain.
In short, from modern educational viewpoint, athletic Judo with
modern technical constitution should stand first and class Jujutsu
with old defensive technical constitution be the second.
IV. Clarification
of Old-Style "Technique" Based on Judo Principles
Instructive idea of Kodokan Judo is "making a good use
of energy, prosperity of all." A general plan of Kodokan
cultural meeting (1922) which prevailed this said as follows.
(1) Making the best use of energy is the most important in perfection
of self.
(2) Perfection of self can be accomplished by helping that of
others.
(3) Perfection of self is the basis of prosperity of all human
beings.
Many of the leading ideas of school Budo, as I mentioned before,
were subjective experiencing convictions of school founder,
and some of them emphasized narrow ideology. But it induced
this to philosophical moral idea, and modernized the spirit
of traditional Budo from universal viewpoint.
The idea of "making a good use of energy" was induced
from the experience of "technique" of old Jujutsu.
Moreover, the idea of "prosperity of all" was mastered
by respecting mutual characters and practicing by the attachment
of each mind. Old Jujutsu sticked to so-called "the place
for actual fight" in order to strike out others and to
complete the existence of his own life. But it changed this
greatly, and it came to exist for perfection of self by mutual
growth and development. Therefore there are great difference
and similarity between the significance of games in old Jujutsu
and that in Judo nowadays.
Professor Kano taught Judo principles by inducing the technique
principle from Tenshinshinyo school, Kito school and another
old-style Jujutsu. Namely, they are "principle of natural
posture" "principle of gentleness" and "principle
of breaking".
On the other hand, he also taught these Judo principles, made
it possible to understand all "techniques" of old-style
Jujutsu. Even the "techniques" of a sword and a spear
could be explained by Judo principles, he said. Once Professor
taught the using of a sword based on Judo principles was Kendo,
which was misunderstood by those lacking in understanding.
Now, we can understand "technique" of old-style Jujutsu
by Judo principles in the following way.
(1) "Principle of Natural Posture"
This is the posture of standing quietly by keeping all the changes
and functions of attack and defense inside. Namely, this is
the position of standing expressively quietly, having infinite
notion inside.
At the investigation of concrete movement or "technique"
as the functions of "natural posture", they can be
divided into defense and attack. "Principle of gentleness"
was mainly that of defense and "principle of breaking"
was the fundamental of the technique principle in changing the
attacks. "Natural posture" is the original posture
keeping inside these two as functions.
(2) "Principle of Gentleness"
This means abating an opponent's attacking power without resisting
it and by following it. [135] Namely, he handles his body by
foreseeing the direction and quickness of an opponent's power
and by following this, and tries to catch the winning chance
in the delicate situation. "Retreat if pushed, push if
an opponent retreats." is the teaching showing this principle.
Cases to which "principle of gentleness" is applied
are divided into main two groups according to attacking "technique"
of an opponent.
(1) This is applied when players approach each other and fold
their necks band or sleeves, or when they are about to change
to attacking movements of throwing, suppressing or twisting
by using legs or waists gripping each other's waistband with
both hands.
(2) Cases in which they face each other in the distance, and
they are moreover divided into two.
(a) When an opponent shows the attacking attitude by hitting,
pushing and kicking
(b) When an opponent shows the attacking attitude by such weapons
as a short sword, a sword, a spear and a club
The ideal of "principle of gentleness" abating an
opponent's attacking power is standing without being touched
even by one finger of an opponent, and this is called "maai"
and was thought much of in fencing. But this principle is also
true of Jujutsu. "maai" is the relation of distance
and position between a player and his opponent. And the skill
of "Maai" is a key to victory and defeat.
The method of abating an opponent's power by "maai"
is first turning aside an opponent's better dynamic point by
body movement forward, backward, right and left and is secondly
washing away, removing or closing up the better dynamic point
by hands and arms.
The former is called "body handling" and the latter
"hand handling". "principle of gentleness"
is made practical by "body handling" and "hand
handling".
(3) "Principle of balance"
Standing man's body is broken the balance in the direction of
forward, backward, right and left and in its middle. Above all,
it is apt to break forward and backward directions in which
both legs stamp firmly. Attacking power of hands and legs is
lost the moment the body breaks and the center of gravity is
lost. And at the moment, a player is rather inclined to be caught
by "technique" of an opponent. Therefore, not only
in the technique of throwing, but also of twisting, "Kansetsu-waza"
(joint technique) and atemi techniques, moreover "technique"
of a sword or a spear, a player takes the attacking attitude
thinking the moment of an opponent's body crumbling a good chance
of winning.
[136] At the investigation of excellent old-style "form",
the order of "technique" is arranged by making this
winning chance the starting point.
In all Bujutsu, which of the two makes the opponent break, takes
the winning chance and grips the leading right decides the victory
and defeat. Namely, the victory and defeat are decided by the
skill of "breaking".
Now, in the concrete application of "principle of breaking"
to "technique", the methods vary by the kinds and
nature of the "technique". They are mainly divided
into two groups.
(1) when players approach each other and grapples with an opponent's
neck and sleeve. In this kind of form, "breaking balance"
is for "throwing techniques" and respective "technique"
is developed by the method of breaking in all direction. "Throwing
technique" is the central "technique" of Kodokan
Judo and 40 "Gokyo techniques" are established and
practiced fully in randori games.
(2) when they face each at a distance being watchful of an opponent's
hitting, pushing and kicking, or attacks by weapons. This is
moreover divided into two.
(a) in the case of "breaking" an opponent's posture
by grasping an opponent's wrist of forearm, especially by twisting
the caught arm
(b) in the case of (a), "breaking" leads to the winning
chance of "bonelocks" and in (b), it leads to the
winning chance of "atemi technique". These bonelocks
and "atemi technique" are powerful as the method of
defending an opponent's hitting, pushing and kicking or such
weapons as a short sword, a sword and a spear by empty hands
from the original and historical effect of "technique".
I analyzed above the old-style "technique" by Judo
principles. I intend to illustrate this for helping the understanding.
V Meritorious Deeds of "Randori
Method" and Its Technical Development in The Future
-About The Establishment of The Second Randori Method-
It is 86 years since Kodokan was founded, and Judo has prevailed
and developed greatly all over the world. What causes the great
development? Moreover, what is the characteristics of Kodokan
Judo different from old-style Jujutsu? The answer is very simple.
In the "technique" of old-style Jujutsu, only the
practice of "form" was done, but in the case of Kodokan
Judo, practice-method mainly of "randori" was established.
It is no exaggeration to say that meritorious deed of Kodokan
Judo is truly "Randori method".
Professor Kano, at the foundation of Kodokan, put aims of Judo
on three points-Shushin method (training of knowledge and virtue,
and application of Judo principles to everyday life), Rentai
method (gymnastics) and Shobu method (Bujutsu). Old-style Jujutsu
put emphasis only on victory and defeat and neglected Rentai
method (training of body), so the practice of Jujutsu became
out-of-date at that time as dangerous and unscientific. But
"Randori method" was made as doing both at the same
time. Professor Kano mentions as follows, "Kodokan Judo
has taken the method of training both victory and defeat and
body at the same time. This is because it is necessary not to
be wounded and at the same time it is desirable to make a body
strong in the case of training victory and defeat. And in training
body, such meaningless movement as gymnastics is soon tried
of and is apt to be neglected, but if attack and defense are
practiced at the same time, it is both fun and profitable. Thus,
I have arranged so that this may contain both as much as possible."
("New Japan History" from the department of Judo)
It is "Randori method" that kept well the Bujutsu
techniques of old-style Jujutsu and at the same time removed
its danger. Here lies the reason why Judo prevailed throughout
world with another kinds of sports and was much valued educationally
as the modern gymnastics material. But after that, "Randori
method" changed in the process of Judo development and
reflection towards it came to be required.
About this, Professor Takeshi Sakuraba mentioned as follows
in "Judo Shi-ku (1953) (study on Judo History)". "But,
in the method itself there existed some elements which should
be changed in its way [137] of training. First is having removed
the danger. Secondly, if it remains still according to the maxim
by the art of war that advance and retreat movement without
stopping attack and defense is unmoved just as woods and the
way of invading is just like fire, there is something unfurnished
from the point of victory and defeat chances. Third is not to
have thought much of grasping techniques. These three, by intermingling,
changed the first practice-method of Kodokan."
And he is pointing out the fact that Judo became Buai geiko
(practice between persons equal in rank) and lost its free variety
which is the essential character. He concludes in the following
way. "Thus the result is a little different from the serious
practice, so today Jujutsu putting emphasis only on the point
on the other hand has arisen. This is a very recent event. But
when considered, these techniques of Jujutsu are those thrown
away as dangerous in Judo. Judo got rid of the technique, but
it was taken as a kind of practice-method because of the effect
of serious practice (of course, as gymnastics) and it drove
to the different direction the founder did not expect, so these
which were first thrown away came back to one part.-omitted-So,
disciples of Kodokan Judo should bear this in mind and reflect
the theory when Professor Kano founded it. And from now on,
we should decide the practice-method considering serious practical
use is really required in technical part of Judo. After doing
so, Judo will become the fundamental of all gymnastic methods
and all physical training methods, and at the same time it will
prosper as a kind of useful weapon.
Professor Sakuraba's opinion about "Randori method"
above is still living even now. There are two ways of answering
this subject.
(1) In "Randori method" which is now practiced, content
of "technique" or rules as its frame are to be studied.
(2) New "Randori method" is to be established about
"technique" thrown away as dangerous.
It goes without saying that it is important to study the former.
But the latter should also be studied. Dangerous "techniques"
such as atemi techniques or bonelocks (including wrist techniques)
are removed from the present "Randori method", but
it is the duty of Kodokan Judo to make this a method and to
keep alive the technical excellence in gymnastic way. Atemi
techniques or bonelocks require a separate "Randori method"
from the process of technical development, the character and
effectiveness. I intend to mention this in another article.
In this article, I suggested the establishment of "the
second Randori method" of atemi technique and bonelocks
for the future development, according to the significance of
Kodokan Judo, and mentioned moreover technical subject of Judo
will be solved by this.