History

JUDO

History

Japan situated between China and the United States is an archipelago constituted by 4000 islands and islands among which 4 main islands: Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku and Kyushu. Historically japan was largely influenced by China and the Buddhism. His culture is strictly connected to the peach(fishing) (raditional dishes) and to the wood (160 sorts of tree listed in Japan against 70 in Europe). This country was torn for a long time by the feudal wars (1185-1868) which established a new tradition: the arts of fights.

I) 1185, Les Bushis in the power:

Bushis was warriors in armors, professionals since 710 (period Nara) and had for role to enlarge the power of their clan. Every clan being in confrontation the one against the other one in single combats to acquire the ascendancy.
1615: Samurai corresponding to the military aristocracy, governed the country for Shogun. Civil servants armed with the peacetime (in the same way as polices today) they symbolized the Elite of Japan. Their main duty remained to serve their boss in the management of its domains and its interests. The bearing of cutting weapons was reserved for the noble persons. The rest of the population had to develop techniques of fights with bare hands or use agrarian tools to defend itself.

II) EDO's PERIOd (1615-1868):

Ju-jitsu takes its real development during this peace period and on returning to the order (wanted by the emperor and samurai). Bit by bit samurai frequent dojos to replace battlefields. Techniques become refined and become soaked more and more with the spirit. Schools are based by samurai or fencing masters. The rivalry between them is terrible, the challenges are numerous and bloody. Certain schools develop the techniques of katame-waza (immobilizations), shime-waza (constrictions) and swimming - waza (projections).
In 1876 a decree forbids the port(bearing) of the sabre, the impact of the men in weapons (the noble persons) is reduced to nothingness. Ju-Jitsu reaches(affects) then its highlight.
The legend of Ju-Jitsu tells that a doctor worn-out to the art of the fight, the name of Akiyama, native of Nagasaki went in China to study the medicine there. One day, during a snowstorm, he observed a willow branches of which covered with snow bent under the weight of this one without breaking contrary to the stiff pine branches of which had broken themselves. He had then the illumination of Ju-Jitsu which he wanted to see practising. He discovered 303 methods different from this art.
The principles of Ju-Jitsu:

- Do not oppose to the opponent, but win the victory by adapting itself.
- Not be proud of the victory.
- Do not stay in conflict but maintain the empty spirit.
- Not be allowed disturb by unimportant things.
- Take big care of the breath.
- Respect a moral code (The BUSHIDO): Loyalty, Energy, Self-abnegation and Self-control.

III) Jigoro Kano:

18 october 1860: Birth to Mikage (near Kobe).
Nothing intended him for the fight, he was small and sick. His companions laughed at him. However, in 10 years he receives the sabre of the samurai, before that the Emperor Meiji forbids the bearing.
In 1877 Jigoro Kano brings in to the imperial University of TOKYO and begins the study of Ju-Jitsu with the master Hachinosuke Fukuda. He discovers Atemi-waza (technics of carried knocks) and Katame-waza. Diligent he went every day to Dojo the trainings of which were very rough. Frail of nature there became stronger and more resistant, but was always the smallest and the lightest. This handicap urged him to study the other followers, their techniques and their movements to finalize techniques allowing him to overcome them.
In the class of the master Fukuda, a pupil, Kenkichi Fukushima, weighed about 90 kilos. After the well observed credit note, he asked him if he agreed to meet him. He threw him then, in spite of his weight, in a spectacular way with a technic which he had just elaborated: Kata-guruma (technique of projection consisting in charging the opponent on the shoulders before making him fall).
Intellectual, Jigoro Kano studied in books a lot. He got itself original documents of the other schools, learnt the techniques of the Sumo wrestling and rediscovered the old art of the seizures (Kumi-uchi) which will end in the essential work of Kumi-kata in judo (taken by nurse).
Jigoro Kano made a synthesis of its research work and created its own Dojo: the KODOKAN

Kodokan in view dates:
1882: 12 tapis, 24m², 9 pupils
1886: 40 tapis, 80m², 100 pupils
1889: several schools, 600 pupils
1900: 200 black belts
1934: new room, 1000 tapis, 2000m², 100 000 pupils
1938: death of Jigoro Kano

Judo in ths world:
1943: 1^st Male French championship (Jean de Herdt become the champion of France)
1951: 1^st Male European championship in Paris
1956: 1^st Male world championship in Tokyo
1964: The judo, the sport of demonstration in the Olympic Games of Tokyo
1972: The male judo is Olympic sport in Munich
1975: 1^st Feminine European championship
1976: 1^st Feminine French championship
1980: 1^st Feminine world championship
1988: The feminine judo is Olympic sport in Seoul

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