Judo “the gentle way”
Judo is combative system in which people fight one on one. The idea is to win decisively using a throw or a grappling technique (nage-waza and katame-waza respectively).
The two guiding principles of Judo are:
- Seiryoku Zenyō: Maximum efficiency with minimum effort
- Jita Kyōei: Mutual welfare and benefit
Learning Judo is to learn how to control and use your body efficiently and will bring about a physiological awareness. Also, improved physical fitness comes about through this training which should be fairly obvious.
The pursuit of judo will also build the practitioner’s character. Some will call this a moral education. By doing judo, you will learn how to get up when defeated, take victory with humility, have empathy for the weak, have respect for the strong, learn to use other’s force against themselves, to use your force efficiently, and for good purpose. These ‘lessons’ are learned from returning to that mat night after night, day after day, year after year, and are what forms the foundation of the ‘character building’ education of judo.
Judo was designed by its founder, Kano, as a way to develop character and to become a useful person in society. Lectures were used to help achieve these goals.
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