(USA-TKJ) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TRADITIONAL KODOKAN JUDO ®
  • OFFICIAL SITE
    • USA-TKJ ® Blog
    • Contact Us
  • Kodokan Judo
    • History of Kodokan Judo
    • Jigoro Kano - Founder of Kodokan Judo >
      • Teachings of Kano Shihan
      • Prof. Kano on Judo & Olympics
    • The Founding of Kodokan Judo
    • Jigoro Kano's Life & Achievements
    • Kata of Kodokan Judo
    • Judo Terminology
    • Tour The Kodokan
    • Atemi Waza of Kodokan Judo
    • Nage Waza of Kodokan Judo
    • Katame Waza of Kodokan Judo
  • USA-TKJ ®
    • Overview >
      • Welcome by President Bruce R. Bethers
      • General Information
      • Organization Structure
      • Sponsors
    • Leadership >
      • Officers & Directors
      • Senior Masters Caucus
      • Committees
      • USA-TKJ Hall of Fame
    • Partners & Affiliates >
      • Group "A" Members
      • Group "B" Members
      • Group "C" Member
      • Group "D" Member
      • Group "E" Member
    • Library & Forms
  • Membership
    • Information
    • Background Checks
    • On-Line Registrations >
      • Annual Membership >
        • US Citizen / US Resident
        • "All American" (Three Natl Orgs) Annual Membership
        • International Affiliate
      • Life Membership >
        • US Citizen / US Resident
        • "All American" (Three Natl Orgs) Life Membership
        • International Affiliate
      • School Membership >
        • Annual School Membership in USA
        • Annual School Membership - International Affiliate
        • 2022 "American" School Membership - "Two" National Orgs
        • 2022 "All American" School Membership - "Three" National Orgs
        • "Packaged" School Membership >
          • "Copper" School Membership (10 Students)
          • "Bronze" School Membership (20 Students)
          • "Silver" School Membership (30 Students)
          • "Gold" School Membership (50 Students)
          • "Platinum" School Membership (75 Students)
    • Life Members List
  • News / Media
    • USA News >
      • National & US Open Championships
      • Traditional Judo Times
    • World News >
      • TAFISA & IOC - Mutual Support
    • Events >
      • Upcoming >
        • USA TRADITIONAL KODOKAN JUDO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
      • Reports >
        • Reno Judo Club Seminar, May 2022
        • USA-TKJ Hall of Fame
        • International Judo Camp, 2017
    • Photo Galleries >
      • Training Photos
      • Celebration Photos
    • Video Galleries >
      • Historical Videos
      • Technical Videos
  • Yudanshakai
    • National Yudanshakai
    • Background Checks
    • Rank Certification Procedures
    • Minimum Age & Time In Grade Standards
    • Rank Certification >
      • USA-TKJ ® National Rank System
      • Rank Application >
        • National Judo Kyu Grade (USA-TKJ)
        • National Judo Dan Grade (USA-TKJ)
        • International Judo Dan Grade (ITKJ)
    • USA-TKJ ® Instructor - Examiner Certification
    • USA-TKJ ® Rank Requirements
  • Store
    • Kiai Budo Shop
    • Cafe Press Store
  • Resources
    • Articles & Essays >
      • Rediscovering Kodokan Judo
      • The Art of Kodokan Judo
      • Mission of Kodokan Judo
      • Principals of Judo in All Human Activity
      • Training in Kodokan Judo
      • The Path of Traditional Judo
      • Judo: The Japanese Art of Self Defense
      • Inside Nage no Kata
      • Understanding Japanese Martial Art
    • School Directory
    • Training & Certification >
      • Seminars
      • Instructors-Examiners
      • Coaching Certifcation
      • Referees Certification
    • Events Sanctions
    • Anti-Doping
    • Competition Rules

The Path of Traditional Judo

PictureLinda Yiannakis
Traditional Judo is that practice of judo which reflects and adheres to the aims and principles of the art as Jigoro Kano presented them in his teachings and writings. Therein lies the problem for 21st century judoka who wish to practice in the old way. Judo has gone through many dramatic changes over the years since its introduction in 1882 and is now largely practiced as a sport. It is difficult to find a teacher, in the United States at least, who has received the core instruction of Kano’s original judo to pass on to today’s students. This dearth of specific instruction has given rise over time to various forms of what is called Classical Judo in this country, wherein ideas of traditional judo are often based upon much practice of omote kata (demonstration form) and the avoidance of competition. 


Neither of these notions reflects the program of Traditional Judo or serves to address in a complete way Kano’s oft-stated intentions for his art.

Prof. Kano’s judo was conceived as a three-part, interrelated educational system. He established rentai-ho for development of the body through training, shobu-ho for the development of contest skills, and shushin-ho for mental and moral development. (Draeger, 1997: 118)

The cultivation of a strong physical body (through rentai-ho) and the development of contest skills (through shobu-ho) together resulted in kyogi judo, or judo in the narrow sense. Kano intended that judo practitioners were also to go on to achieve a higher level of self-actualization through shushin-ho and thus achieve kogi judo, or judo in the wide sense. The cultivation of the self and spirit were to put practitioners on the road to Kano’s ultimate aim of judo: the perfection of character for self and others.

The ultimate object of studying judo is to train and cultivate body and mind through practice in attack and defense, and by thus mastering the essentials of the art, to attain perfection of oneself and bring benefits to the world.    (Watson, 2008: xvi)

This quest is the purpose behind the practice of Traditional Judo, in contrast to the sport model which focuses primarily on striving in the competitive arena. While practitioners of Traditional Judo participate in shiai to test their skills, and sport judo players reap the benefits of character strengthening from a dedication to sport, each of these approaches retains its distinct objectives and methods of instruction and training.

Kano’s ideals of judo are encapsulated in the 3 precepts of Judo: Seiryoku zenyo (Best use of energy); 
Jita kyoei (Prospering together); Jiko no kansei (Perfect yourself.)

How are these aims and ideals to be attained through the practice of a martial art? The complete answer is beyond the scope of this paper to address in full. However, the brief discussion here may convey an idea of the concepts of practice of Traditional Judo. Problems in translation, changes in language over time,

and cultural differences lead to distortions and misinterpretations of original intent in later and especially cross-cultural application. Thus, Traditional Judo places a great deal of emphasis on understanding concepts and principles in terms of the cultural context from which they arose.

Kano’s Judo emphasizes principles: both the teaching of and the teaching by principles. When teaching by principles, techniques are seen as expression of principles. As such, a variety of disparate techniques may be presented in one lesson as a study in the same underlying principle. The focus is on the principle which they share and the way in which this manifests through different techniques. In this way, students are exposed to the connections and relationships among techniques through understanding of the principles which drive them. (Cunningham, S.R.: 1996)

The physical expression of the principles is the first lesson on the path to kogi judo. Kano’s approach to teaching judo begins with the experience of hands-on practice of a principle in its most basic and visceral form - the physical operation of principle in technique execution. The kinesthetic understanding of the principle forms the basis for insight into higher (non-physical) applications of the principle, both in and out of the dojo. As an example, one may learn the meaning of ju as that of yielding and redirecting.

Ju contains within it the concept of avoidance of a direct clash of force or wills in favor of the redirection of incoming energy to one’s own purpose. Thus ju may be applied in situations both in and out of the dojo as a means of reducing contention without sacrificing one’s position.

The Gokyo no Waza plays a central role in the road to kogi judo, especially through its illustrations of seiryoku zenyo and its greater applications to everyday life. (Yiannakis, L.: 2010) Seiryoku zenyo was identified by Kano as the governing principle of his art. Traditional Judo emphasizes bridging the operation of principles from the physical level to the wider context of philosophical application.

The practice of kata in Traditional Judo serves to illustrate and expand underlying principles. Kata is seen as a vehicle for the preservation of essential knowledge and as a resource, guide and source of extended application of principles. Lessons drawn from kata may be integrated into any appropriate teaching situation in the dojo. Examples from kata are to be addressed and practiced as part of mastering techniques and their applications. Kata is not seen as a set of forms peripheral to the real lessons of the randori–waza. It is not reserved for occasional practice in toto as a requirement for an examination for promotion. The kata illustrate uses, applications and strategies for techniques and so form living parts of lessons in the dojo. Kata is also referred to for its ura – its “underside” – the whole set of associated variants and applications which are connected to the omote, the “front” or demonstration form that we tend to think of as the kata. (Yiannakis, L.: 1998)

In the same way, the goshin-waza of Traditional Judo are not reserved for practice in kata only, but are brought into lessons as applications drawn from the kata and integrated with various randori-waza as appropriate. The program remains internally consistent due to the coherence of the underlying principles

of randori- and goshin-waza. Clearly, distinctions are still made between techniques permitted in contest situations and those reserved for dojo practice, but all may be practiced together in a Traditional Judo dojo.

Thus, Traditional Judo is an art whose primary aim is self-actualization through the internalization of principles expressed and learned first through physical practice and then applied in daily life for the betterment of self and the benefit of society.

By Linda Yiannakis, M.S.
5th Dan - Traditional Kodokan Judo (USA-TKJ)

4th Dan - Judo (USA Judo)
4th Dan - Jujutsu (USJJF)
© 2010 by Linda Yiannakis


About the author:

Linda Yiannakis holds A 5th degree black belt in judo and 4th degree black belt in jujutsu. She has over 39 years experience in the martial arts, including Sport Judo, Traditional Judo, Takagi Ryu Kosenjo Bujutsu, Wa Shin Ryu Jujutsu and Shinkage Ryu Kenjutsu.

References
  1. Cunningham, S.R. (1996, November 26). Re: Gokyo no Waza. Message posted to  Judo-L@uconnvm.uconn.edu
  2. Draeger, D. (1997). Modern Bujutsu and Budo. New York: Weatherhill, Inc.
  3. Watson, B. (2008) Judo Memoirs of Jigoro Kano. Victoria, BC: Trafford Publishing.
  4. Yiannakis, L. (1998). The Dynamic Nature of Kata. Judo Forum Magazine,1(3).
  5. Yiannakis, L. (2010). Making Sense of Judo’s Gokyo no Waza. (unpublished paper).



Attachments:The Path of Traditional Judo by Linda Yiannakis MS.pdf[ ]136 kB

What Our Members Are Saying

Picture
Jigoro Kano - Founder of Kodokan Judo
Bill Cooley, "The USA-TKJ does not depend on "sport judo" to train, evaluate or recognize progress of a Judoka".

Patrick Hickey, “Historic Judo concepts are crucial to maintain as more and more Judo organizations change to meet the current competition fades. USA-TKJ keeps faith with these traditional values!”

Contact Us

USA-TKJ National Office:
Email: Click Here.!!

Subscribe

Join our mailing list today!
JOIN WITH US TODAY..!!
All contents Copyright © 2005-2023 by the United States of America Traditional Kodokan Judo ®.
"USA TRADITIONAL KODOKAN JUDO", "USA-TKJ", "US TRADITIONAL KODOKAN JUDO", "USTKJ"​, and Our Logos are
Registered
® Trademarks of "United States of America Traditional Kodokan Judo" ® - HQs in Reno, Nevada USA