Kano Jigoro (1860-1938) was an educator and visionary who began with jiujitsu to improve health. When he applied his own ideas to this traditional martial art, he formed the famous discipline of Judo that we know today.
Events Leading Jigoro Kano to Traditional Japanese Martial Arts
Jigoro Kano was born on October 28, 1860, in what is now the Higashi-Nada Ward of Kobe. This period marked the final days of the Tokugawa shogunate, a time characterized by distrust and anti-government activities.
Kano’s hometown is renowned for sake brewing, and the Kano family were wealthy sake producers. His mother passed away when he was just ten years old.
Kano Jigoro (right) had a small physique in his youth, which motivated him to study traditional Jiujitsu.
During the early stages of the Japanese state, his father became an official in the Meiji government, which led the family to move to Tokyo when he was just 11 years old.
At the age of 15, he enrolled in a foreign language school, and in 1877, he entered Toyo Teikoku University (now the University of Tokyo).
Although he is the founder of Judo, Kano’s outstanding academic achievements are also noteworthy, and his language skills were exceptional. It is widely known that many of Kano’s early notes were written during his study of jujitsu and his transition to Judo in English rather than Japanese.
One reason for this practice was not only to keep Kano Jigoro’s ideas to himself during the intense competition among jujitsu schools but also to allow a blend of the old with the new, creating new ways of thinking and refining training methods and techniques.
Jiujitsu, associated with the Samurai, includes techniques that can be dangerous to opponents.
His enrollment at this university was a testament to his academic ability and commitment to education. Although he is the founder of Judo, Kano’s exceptional academic record and language skills were also remarkable.
Kano Jigoro Created a Combat Sport that Connects Opponents
The name Judo means “the gentle way”, and this sport is built on principles such as justice, courtesy, safety, and humility. Kanō viewed martial arts as a means to connect people, even when throwing an opponent to the ground.
Kanō’s initial creation of judo was aimed at establishing a safe, cooperative method of physical education. Jūdōka are taught starting from safe falling techniques for practitioners.
Kano Jigoro’s creativity made Jiujitsu safer in the newly established discipline called Judo.
Even in randori, the thrower (tori) helps the receiver (uke) to the ground by holding his arm and guiding him to fall safely.
Judo first appeared in a jujutsu match when Kanō combined a Western grappling technique to bring a much larger opponent down to the mat.
By eliminating the most dangerous techniques used in jujutsu, he created “Judo”, a safe and cooperative sport based on Kanō’s personal philosophy of Seiryoku-Zenyo (maximum efficient use of energy) and Jita-Kyoei (mutual prosperity for oneself and others).
In 1882, Kanō opened his own dojo, the Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo, where he continued to develop Judo for many years. He also welcomed women into the sport in 1893.
Kanō Jigoro became the first Asian member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1909, and in 1960, the IOC approved Judo as an official Olympic sport.
Kano Jigoro featured on Google’s Doodle today in celebration of his 161st birthday.
Men’s judo competitions were first included in the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964 and have been held regularly since 1972. The World Judo Championships for women began in 1980, and the women’s Olympic competition started in 1992. Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and Great Britain have consistently fielded the strongest teams at the Olympics.
Happy 161st birthday to Kano Jigoro – “The Father” of Judo.
