CompleteMartialArts.com - Mind Over Muscle: Writings from the Founder of Judo
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Manufacturer: Kodansha International
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Binding: Hardcover Dewey Decimal Number: 181 EAN: 9784770030153 ISBN: 4770030150 Label: Kodansha International Manufacturer: Kodansha International Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 160 Publication Date: 2006-02-17 Publisher: Kodansha International Studio: Kodansha International
In 1882 Jigoro Kano (1860-1938) founded Kodokan Judo at Eishoji Temple in Tokyo. It was the culmination of a lifelong devotion to the jujutsu of the past, which he reorganized while taking great care to retain its classical traditions. Historically, martial arts were practiced only by the elite in Japan. Kano, a renowned educator as well as a sportsman, is credited with popularizing the martial arts, and in particular, judo, among people in all levels of society. When he was young, Kano studied jujutsu, a martial art practiced in Japan since feudal times, which involved throwing, hitting, kicking, stabbing, slashing, choking, bending and twisting limbs-and defenses against these attacks. After years of studying, he realized that although many different jujutsu techniques were taught, there was no one core value holding them together. Kano identified an all-pervasive principle- to make the most efficient use of mental and physical energy-and combined only those techniques in which this principle was correctly applied into modern judo. "Ju" means gentleness or giving way. "Do" means principle or the way. Judo, therefore is the Way of Gentleness, which implies that first giving way leads to ultimate victory. The Kodokan is literally, "the school for studying the Way." This book is a collection of Kano's essential teachings, selected and compiled from his wealth of writings and lectures spanning a period of fifty-one years. Today the International Judo Federation has 187 member countries and regions. As an official sport of the Olympic Games, judo has inspired young people of all nationalities, and Kodokan is universally recognized as the Mecca of Judo.
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Customer Rating: Summary: what mind over muscle ? Comment: if you are interested in the history of Judo then may be this is the book as it is "supposed" to be written by the founder. But there are more comprehensive books around on the history and the evolution of judo from jujitsu and how it became a sport in Olympics. However, if your expectation is to read about how to use the "mind over muscle" or learn practical competition skills and technques, they just aren't there - zero. Customer Rating: Summary: Must Read Comment: This is one of the best books on judo for the serious student or accomplished instructor. Most books on judo offer good information on applying competition techniques and certainly have their place. What is lacking in many of those books, however, is the fundamental philosophies and principles Jigoro Kano envisioned as the basis of this art and, ultimately, where in life it should lead its students. It is a must read for all judoka. Customer Rating: Summary: Higher Thoughts about JUDO Comment: This book caught me by surprise. I expected it to cover throwing techniques. Instead, Dr. Kano covered his philosophy of Judo in a very thorough definitive manner. He says the throwing techniques are just the base level of Judo. And, he divides JUDO in to 3 levels, first-Physical, then perfection of the person, and finally on the highest plane, contributing to society. He mentioned that there were so much ME, ME, ME in Japan, that everyone is responsible for contributing to the improvment of society. I have studied Judo for 30 plus years. I am a nidan. I know about maximum efficiency minimal effort and mutual welfare for all man kind. But I have not heard it described in this manner. WOW...!!! TP Customer Rating: Summary: Not just for judoka Comment: This book is really fascinating reading. It covers the development of judo, exploring its roots in jujutsu; the spirit of judo, describing the mental, physical, and moral traditions of the art; and judo training, the purpose and process of learning judo in the dojo. It's rather short, about 160 pages of large-spaced type, but interesting and illuminating nevertheless. It captures many of Kano's teachings, truly helping you understand why and how he transformed a jutsu (combat art) in to a do (martial way). Very well written.
Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction
Customer Rating: Summary: Excellent for Judo, JiuJitsu and spiritual sporting! Comment: As a recognised sportcoach, psychologist and martial athlete, I recommend this book of the founder of Judo and Jiu Jitsu for all martial artists, coaches and others, even movie makers, the government and all freedom loving men! Why? Because in simple words the more positive spiritual, ethical and intelligent reasons for following the "way to be and do good for oneself and others" are explained. The second reason to know the content is that it transcends the boring attitude of only seeing the body. It's simple, but it can help all good men during their entire life.
J.P.R. Petersen Ph.D.
