Reno Martial Arts:
Jigoro Kano was a small and frail man, even for a Japanese.
Several of his less civilized fellow students made themselves heard by being
rough and using brute force. The small and silent Jigoro Kano was one of their
favorite victims. The frail student was however to self-conscious to let himself
be walked over without any kind of resistance. An iron will resided in him with
the characteristics of a steel spring, resisting more when put under greater
stress, but never breaking.
Jigoro had to find some way that would enable him to fight his
assailants on equal terms, and win. He found what he was looking for.
First
acquaintance with Judo
Purely by coincidence he learned of JuJitsu, introduced to him to
be a means for a small man as himself to fight of a giant of an opponent. At
that time Jigoro Kano took the decision to learn JuJitsu to perfection. Because
of the decline in JuJitsu education most schools were however empty and
abandoned leaving many JuJitsu teachers no other choice than to find a job
elsewhere. It was therefore not easy to find a good teacher but, at the age of
18, he found Teinosuke Yagi who taught him the first principles. Through
mediation of Teinsuke Yagi, Jigoro Kano came into contact with Hachinosuke
Fukuda, principal of the Tensjo-Shinyo school. Hachinosuke Fukuda was a very
noble person from whom Jigoro Kano learned a lot. On his turn Hachinosuke Fukuda
had a great sympathy for his pupil, manifesting itself in leaving all school
scriptures to Jigoro, after Hachinosuke Fukuda’s death in 1879.
Hachinosuke Fukuda’s successor was Iso, at that time already 64
years of age, but still incredibly strong and flexible. Jigoro Kano had the
utmost respect for Iso and later testified: “Never did I see a more beautiful
posture than that of my teacher Iso”. Like Fukuda before him, Iso left the
school scriptures to Jigoro Kano upon his death in 1881.
In that same year Jigoro Kano became a student of Jikubo, head of
the Kito School. The technique of this school was more complicated and often
difficult to understand. However, after 1 year Jikubo had to confess to Jigoro
Kano that he could teach him nothing more.
Beginning of
Kodokan
In 1882, at the age
of 22, Jigoro Kano opened his own school in Tokio named KODOKAN.
“Kodo” means
“proclaiming the truth” and “Kan” means “gathering”. Teaching came naturally to
Jigoro and in the name of his school he mentioned his goal.
He taught Jujitsu according to his own beliefs, which was based
on the wisdom of his teachers but yet again very different. Full of energy and
with a strong will he pursued his eagerness to learn new things.
Sometimes traveling for days visiting other teachers he learned
the secrets from other Jujitsu schools and improve his own techniques. In the
end Jigoro Kano reached a height unheard of in Judo in those days.
The Kodokan was originally located in four rooms of the Eishoji
temple. The largest of the rooms, 4 by 6 meters was used as Dojo (i.e. practice
room).
In the first year Jigoro Kano only had 9 pupils. Today the
Kodokan has a Dojo, which is almost 45 times larger (± 1100 square meters).
Millions of pupils, both male and female from a wide variety of nationalities,
have visited the Kodokan-dojo to date.
In his first school Jigoro Kano lived together with his pupils.
He was unmarried at that time and had a servant taking care of the household.
After one year already the school was too small and had to move to a larger
venue. The mat was laid down in one of the halls of the Institute for English
literature studies, political sciences and economy of which Jigoro Kano in the
mean while had become the principal.
Judo, a
mission
As of 1884 pupils had to take some vows before being admitted to
the school. From the beginning onward Jigoro Kano has used Judo as an
educational means and not just as useful passing of time. The following are the
five most well known vows:
-
Now that I have decided to
devote myself to Judo I shall not stop practicing this form of art without due
cause.
-
I shall never disgrace the
reputation of the Dojo by my personal behavior.
-
I shall never reveal secrets to
outsiders and I shall not subscribe to another school unless absolutely
necessary.
-
I shall not teach Judo without
consulting, and receiving permission from, my teacher.
-
For the
rest of my life I shall respect the rules of the Kodokan.
The Kodokan progressed swiftly, although not without the usual
difficulties and obstructions. The School was well known in the entire city, but
was continuously the subject of strange stories. Rumors spread of an entirely
new concept and way of teaching. Stories were told of Jigoro Kano’s strange
ideals and chants. The practical results of the Kodokan were viewed with
suspicion and contempt. Hikosuke Totsuka, an old Jujitsu teacher who had
reopened his School, new no contempt for Jigoro and his Kodokan. That is why a
lively competition existed between the two Schools and sometimes more than that.
Decisive
battle
The Tokyo city police had developed an interest in Judo and thus
for the different Schools this art was taught. In 1886, under the supervision of
the Police Dept, a tournament was organized between the various Schools, in
particular between the Schools of Jigoro Kano and Hikosuke Totsuka. It would be
a decisive battle. The system that best suited the wishes of the Ministry would
be officially recognized by the Ministry and would be taught on all Schools.
Defeat would mean the end of the Kodokan. Both Jigoro Kano and Hikosuke Totsuka
send their fifteen best pupils to the tournament. The Kodokan turned out to be
the undisputed victor with thirteen matches won and two undecided. The
tournament once and for all made clear that Kodokan, also concerning its
practical use, was number one in the world of Judo.
To date policemen in Tokyo practice every day on Jigoro Kano’s
mat. In 1887, at the age of 27, Jigoro Kano finalized his technical manual. It
would take until he was 62 however, before he deemed the ideal of Judo to have
grown far enough that he dared to put his thoughts to paper.
Spreading
outside of Japan
In 1889 Jigoro Kano left Japan to tour Europe. He wanted to learn
about Western educational methods and at the same time promote his Judo, which
had already been introduced in Japan as an obligatory class. Around 1890, at the
request of several high British naval authorities, a demonstration in Judo was
given for some 60 naval attaches. The spectators were enthusiastic and became
the first goodwill ambassadors in Europe.
All over Japan subdivisions of the Kodokan emerged. The Japanese
military command opened Schools for the soldiers.
The spread of Jigoro Kano’s ideas steadily continued. One of his
best pupils was sent to America in 1903 where he opened a School, which in no
time rose to immense popularity. President Theodore Roosevelt was among those to
visit the School. At the Kodokan they still keep the letters of gratitude to
Jigoro Kano from the president.
Up to1909 Jigoro Kano had used all his own income from teaching,
giving lectures as well as doing translation and correctional work on his
pupils. Due to the high number of pupils he could no longer afford to continue
to do this. He therefore charged submission fees for new pupils as well as exam
fees. In 1909 Jigoro Kano also took a seat on the Olympic Committee, which he
kept until his death.
Western European branches of Kodokan were established after 1938.
Professor Koizumi was send to England by Jigoro Kano, where he opened a Judo
School in London known by the name Budokai. Professor Hanno Rhi left for Germany
and from there to Switzerland. Professor Kawaishi was assigned France to work
in. Judo as taught in The Netherlands is according to the system of this
Professor Kawaishi.
Jigoro
Kano; the last years
In 1932, on top of all his other activities, Jigoro Kano also
took on the position of Minister of Physical Education. One year later he could
afford to open a new Kodokan. He kept on teaching till the end of his life and
could be found on the mat of the Dojo or smaller practice halls almost daily
even though his health left much to be desired.
Since the School was founded it has had over 119,000 pupils of which more than
85,000 with the black belt whom had taken the master exam.
In 1938 he attended the congress held in Cairo, to prepare for
the next Olympics. It was his triumph that these Olympics were to be held in
Japan. By way of America he embarked on a boat that would take him back to
Japan. He would however, not set eyes on his motherland again. When he embarked
he had a fever as a result of flu. His body did not have the strength anymore to
fight the pneumonia he caught on top of that on May 3rd. On May 4th,
6.30 A.M Jigoro Kano passed away quietly and at ease.
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