When I am called upon to teach Judo without being asked to show some particular techniques, I often like teaching why Judo is so important from the technical and educational point of view.
I immediately begin saying that Judo is the nicest and most complete discipline all over the world. Then, I explain that ‘nice’ reflects my personal opinion about Judo, which, however, cannot be generalized since I’m totally involved in it; on the other hand, I’m really persuaded that Judo is more complete than all other disciplines.
In fact, Judo was born and established itself among the Jujutsu schools, whose principles it inherited: Atemi Waza, Nage Waza, Katame Waza.
But we don’t have to think about the techniques which are codified in the Gokyo or selected for the Newaza; instead, we should think about the hundreds of more dangerous techniques, with or without weapons, which have never been admitted in the Judo sport.
Besides, a crucial point of Judo didactic, a very unique one, is that it looks for the best use of physical and spiritual energy so that we can live harmoniously with the other people and make progress with them.
The great technical heritage together with the great moral and social principles, which are applied during the training with the goal of improving every person and the whole society, are exactly what makes Judo unique.
When I assert that Judo Kodokan is the most complete discipline all over the world, I do not intend to compare it with the other martial arts from a technical point of view because I’m not interested in it; I rather think about the didactical method of Judo, which allows to train better people and a better society.
Alfredo Vismara Hanshi Dai Nippon Butokukai
Traduzione di Andrea Lorenzo Covini
