Creation

Jigoro Kano, who was small and weak, began to practice the ju-jitsu when he was 18 years old with the purpose of not being dominated because of physical weakness. He learned atemi-waza (percussion techniques), and katame-waza (domain techniques) from the Tenjin-shin-yo Ryu ju-jitsu style and nague-waza (throw techniques) from the Kito Ryu ju-jitsu style. Based on these techniques he made a profound study taking the force and the rationality as bases. Besides, he created new training techniques for competitive sports but also for the cultivation of the moral principles and mind strength.Adding new aspects to his knowledge of the traditional ju-jitsu, Prof. Kano established the Kodokan Judo Institute,with the physical education, competition and the moral training as its objectives.
With the establishment of the Kodokan dojo, in 1882, and with 9 students, Jigoro Kano began his judo teaching. The Japanese specialist's Yoshizo Matsumoto text shows the initial concepts of this sport and its objectives.

Prof.Jigoro Kano-22 years old

Entrance of the 1st Kodokan dojo

Foundation of the Kodokan Judo Institute

Prof. Kano established the Kodokan Institute in 1882, with a 12 tatamis dojo (local of training); and the number of students was nine. The ju-jitsu was substituted by the judo because of the following reason: while "jitsu" means technique, "do" means "the way", instead of having two meanings: "the way you go through" and "the way of living" .
As teaching method, in Kodokan, Jigoro Kano adopted the randori and kata, adding physical education to the intellectual training and the moral culture. The harmony of those three education aspects constitutes the ideal education by which the judo must be taught.
About the year 20 of the Meiji Era (1887), the judo had dominated the ju-jitsu, that was vanished in several countries. The "JU" principle, of judo, means "gracefulness it is more important than obstinacy". So the theory of " JU ", that is gracefulness, softness, intends to use the force of the opponent without acting against him (reacting, resisting), can be applied not for competitions only, but also to the human aspects.

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Maintenance and use of the energy

Prof. Kano said in 1910 that the theory of the the energy maintenance was about adopting a method to improve the mental and physical ability for the storage of both the more as possible. He said that it's best use is to cultivate and to use the human energy for the goodness and that the theory is to acquire it through the judo training, could still be enlarged for all the aspects of the life. Before expanding, the concept of the teacher's judo came in the form of two great guides: the best use of the individual energy and the goodness to be mutual. With these principles the judo expanded in all Japan and abroad. In this base, Prof. Kano left as his most important teaching that "by training, people should be disciplined, cultivate their bodies and spirit through the attack and defense techniques, rising the essence of the "do".
The best use of the energy and the mutual wealth are a summarized version of Jogoro Kano's tughts, which he defined as the judo's final objective to build the perfection of people and to benefit the world.

Prof. Jigoro Kano - 1910