Dr Jigaro Kano 1860 – 1936 “Scholar, Educator, Judo Founder and a Class Act All The Way”

“Scholar, Educator, Judo Founder and a Class Act All The Way”

Shihan Kanō was the founder of judo. Judo was the first Japanese martial art to gain widespread international recognition, and the first to become an official Olympic sport. It was introduced as a man’s event in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, with the subsequent addition of a woman’s event. The International Judo Federation estimated that Judo is currently practiced by 5 million people in the world. Beyond being a popular martial art, judo is also a combat sport, utilizing the throws and joint locks common within the art as a means to defend against an attacker.

As a child, Kano was small and often sickly, which led to his study of jujutsu at the Tenjin Shinyo ryu school under Fukuda Hachinosuke at the age of 18. Kano eventually transferred to the Kito ryu school in order to study under Tsunetoshi Iikubo. He also studied under Iso Masatomo.

Judo, which means ‘the gentle way’ developed from the older jujutsu art, which generally avoided using weapons. The Tenshin Shinyo and Kito schools became the foundation for modern Kodokan Judo as organized by Kano Jigoro. In 1882, he established the Kodokan and dedicated his life to spread Judo as its master. He renamed the sport after his first training gymnasium (dojo). Kano formulated a training system based on modern athletic principles and modified the rules to permit both throwing and grappling on the mat. By definition Kano’s art stresses defense. In March, 1922, Kano introduced the Kodokan Bunkakai, or Cultural Association. On 21 March 1934, the Kodakan moved for the third and final time during his lifetime to its current 8-story facility, with 1200 mats. The former building was sold to the Japanese Karate Federation. Innovations attributed to Kanō include the use of black and white belts, and the introduction of dan ranking to show the relative ranking between members of a martial art style. Kano’s true legacy is his idealism of a physical, mental and spiritual cultural art form.

In his professional life, Kanō was an educator. Postings included director of primary education for the Ministry of Education from 1898 to 1901, and president of Tokyo Higher Normal School from 1901 until 1920. He played a key role in making judo and kendo part of the Japanese public school programs of the 1910s. Kanō was also a pioneer of international sports. Accomplishments included being the first Asian member of the International Olympic Committee from 1909 until 1938; representing Japan at most Olympic Games held between 1912 and 1936 and serving as a leading spokesman for Japan's bid for the 1940 Olympic Games.

Official honors and decorations included the First Order of Merit and Grand Order of the Rising Sun and the Third Imperial Degree. Kanō was inducted into the IJF Hall of Fame on 14 May 1999.

His most famous quote was "Maximum Efficiency with Minimum Effort".

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