Essential Principles of Judo
by Kyuzo Mifune, judan
Pliable action of mind and
physique surpass stiffening and sturdiness.
- True spirit of Judo is nothing but the gentle and diligent free spirit. Judo rests on flexible action of mind and body. The word flexible however never means weakness but something more like adaptability and openmindedness. Gentleness always overcomes strength.
- To display best vitality in
the worst plight.
- A danger is apt to be unforseen, and in such a case the worst possible plight will show itself. Judo should present its most substantial meaning in such a case. Judo's specialty is quick shifting disadvantage to advantage, and freedom of action in the worst situation by detecting the opponent's unguarded point quickly and changing your own position to overcome the danger.
- To be careless is equal to
lack of fixed principle.
- You must give full attention and energy to studying Judo with zeal and sincerity. Shifting disadvantage to advantage is a subtle art and not an ounce of inattention is allowed.
- Never stick to a fixed idea,
but be in a self-annihilating state.
- To be flexible requires a lack of consciousness of life and death. If you are not afraid of the stronger opponent but a naive mind of selflessness is maintained, your activity will be hindered by nothing, and infinite change and adaptability can be displayed.
- Never despise trifles but
keep faithful mind.
- The mind, if slackened even a little, will cause defeat the same as fearing the opponent will make you unable to use full strength. If you are in a hurry to win the match, you will not grasp the truth of the moment. Truth is a free factor, not planned but found when the mind is in its natural state. It can be said that everybody is always with truth but your sincerity will enable you to get it without labor.
Kyuzo Mifune at age 70 executing a perfect Sumi Otoshi
"I remember during the early part of January, 1909, I went to a certain restaurant,
accompanied by Mr. Kyuzo Mifune, a fifth Dan teacher of the Kodokan. We noticed
in one corner of the room a group of thirteen young fellows drinking sake,
while in an adjoining apartment there were an elderly couple and some other
visitors taking food. The members of the first-named group were seen to be
putting their heads together at frequent intervals and to be busily whispering,
at the same time casting glances in our direction. I did not take any special
notice of what was going on, nor did I suspect that they had any designs upon
us. Mr. Mifune and I went on chatting over our drinks. Presently one of the
rascals approached us, calmly picked up my overcoat and hat, and tried to make
off with them under our very noses. Of course I remonstrated, when the thief,
evidently bent on picking a quarrel, insisted that the coat and hat were his
property. A warm altercation arose, in the midst of which he assumed a threatening
attitude, and was speedily joined by half a dozen of his comrades from the
other side of the room. There being no alternative, Mr. Mifune took a hand
in the game. He avoided unnecessary roughness, but in less than a minute he
had them all down with a succession of swift blows. Then the rest of the gang
set upon me, but I knocked them down one after the other, and the affair was
over in less than three minutes. As our victims regained consciousness they
lost no time in making themselves scarce, but we detained one of them, and
forced him to confess. He admitted that their object had been to extort money
from us by intimidation. They had been misled by our good clothes and had imagined
that we would be easy prey. We let the fellow go instead of handing him. over
to the police, as we considered he had received punishment enough at our hands.
After the rascals had gone the old couple who had been interested spectators
of the occurrence told us that they had just witnessed for the first time in
their lives a practical display of jujutsu and were amazed at the wonderful
feats which experts were able to perform against such odds."
Recorded by E. J. Harrison in The Fighting Spirit of Japan (1913).
In the text, Sakujiro Yokoyama is relating the incident to the author. At the
time of this occurrence Sakujiro Yokohama held the rank of 7th Dan, the highest
rank awarded by the founder of judo, Jigoro Kano, as of that date.
