By Roberto J. Perez
I practiced this art for more than thirty years and gradually found myself doing less and getting more. I don’t know how it happened, but it brings me a lot of joy. Watching the way Kano, Mifune and other great masters practice you can see a fish in the water, it is so natural for them like eating or walking. It seems to me that they reached a place where tactics becomes no tactics, and still they can not be defeated. A person that practices this great art, if the mind is open, could reach that state. Find peace and joy while doing Judo. This is one of the main goals of the practice of Judo. Belt degree or rank? Who knows, maybe the evaluation is different in each dojo. Winning tournaments? Who knows, one day you win and the other you lose. But having reached a way of feeling peace, that is of greatest value. Tactics without tactics to win the battle inside.  |
Tactics are neither good nor bad in Judo if they are according to the principles of fair play. A person’s tactics are based on their life and Judo experience. For example, age is a strong factor for changing tactics — conservation and regulation of energy becomes a priority as years go by. This flexible and changing approach is very much in line with the principles of Judo.