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GODO
- The way of Strength or Hardness, is the complementary art developed
by Jigoro Kano. While many people are familiar with his first
creation, Judo (The Supple or Gentle way),
his later development of martial knowledge has been largely secretive.
Keep in mind that Jigoro Kano developed Judo as a very young
man of just 23 years. As he grew and learned more martial skill
- he came to the realization that the concept of "Ju"
was not applicable in all cases. This is when he created Godo.
At first, Godo was recognized only as the complement of "non-resistance",
a key principle in Judo. Jigoro Kano recognized that the principle
of Ju was not a principle that could be used in
all cases. But classical Judoka may wish to hear directly from Kano
on this...
Here's Jigoro Kano in
his own words:
"A main feature
of the art is the application of the principles of nonresistance
and taking advantage of the opponent's loss of equilibrium; hence
the name Jujutsu (literally soft or gentle art), or Judo (doctrine
of softness or gentleness). Now let me explain this principle by
actual example...
Suppose my opponent tries to lift my body, intending to make me
fall. If I resist him, I shall be thrown down, because my strength
to resist is not sufficient to overcome his. If, on the other hand,
I leave him unresisted and, while so doing, pull him this way (illustrating),
throwing my body voluntarily on the ground, I can throw him very
easily.
I could multiply these examples, but probably those I have given
will suffice to enable you to understand how one may beat an opponent
by not resisting him. But there are cases in which this principle
does not apply. Suppose, for instance, my opponent takes hold of
my right wrist and I resist him; there is no means of releasing
it from his hold. The best way would be to move my arm so that my
whole strength is used to counteract his hand grip, the strength
which is of course far inferior to my concentrated strength and
therefore gives way to it. In such a case I used my strength against
his, contrary to the principle of nonresistance... These examples
serve to show that the principle of non-resistance is not applicable
in all cases.
Is there then, any principle which never fails of application? Yes,
there is! And that is the principle of Maximum Efficiency in Use
of Mind and Body. Nonresistance is only ONE instance of the application
of this fundamental principle.
The basic principle of physical Judo lies then within "Maximum
Efficiency in Use of Mind and Body" This principle has been
shown to have two divergent factors, nonresistance and resistance...
Judo and Godo. Each is, in its appropriate application, patterned
after maximum efficiency, equally compatible with the ideals of
Kodokan Judo."
As this quote from Jigoro Kano makes clear, he well understood
that the underlying principle of Judo was not just Ju,
but also the complementary principle of Go. And
just as Kosen Judo has branched considerably from mainstream Judo
- a largely underground group of former Judoka has broken from Judo
... those that emphasize the practice of Godo over that of Judo.
With their own history, training methods, different techniques,
and even a different rank structure, Godoka are only peripherally
related to the Judoka of today. They have split from Judo much more
drastically than Kosen Judo, or Brazilian Jujutsu. I hope to document
the art of Godo on this website.
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