Letter of Jigoro Kano about inclusion of Judo in Olympics

tratto da www.aikidojournal.com

Non pratico Judo, ma siccome il karate è da diversi anni alle prese con questo dilemma di voler entrare nei giochi olimpici, credo che le parole e l'esempio del fondatore del Judo possano essere d'esempio e di guida per evitare che anche il karate faccia la fine del judo.

Kano's view of the Olympics in those innocent days of
the twentieth century must have convince him that there
was concord in attitude with his basic ideals...Already
the arguments between amateurism and professionalism
were being aired regularly and the importance of winning
rather than taking part was gaining prominence. This
was as much the case in Japan and Japanese judo circles
as in other areas of sport.

In 1936, Kano wrote a letter to Koizumi which reveals
a more equivocal attitude towards the Olympics:

I have been asked by people of various sections as to
the wisdom and the possibility of judo being introduced
with other games and sports at the Olympic Games. My
view on the matter, at present, is rather passive. If
it be the desire of other member countries, I have no
objection. But I do not feel inclined to take any
initiative. For one thing, judo in reality is not a
mere sport or game. I regard it as a principle of life,
art, and science. In fact, it is a means for personal
cultural attainment. Only one of the forms of judo
training, so-called randori or free practice can be
classed as a form of sport. Certainly, to some extent,
the same may be said of boxing and fencing, but today
they are practised and conducted as sports.

Then the Olympic Games are so strongly flavoured with
nationalism that it is possible to be influenced by it
and to develop Contest Judo a retrograde form as
ju-jitsu was before the Kodokan was founded.

Judo should be as free as art and science from any
external influences - political, national, racial,
financial or any other organised interest. And all
things connected with it should be directed to its
ultimate object, the 'benefit of humanity'. Human
sacrifice is a matter of ancient history.

Another point is the meaning of professionalism. With
judo, we have no professionals in the same sense as
other sports. No one is allowed to take part in public
entertainment for personal gain. Teachers certainly
receive renumeration for their services but that is in
no way degrading. The professional is held in high
regard like the officers of a religious organisation (sic)
or professors in the educational world. Judo itself is
held by us all in a position at the high altar. To
reconcile this point of view with the Western idea is
difficult. Success, or a satisfactory result of
joining the Olympic Games, would much depend on the
degree of understanding of judo by other participating
nations.

Gunji Koizumi published the letter in the Budokwai
Bulletin in 1947. It was reprinted in Olympic Judo,
History and Techniques by Nicolas Soames and Roy Inman,
Ippon/Crowood 1990.