Mind Over Muscle: Writings from the Founder of Judo (Hardcover)

by Jigoro Kano (Author), Naoki Murata (Compiler), Yukimitsu Kano (Foreword) "A true understanding of judo necessarily involves some knowledge of the history of Japan's martial traditions, jujutsu in particular..." (more)
Key Phrases: Chen Yuan Ping, Meiji Restoration, Olympic Games (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This book is a collection of the life's work and essential teachings of Jigoro Kano, who founded Kodokan Judo in Tokyo in 1882. Kodokan Judo was for Kano the culmination of a lifelong devotion to the jujutsu of the past, which he reorganized along educational lines while taking great care to retain its classical traditions. In doing so, he opened the path from jutsu (skill) to do (way), and broadened the horizons of knowledge until he reached the point at which he began to advocate seiryoku zenyo (maximum efficiency) and jita kyoei (mutual prosperity), which represent the universality and ideal of human existence, and are the core values of judo.

Throughout his life, Kano repeatedly remphasized grasping the correct meaning of judo and putting it into practice. That is to say, one must understand that judo is the way by which one can make the best use of one's mental and physical energy, and put that into use for the good of society. Because judo was defined in this way, what had once merely fallen under the category of martial art—a fighting skill used to defend against an attack—became subsumed into an altogether richer, more complex, and universal judo, which in turn evolved into a principle that can be applied across the spectrum of human life. The circumstances surrounding the development of judo are described throughout this book, as are its underlying principles, which the author believes have unibersal applicability to everyday life.

This book will be an invaluable addition to the liberaries of all judo practitioners around the world.

From the Author
"Judo is not merely a martial art but rather the basic principle of human behavior. When that basic principle is applied to defense against attack or applied as physical education in randori at the dojo, these are applications of that principle in judo, but are only one aspect of judo—it is wrong to assume judo ends in the dojo."

"Judo is not what many people believe it to be; that is to say, judo is more than a fighting art practiced at the dojo. The basic meaning of judo is quite different, and is universal and profound." —Jigoro Kano

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha International (February 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4770030150
• ISBN-13: 978-4770030153
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #273,522 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #38 in

  Books > Sports > Individual Sports > Martial Arts > Judo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The -do in Judo, April 10, 2006

By	Dan Herak (South Florida, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

Jigoro Kano did far more than simply found the art of judo. By reorienting martial arts and infusing them with a philosophy consistent with modern, Westernized Japan, he allowed the martial arts not only to survive but to flourish after the Meiji Restoration of 1868. MIND OVER MUSCLE provides an explanation and discussion of this philosophy as well as its applications to areas of life outside of the dojo. It is a necessary read for anyone interested in the theory behind modern martial arts and my high rank is based on the exposition of this philosophy, not on whether I personally agree with every word and idea.

The book has three chapters. The first chapter discusses the development of judo as it evolved out of jujutsu. The major focus of Kodokan judo is that it is not only a fighting method but also a method for physical education and mental training, including intellectual and moral development. A practitioner does not merely imitate the movements of the instructor. Rather, one considers the methods and trains in accordance with detailed principles.

The second chapter explores the spirit of judo and it is here that the basic principle of judo is introduced. This is seiryoku saizen katsuyo (shortened to seiryoku zenyo) which means to make the best use of one's energy. One achieves the best results by putting one's energy to work rationally. This concept subsumed the jujutsu principle of softness controls hardness, which may be consistent with the principle of making the best use of one's energy, but may not in certain circumstances. Kano continues by applying judo's main principle to physical education, intellectual training and moral development.

The third chapter discusses judo training. Kano asserts that the purpose of judo is to perfect oneself so that one may contribute to society. He differentiates between lower-level judo, the purpose of which is to defend against attack; middle-level judo, the purpose of which is physical education and cultivation of one's mind; and upper-level judo, the purpose of which is to use one's lower level skills to contribute to society. This third chapter contains many interesting tidbits, such as Kano's critique of modern randori as ineffective training as it focuses too much on competition while failing to account for the fact that striking may occur in an actual fight even if it is not allowed in judo competition. Unfortunately, Kano appears to stretch things a bit in this chapter as well, as when he tries to apply judo principles to basic economics in a manner that will produce a bit of a wince to anyone familiar with how market economies operate.

Overall, MIND OVER MUSCLE is one of the best books on the theories and ideas of modern martial arts. Even if one does not agree with every idea expressed in its pages, it certainly provides the standard for conversations on the topic. Finally, I should add that although I do study judo, I also study other arts, as well. Yet the principles in the book are applicable to kendo and aikido and probably any other art one could name. Again, a necessary read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Higher Thoughts about JUDO , February 2, 2007

By	NiDan "TP" (Fort Worth, Texas) - See all my reviews

This book caught me by surprise. I expected it to cover throwing techniques. Instead, Dr. Kano covered his philosophy of Judo in a very thorough definitive manner. He says the throwing techniques are just the base level of Judo. And, he divides JUDO in to 3 levels, first-Physical, then perfection of the person, and finally on the highest plane, contributing to society. He mentioned that there were so much ME, ME, ME in Japan, that everyone is responsible for contributing to the improvment of society. I have studied Judo for 30 plus years. I am a nidan. I know about maximum efficiency minimal effort and mutual welfare for all man kind. But I have not heard it described in this manner. WOW...!!! TP

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read, April 15, 2007

By	Christopher A. Williams "Sensei Chris" (Tumwater, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is one of the best books on judo for the serious student or accomplished instructor. Most books on judo offer good information on applying competition techniques and certainly have their place. What is lacking in many of those books, however, is the fundamental philosophies and principles Jigoro Kano envisioned as the basis of this art and, ultimately, where in life it should lead its students. It is a must read for all judoka.