Darwinian Judo

[Runar Bjaaland]

The Olympic Judo at the moment is inspiring isnt it?
I see almost something of every observation I read here in these postings, during the matches. It makes one wonder if anyone there reads these threads. :)

It is more likely that the sheer thrust of Sport Judo brings forth not only the best but the possible. Darwin called it evolution and in this context it applies not only to Judo players but Judo techniques.

Darwin might say we are witnessing change in our environment. (Techniques, rules , practises)
1. Change requires a diverse gene pool = diverse judo techniques and opinions about them
2. Change invariably does a ''feedback loop'' where it renourishes itself with fresh, migrating or developing, impulses in the environment = competition

Change is good, so long as everyones voice is heard, both from the past and the present. Does this sound reminiscent of a case for respect and reverence?

Viva la evolution
Vive la adaption

Cheers
Runar Bjaaland :wink2:

[Jack Stay]

Not all change is for the better, and this has already been observed in Judo by others than myself, as noted by Brian J. Watson: "Kano, of course, did not wish to see his Kodokan judo decline to the level of circus-like entertainment." P. 136 THE FATHER OF JUDO (c.2000).

Obviously there are changes occuring in Judo as we type, and others beside myself feel these are negative changes.

The Darwinian view towards Judo can also be found in the Closing Ceremony Speech (March 24 Rome Italy) of Mr. Anton Geesink:

http://before.ijf.org/whatnew/latenews/wn-bb-324.html

in which Judan Geesink promulgates a fatalistic view of change within Judo, and calls this change 'Evolution'. But Sensei Geesink forgets that evolution is a biological process that also contains mutation, which can lead to extinction. To prevent this mutation, Brian J. Watson suggested in 2000 that "In order to guard against any trend towards turning judo into a spectator sport, we should perhaps reassess Kano's teaching". p. 136.

Indeed, a reassessment of Kano's philosophy on Judo is expoused by a purist group called the Kano Society. It appears it is time to go back to the basics of Judo to prevent its extinction by the IJF and the IOC!

We have already witnessed Judo's mutation in the past thirty years with the infiltration of Russian S.A.M.B.O. and American free-style wrestling techniques into international Judo competition, euphemistically calling this pollution 'enrichment'. But Dr. Jigoro Kano made Judo as perfect as it can be, and any tinkering with it renders it non-judo! As practiced internationally, Judo is well on its way to extinction, and the sloppy sport Judo of the 2004 Olympics may be its fatal push!

Darwinian evolution has been subjected to rigorous scrutiny by members of the social & biological sciences, and found to have its flaws; by the same token, there is no reason for Judo and/or martial arts enthusiasts, to subject sport Judo to the same type of rigorous dialectic, and loudly point out those flaws. Especially since these flaws have already been identified years ago that "Judo would then most probably deteriorate into another form of professional wrestling." Watson p. 140.

The Darwinian view of Judo is fatalistic, will all its inherent flaws of logic. We can actively prevent the "slippery slope that could lead to full-scale professionalism" (Watson p. 140) that would make the genious Dr. Kano's Judo go extinct.

I feel this is a sound and valid criticism of sport Judo, especially as practiced in the 2004 Olympics.
--------------------------------
John 'Jack' Stay