THE DILEMMA OF SHIAI

Judo embodies a holistic way of life, emphasizing empathy, gentleness, efficiency, and harmony for the mutual benefit of individuals and the community. Jigoro Kano, Judo’s founder, introduced it not as a means to perfect fighting skills but as a tool for personal growth, fostering mental strength, technical skill, emotional intelligence, and physical ability. He envisioned Judo as a global practice for human development and well-being.

The essence of Judo lies in its key practices:

• Nagekomi and Uchikomi: Techniques focused on balance, energy flow, and decisive action.
• Kata: A choreographed display of harmonious movements performed by two practitioners.
• Randori: Controlled sparring that tests the application of techniques under physical and emotional pressure.

Shiai (competition) became a part of Judo after its introduction in 1882, serving as a natural extension of practice and a tool for popularizing the art, ultimately elevating it to an Olympic sport.

Sensei Jigoro Kano valued Judo competition as a way to test skills, strategies, and resilience under pressure, but emphasized that the true goal of Judo is character development and the cultivation of mind and body. As he stated: “The ultimate goal of Judo is not winning, but the development of character and the cultivation of the mind and body.” Kano’s concerns about an overemphasis on victory remain relevant, presenting challenges for dojos today.

At IJC, we address this balance by focusing on learning, trying, and winning in harmony. Foundational elements like Nagekomi/Uchikomi, Kata, and Randori are emphasized, with Shiai viewed as a test to inspire further growth. Students are encouraged to compete only when they demonstrate physical and emotional readiness. In tournaments, we teach perseverance, learning from losses, and celebrating victories with humility and respect.