Martial arts for education and social integration: The case of Judo

• Autores: Valerio Zanardi
• Localización: VII Congrés Català de Sociologia i V Congrés Català de Joves Sociòlegs / Sociòlogues: llibre de resums de les sessions dels Grups de Treball, 2017, ISBN 978-84-8424-611-4, pág. 79
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto Completo Libro
• Resumen

  • From its origins, Judo - a revitalisation of the toolkit of ancient Samurai techniques - was codified and disseminated as an educational system with the explicit aim of providing From its origins, practitioners with a “means for selfperfection” and society a “positive contribution” (Kano, 1915). The progressive importance of its founder, Jigoro Kano - director from 1898 of the Japanese Education Ministry - and his unflagging activity on the international stage - made the practice of Judo become: 1) included extensively in Japanese educational institutions; and 2) a formalised and popular sport included in the 1964 Olympic Games. The polarisation between the original intentions of the founder and the further agonistic drifts, fuelled a enduring debate amongst the community of observers and practitioners.

    Focusing on this debate, the more philological interpretation of Judo as an educational system (based on the optimisation of energy and the collaborative spirit among individuals) makes sacred its supporting philosophy and in effect claims a sort of moral supremacy with almost untouchable educative purposes put on display. The goal of this communication is both to criticise and to substantiate this interpretation and deliver a more complex analysis focused on:

    a) the role of martial arts in the transition of Japan to modernity; and b) ethnographic research on the practice ofJudo.

    In particular, following a Foucaultian framework, the forced transformation of Japan from the Meiji Epoque into a modern nation will be retraced and the role of Judo within the educational system as a disciplinary device for social control will be highlighted.

    Also through: a) extended qualitative fieldwork based on covert observation and unstructured interviews; and b) some suggestions provided by Victor Turner, Donald Levine and Loic Wacquant, some ritual and symbolic implications of Judo as a social practice will be underlined.

    Finally, emphasising the educational aspect of the practice of Judo, its relevance and potential use as a device for integration in a multicultural society will be discussed.