Jujutsu & Judo in the West: Uke Becomes Tori
Description
The late 19th century saw a dynamic growth of contacts between Western countries and the Far East. Along with the increase in travel came a wave of educational opportunities for Americans and Europeans to gain first-hand experience living in countries such as China, India, and Japan. Likewise, adventurous individuals from the Orient made their way to the West. Scholars, politicians, and business people because experts in their adapted culture. Some learned the native language and becomes experts in their second culture, often writing and lecturing on a variety of topics, including martial traditions. By the early 20th century a number of Japanese jujutsu and judo instructors were teaching their exotic arts in Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States. How were these instructors viewed by those in their host countries? What similarities and differences were seen between the Japanese combative and the local traditions such as Catch-as-Catch-Can, Greco-Roman, and Pancrase wrestling, and styles of boxing? Chapters in this anthology present an excellent overview of the early days when jujutsu and judo took foothold in the USA and Europe, with particular emphasis on England and the influence of The Budokwai in London, which as noted on Wikipedia, is "the oldest Japanese martial arts club in Europe. It was founded in 1918 by Gunji Koizumi and initially offered tuition in jujutsu, kendo, and other Japanese arts. It was the first judo club in Europe." This anthology offers a historical view of how and why jujutsu and judo became living traditions in the West, and developed over the decades. There are six technical chapters by David Finch, well-known for his knowledge of judo and famed for his professional photography. The last chapter is a fitting finale presenting a comprehensive history and technical description of The Budokwai Kime-no-kata, a judo kata created during the earlier period of the institute. The fourteen chapters in this anthology-most from the Journal of Asian Martial Arts and a few newer writings-also discuss many of the leading practitioners of jujutsu/judo. As these arts adapted and transformed to Western countries, the purpose and modes of practice have also changed. This is important for all to study since knowledge of the past is vital for how these forms of combat and sport will evolve in the future.
Product Details
Price
$18.95
Publisher
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Publish Date
April 13, 2018
Pages
198
Dimensions
6.0 X 0.42 X 9.0 inches | 0.6 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9781717030153
BISAC Categories:
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Become an affiliateAbout the Author
David Finch grew up on a farm in northern Illinois and attended the University of Miami, where he studied music engineering technology. After earning a bachelor of music, David returned to Illinois, where he began his career as an audio engineer and played the saxophone in several funk/fusion bands. He and his wife, Kristen, married in 2003, and in 2008 David was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. His first essay, Somewhere Inside, A Path to Empathy, appeared in the New York Times and became the basis for his book The Journal of Best Practices. David lives in northern Illinois with his wife and two children.