The Bulletin

Volume 1, Issue 1

September 2000 The Kano Society

In This Issue • Kano Society - Founding and Kano Society Formed Aims The Kano Society was formally set tual assistance is integral to tradi- • The Bulletin—First Edition up on 23rd of January 2000. The tional . founder members of the Society Study of Judo In addition to • Patrons and Kodokan Links sought to return to and promote the and contest training other areas of style of Judo that was prevalent in • Trevor Leggett Memorial Judo should be adequately studied. the past. We called this ‘Traditional Kata is an essential part of tradi- • Articles by TP Leggett Judo’. The Kano Society seeks to tional Judo as is the preservation of maintain close links with the Japanese terminology and etiquette Kodokan in Japan, the original including correct bowing and the home of Judo. The Society has no use of white judogi. Judoka should The Bulletin - Editor’s comment intention to supplant any governing work on the whole range of Judo Kano performing Kata at the Kodokan body of Judo. It is democratically techniques including ukemi and Welcome to the first edition of the constituted and all Judoka may avoid specialized study of a limited being detrimental to good Judo 'Bulletin' This is our on line / off line apply to join. repertoire. The gokyo should be practice. The aim is injury-free Judo newsletter about Judo and the Kano What do we mean by ‘Traditional taught and studied and there is also especially between higher and Society - We aim to produce it at regu- Judo’? We can divide this into three a place for regulated study of spe- lower grades and between stronger lar intervals - probably quarterly and aspects- Principles of Judo The cialist areas such as katsu, atemi- and weaker people later monthly - and to publish content Kano Society believe that Judo waza, kansetsuwaza (other than Shiai – contest- is an important on line with hard copy for those who should be viewed as more than just those already allowed in competi- aspect of training. We support ex- are not yet connected. Feel free to a sport. It should adhere to the tion) and self-defence techniques. perimentation with the contest rules print off and distribute to colleagues principles laid down by Judo’s foun- Practice of Judo Randori is the to discover a formula for clean and friends who you think may be der Jigoro Kano· Good use of mind cornerstone of Judo practice. We upright Judo.Kangeiko (the winter interested.The 'Bulletin' will be a and body (seiryoku zenyo),· Mutual support intensive training and be- training period) has a valuable role. short piece to begin with and later welfare and benefit (jita kyoei) and lieve that randori should be its main expand hopefully into a full maga- it should have moral and educa- component involving upright Judo zine / Journal format - but this de- tional benefits. Trevor Leggett de- (shizentai) and practice which aims pends on you too ... we need members scribed this as ‘A training for life’. to throw cleanly for ippon. We dep- to help with the expenses and we Thus in applying Judo principles to recate over-reliance on bent pos- need articles and contributions. This everyday life the Judoka is enabled ture (jigotai) and such techniques may be in the form of news, interest- to achieve balance and self mas- as leg grabs and holds which pull ing bits and pieces, photographs or tery. A spirit of generosity and mu- the opponent down into a crouch as reminiscences and historical mate- Early Judo practice at the Kodokan 1935 rial. Send in by email or post to publi- cations dept 7 High Street Penge, London SE20 7HJ England We aim eventually to be able to collect Membership News an archive of Judo material which will be thus preserved for the future. Trevor Our membership in UK and abroad reports that our feelings as a Soci- on 30th January and Trevor Leggett Leggett who sadly passed away last is gradually growing. A major mile ety that traditional values of judo died on 2nd august. Full obituaries month has given us permission to use stone for the Society was the accep- are in need of reemphasis and and information are available on his material as have other writers such as Richard Bowen. Syd Hoare is trans- tance of appointment s as Patrons support is strongly shared by many the website. of the Society, not only by Percy at the top of Japanese judo. A num- lating original material from the Japa- Both Yukimitsu Kano and Ichiro Abe Sekine (Koizumi’s son-in law) and ber of high ranking Japanese ju- nese and has access to a quantity of have sent very encouraging com- Kano's writings which have not previ- Trevor Leggett in UK but also by doka have also accepted life mem- ments and Teizo Kawamura has ously been available in English. Yukimitsu Kano, grandson of Jigoro bership. Through the website we also joined. We are also aware that we are a Soci- Kano and President of the Kodokan have also aroused keen interest and ety with an International membership Judo Institute, in Japan. Mr Kano’s support from judoka in other coun- and hence we hope to produce mate- acceptance is particularly important tries, so far in Japan, USA, Canada, Membership grows rial which will reflect this varied back- to us. Mr Kano’s acceptance owes Portugal and France. Sadly this year in UK, Japan and ground. I do hope you will enjoy the world-wide 'Bulletin' and make it your own. - much to the personal contacts that we have lost two major figures of Diana Birch Warwick Stevens was able to make the Judo World—Margot Sathaye whilst in Japan this spring and he who was to have been a patron died Page 2 The Bulletin

Trevor Leggett 27.8.1914—2.8.2000 on Friday 11th August 2000 at The service was attended by Leigh - (there were others - apolo- 11am. An appreciation of his life approximately 80 close friends. gies if I cannot list everyone). Many was read by Henry Curtis from the K Watanabe who had left the Japa- sent condolences including Yukimi- Buddhist society and by Malcolm nese team in Thailand and flew over tsu Kano whose message was the Hodkinson. The hymns 'Dear Lord via Tokyo and Tony Sweeney who first to arrive. and Father of Mankind'; and 'To be managed to attend despite leaving a Pilgrim' were complimented by for Japan later in the day. Dickie Messrs. The Kano Society , readings including some of Trevor's Bowen and Ayako, Syd Hoare, Upon learning the passing away of favourite verses and the best epi- Diana Birch, Malcolm Hodkinson, Mr. Trevor Leggett, I should like to taph there could be - a passage and Larry Ralph (Kano Society and extend my sincere condolences. Trevor Legget with Gleeson 1958 from his last book 'The Old Zen Budokwai); Stan Brogan (Kano Mr. Leggett had learned Kodokan It is with great sadness that I have to Master' - Society and OdoRyu); Percy Sekine judo since early age and had made report the death of Trevor Leggett - "We can learn a lot of other things (Judokan and Kano Society) Present great contributions to its diffusion. patron of the Kano Society. He died from music. You do not hang on to a were John Pinnell (Budokwai EC); In addition, with the deep under- of a stroke at St Mary's Hospital in chord no matter how beautiful. You Alan Zipeure (President of London standings of the wide range of Japa- the early hours of Wednesday 2nd do not regret the end of a piece of Area BJA); Charles Mack (President nese culture, he had acted as the August 2000. He had been recover- music. The piece is played and British Assn); Ben bridge of friendship between U.K. ing from an infection brought on by comes to a natural end. In the same Anderson and others from the Bud- and Japan mostly through judo. an earlier admission and in typical way a life is played." dhist Society, and Bernard Alexan- I sincerely hope that the soul of Mr. Leggett style was asking for a room I find it impossible to read this der, Warwick Stevens and Pam, Ray Leggett rest in peace. where he could get back to his work passage without breaking down - Ross, Hyde, Harold Rhoda, Frank Sincerely Yours, whilst in hospital. Trevor's funeral but that is not what TP would have Ward, Malcolm Lister, Liz Newman, Yukimitsu KANO took place at Mortlake Crematorium wanted - he will now be rejoicing in Michi Wyman, Dave Barnard President - 'wearing new robes' . (Renshuden); John Richie, Mick All Japan Judo Federation

Trevor Leggett — Obituary Syd Hoare

His message was do attached to the British Embassy you had to be at least brown belt. train in Japan for about two to three not be just a good and when Japan entered the war in These Sunday sessions were always years on average. Competition judo 1941 he was interned along with packed and invitations to the class was not particularly developed then judoka but be good the other embassy staff. Eventually were greatly prized. Virtually all the and so Japan was the natural place at everything. It was he left Japan as part of an exchange key figures of British judo gradu- to go to further ones training. By always fatal to say to with London based Japanese em- ated from this class. The class itself about the mid-sixties this became bassy staff. He served in India from was a mixture of grinding hard work, less necessary as international him…I am no good 1943 to 1945 at the British SE Asia contest and instruction on every competitions rapidly developed in at (X) since he would Military HQ using his knowledge of aspect of judo. For example usually Europe and elsewhere. The flow to abruptly say, ‘ Get Japanese.After the war he returned once a year we had a Katsu Japan faded away. TP abruptly to London and began teaching at (resuscitation) class. This was only pulled out of Judo in the early six- good at it then’. the Budokwai. During the 1950s he for black belts. The class was al- ties. He decided he had produced was responsible for lifting the stan- ways announced with the dreaded enough competitors and teachers. It is with the greatest sadness we dard of judo at the club. He himself words – ‘All black belts down stairs He turned his attention to writing announce the death of Trevor Leg- was a fanatical trainer. He never to the lower dojo! Once in the lower mostly about judo, Budo, eastern gett. He died in the early hours of rested during training and encour- dojo we were shown how to bring philosophy (Adhyamata Yoga) and Wednesday 2nd August in his aged his students to do the same. unconscious people round again Zen Buddhism. In all he wrote over eighty-fifth year. TP as he was af- We were instructed to get double and then we had to pair up, strangle thirty books. His last one came out fectionately known was one of the figures in practice which meant ten our partner out and then revive him this year in March and when he died great figures of the Budokwai. or more randori a night. The ses- and he in turn did the same to you. he was working on his next one He joined the club in 1932 at the sions were not particularly organ- TP also had the knack of knowing despite the fact that he was virtually age of eighteen and studied under ized so this meant training with what and who you dreaded most in blind. He was fluent in Japanese – Yukio Tani who was very famous somebody till you felt you had had judo and he would make sure you he headed the BBC’s Japanese around the beginning of the century enough then immediately looking confronted that and them in your Service for twenty four years - and for taking on all comers in public around for someone else to train training.TP once said that he tried was also a Sanskrit scholar. He was matches. Tani once said of himself with. A randori with somebody to make the Sunday class as hard if a multi-faceted man with many that he was a third rate judoman might be five to ten minutes or not harder than the sessions in interests including classical music. but had unrivalled experience in longer so ten plus randori was quite Japan since he wanted to prepare In his youth, he told me, he was beating boxers and wrestlers. Tani a lot of work. Leggett was a great those who intended to go to Japan. almost good enough to be a classi- was a very strict teacher of the old believer in clean technique and he This in fact was the case. I rarely cal concert pianist. He was a great samurai school and TP was brought was far and away the best teacher I came across a harder session in inspiration to most of us at the up in that tradition In 1938 TP went have ever come across. He not only Japan and when I was in the British Budokwai. His message was do not to Japan to continue his training in drew on his own experience of judo Army PT School at Aldershot and be just a good judoka but be good judo and there he gained his 4th but made many translations from went through some particularly at everything. It was always fatal to and fifth dans. At that time only one Japanese texts on judo. In particu- tough courses I never found them say to him…I am no good at (X) other foreigner –O’Neill – had got lar he was famous for his Sunday worse than those Sundays. since he would abruptly say, ‘ Get that high. The war in Europe started class. This was always two hours During the 1950s some sixteen good at it then’.It is no exaggeration a year later and TP seeing the way long every Sunday afternoon. Par- British judomen (and a few women) to say that one of the great figures things were going got himself ticipation was by invitation only and followed TP’s example and went to of world judo has passed away. Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3

This is a shortened version of the one Trevor Leggett — Eulogy by Malcolm Hodkinson delivered at his funeral on August 11th Many others can speak to the many just a couple of such stories which last years of illness. varied achievements of this remark- highlight his intrinsic personality. My second story illustrates this. left. The Emperor pardoned him, ask- able man. He was dauntingly able, Trevor spoke of his first judo Trevor had had his left eye removed ing how he had chosen so unhesitat- but sometimes perceived, because teacher, the legendary Yukio Tani. and I subsequently took him to ingly. The man replied; “I chose the of his intense application and seri- One day at the Budokwai a young Moorfields Hospital for the fitting of eye showing the glimmer of compas- ousness of purpose, as a somewhat man was injured in practice and lay his prosthesis (false eye). This in- sion!” How many of us could hope to forbidding and stern personality. I on the mat making a great hullaba- volved a gruelling morning during keep our humour and sense of per- base this appreciation on his last loo. After a short while Tani came which umpteen different prostheses spective as well as Trevor? few years of poor heath when, as a over and simply said; “shall I send were tried, an uncomfortable proce- Trevor was a valiant man. He had no retired physician, I was able to give for your mother”. Subsequently, dure, given a recently healed socket fear of illness or death and his sole regular practical support and came arriving at the Budokwai with a bad which was still sore and sensitive. A concern was that he be able to con- to know him more closely. cold, Trevor told Tani that he was couple of minutes into the journey tinue his work. His sudden death at a My memories are of an intensely too unwell to practice. Tani said he home, rather than grumble or com- time he was actively planning his early warm and human person with an should and, remembering; “shall I plain, Trevor came up with his ap- return to work was ideal for him: a amazing sense of humour and who send for your mother”, Trevor did. propriate story! In China many years good death culminating a good life. faced his illness with exemplary After a short time Tani said Trevor ago, a man had been sentenced to courage and adaptability and with could finish practice now; he had death but appealed to the Emperor. far-ranging and undiminished intel- made his point - one should face The Emperor said he would pardon lectual curiosity. He made masterly adversity not be overcome by it - a him if he could say which of his eyes use of well-chosen stories, often lesson Trevor followed all his life, was a glass eye. Unhesitatingly and teaching by parable. I shall recount notably in his fortitude during his correctly, the prisoner chose the Judo and Display Professionalism - Trevor Leggett 1957

When Dr. Kano founded his Judo was better in every way. and Tokyo, to which entrants were flown Kodokan in 1882. had most of the Jujutsu schools survive from twenty-one countries all over fallen into disrepute. Some masters today only as relics. The art was no the world. If we look at sports “ ... most of them were organising troupes of their longer an entertainment put on by which encourage display profes- turned to pupils and matching them for professionals for money before an sionalism, we cannot say it has wrestling, where money against other troupes. or audience of laymen. hut restored to done much to advance the sport. On even against the professional Sumo its original purpose—a serious the contrary, in America rules have the proceedings wrestlers. In this way. Dr. Kano says. method of training. Shortly after had to he scrapped because boxing could be enlivened the art had become degraded for World War II, a few Judo men left audiences were not willing to have by attacks on the financial gain. Furthermore. some the Judo movement and formed a fights “cut short” by a disqualifica- referee or a chase Jujutsu men were well known as Professional Judo Association in tion for fouling. Anyone who wants up and down the hired bullies. Dr. Kano called his Japan. One of them was the famous to understand what display profes- auditorium aisles.” system Kodokan Judo to distinguish Mr. Masahiko Kimura, in his youth sionalism can mean should read it from Jujutsu. and made a strict several times all-Japan champion. Lord Knebworth’s authoritative rule that no Kodokan man should They organised a few matches book “Boxing” in the Lonsdale exhibit the art for profit. or co- among themselves. but no one Library series. He says that it scat- operate with or be matched with joined them and they could not get tered the fine traditions and splen- not to extract profits by amusing anyone who did so. The Kodokan matches with anyone in the Judo did ideals of the sport to the four people who have no serious interest in also expelled any member who movement. The Association was not quarters. “A boxer became either a Judo. Contests are for self-training and abused his skill, inside or outside a success, and most of them turned business man, or a commodity for not for pot-hunting. the practice hall. The new school to wrestling, where the proceedings the manipulation of other and more attracted many students: and some could be enlivened by attacks on competent business men.” “The In the finals of the recent all-Japan Jujutsu teachers. finding their popu- the referee or a chase up and down public which attended boxing con- Championships, the Champion (Mr. larity affected, tried to discredit it. the auditorium aisles. In the tests was no longer either inter- Natsui) had an injured right leg, and The~’ laughed at the Kodokan West. different sports draw the line ested, well informed or enthusiastic the runner-up (MrSone, 5th Dan) delib- practice. where the students kept between amateur and professional so much as a great herd of ignorant erately abstained from any persistent an upright posture and practised at different points. In the boxing people . . fooled by the Press, by the attacks on it. One Japanese commen- their attacks lightly and quickly. not world, a professional at any other promoter. by the boxer, and by every tator (a former champion himself) says bothering overmuch if they were sport is automatically considered a bookmaker.”In brief, sports based that this was taking chivalry too far thrown. This was compared unfa- professional at boxing as soon as on display professionalism have to either a man is injured and should vourably with the usual Jujutsu he takes up this sport. In Judo the cater for a public who know and retire, or he goes on and must be pre- style. a defensive crouch with one line is drawn at what can be care nothing for the sport except as pared to meet any possible attack. I arm generally thrust underneath the called“display professionalism“. an entertainment. Doubtless some personally agree with this comment. opponent’s armpit. and in which Judo men are amateurs provided performers and promoters try to but at the same time feel a deep admi- injuries were very common. espe- they do not make profit from dis- educate them but in the end they ration for Mr. Sone. If we compare this cially to the junior students. Base- plays or co-operate with those who are absolutely at the mercy of the incident with the recent death of the less stories were circulated about do: otherwise they are professionals public’s tastes and whims .In Judo, professional boxer Elliott just after a Dr. Kano and the Kodokan. and (and outside the Judo movement). on the contrary, the sport is entirely match in South Africa, we can see attempts were made to embroil This is Dr. Kano’s principle, brought supported by its own enthusiasts something of the difference between Kodokan students in Street fights in to Europe by Mr. Koizumi. and now and quite independent of what the the Judo spirit and the results of dis- order to destroy their good name. adopted by the International Judo general uninformed public thinks or play professionalism, and can under- These tactics were not successful: it Federation which recently organised wants. Displays when given are for stand why Dr. Kano excluded the latter was soon clear that the Kodokan the first World Championships in the purpose of attracting students, so rigidly The Kano Society

7 High Street Penge Email: [email protected] London SE20 7HJ England

We’re on the Web! Please contribute to ... Www.KanoSociety.org The Bulletin

Courtesy is not the same as politeness Trevor Leggett Memorial On the surface they may look very will do all he can. Take the case alike. Politeness is the surface of where a friend of mine has managed The memorial celebration of Trevor Leggett's life will be held at a date to be behaviour, often no more than me- to get an interview with an important announced - information available in the near future—please consult website chanical good behaviour. While man, he hopes to impress. When he or write to our head office if you wish to be placed on mailing list to receive courtesy implies that good behav- gets back, I ask: ‘How did you get details. Thank you. iour comes not from compulsion or on?’ He replies; ‘Oh, he was very habit or hope of advantage, but real polite’. I know at once that the visit ments can turn into weapons. It is a over tactless remarks. The polite- concern for others, Originally the has been a failure, But if he says that surprise to us to learn that kisama and ness of our two nations is insurance word meant rules of good behaviour the great man was courteous, I know tamae can be insulting. We have a few against the danger of constant at Court, but in Britain it was ex- at least some interest was shown in of these in English, for instance kindly; quarrels. My personal observation tended to life in general. A classic him. Both Japan and Britain are full of ‘Kindly put that cigarette out’ is far from is that we have relatively few dis- story about courtesy is the Duke of polite words and manners. In every friendly.Japanese and English conver- putes and quarrels over trivialities. I Wellington famed as the proudest generation, some of the young people sations are littered with sum imasen worked for over twenty years in the man in Europe was walking with a try to shake off this surface of hypoc- and shitsurei, and Thank you. If I help BBCs Overseas Services, broad- noble lady past a gate in the wall. risy, as they call it, When one is another Englishman, he will say Thank casting to different countries. In Through this gate came a workman young, one feels it is deceitful to say you, to which I reply Thank you. Quite the canteen, the international carrying a heavy sack. The workman many polite things which we do not often today, he will then again say Than broadcasters would have their stood still, and the lady was about really mean, As we get more experi- you. Apparently he is thanking me for meals with their fellow nationals. A to sweep past but the Duke caught ence, we see that this is not deceitful, thanking him for thanking me for my Vietnamese table, an Indian table, her arm and held her back. He nod- because no one is deceived. When help. We do not think all this: we just a French table, a Russian table and ded to the workman to go on first, the Income Tax man writes to me: say it. Why not just say what we mean, so on.The Japanese table was al- saying‘Respect the burden Madam’. ‘Dear Sir’, we both know that there is frankly and openly, with no softening ways quiet and well-behaved, but A wonderful example of courtesy. I no affection. We have never met. The conventional phrases? Many reasons some of the other tables had shout- have read in an ancient Indian only people who are deceived are have been suggested, but let me be ing arguments. After a serious Lawbook about right behaviour: foreigners who do not know English. If frank. I believe that the two peoples quarrel, the English head of section ‘One should stand aside to give way they see these words, and look them have strength of character, but are not sighed: ‘I wish some of our other to a Brahmin, the King, a man of up in a dictionary, they will come to quick-witted. In fact, we both tend to sections could take a lesson in more than 80, a pregnant woman, some meaning like: ‘Shin-ai naru distrust cleverness; ‘too clever by half’ considerateness from your Japa- or a man carrying a heavy burden’. It Tonosama’. That is a surprise to is a criticism, which corresponded, I nese section’. He was not talking shows a high level of behaviour in them! In Meiji times, the Japanese suppose, to the Japanese zuru- just about politeness. Japanese India in 500 B.C. Because this was acquired a sort of fairyland reputation gashikoi. We are not quick with the did not interrupt or bluntly contra- following a rule laid down in the because humorous Westerners would tongue(naturally there are brilliant dict each other. They were tolerant, Lawbook, we call it only politeness; translate the almost imperceptible o- exceptions), we like to have a little time so there were relatively few quar- I would not say courtesy, because it in Japanese words like ocha by the to think what to say. We are not stupid, rels. It was courtesy. I believe that is not spontaneous and perhaps not clanking English word ‘honorable’. but feel we must answer sensibly, not after centuries of surface politeness sincere. In English today polite has Japanese contributed because they quickly. All the A so desu ka? and the in Japan and Britain, there has the nuance of something insincere, did not realize that the honorifics(and Oh, really? with which we receive a been some deepening into cour- just mechanical; whereas courtesy their opposites) should be omitted. I remark are to give us time to think of tesy. Even mechanical repetition comes from the heart. Letters from was sometimes embarrassed by something appropriate to say. Just a can sometimes have an ef- Income Tax officials are polite; being invited to a Japanese home second is enough. If we replied in- fect.Pascal, the French mathemati- begin with ‘Dear Sir’,usually there is with the words ‘It is small and dirty’. stantly with a reaction, instead of the cal genius and Christian mystic no warmth.If I write to a friend ask- These words in Japanese had no colourless So desuka? or Really? we said to a man who wanted to be- ing for help he may write back say- meaning—they correspond simply to might say something inappropriate or lieve in God but could not. ‘Act like ing: ‘I will do what I can, but you will a polite tone of voice: ‘Please come even tactless. Feelings might be hurt. It a devout believer go to church every realize that it is difficult to get round in’. Even here I am wrong, because I could become a quarrel. There would be day, say long prayers, give to the the rules’. That is a polite reply, but had forgotten that the word ‘Please’ a ‘breaking of the serenity’ as we like to poor. Do it very seriously, as if you it means that he has decided that is itself one of the English polite translate shitsurei. We see examples did believe in God. After a time, you he cannot, or will not, help me. But phrases which have little meaning. watching small children.They speak will find that you do’. I do not know if he writes: ‘I am sorry you have this One could just say ‘Come in!’ neither impulsively and frankly, and cannot whether Pascal’s friend did this, trouble. I will try to find some way to English nor Japanese would like such estimate the effect of their remarks, and if he did, whether it worked. get round these overstrict rules’, a bare phrase, without any clothes, so constantly offend each other, quarrell But I have an idea that centuries of that is a courteous reply, I know he to speak. Admittedly some orna-