The Judo for Beginners

A beginner in Judo must realize that progress will be slow, but that any rewards are proportionally deep and profoundly satisfying for every tangible achievement. It is a strenuous sport in which fitness can be built up progressively in step with the accumulation of particular skills. It is not a sport recommended for the ill-disciplined or the faint hearted, or for those seeking a martial art form in which they hope to achieve push button results or easy proficiency.

Judo makes demands upon the player’s mind and body. However, any who feel that they can become expert in the art of Judo through mental knowledge or physical effort alone are sadly misguided. An over emphasis on either prohibits the development of an essential balance between the two.

Additionally, the mental disciplines of Judo result in the judoka acquiring a confidence and peace of mind which he or she can very often apply to the handling of life’s problems in general. When that state is realized, the full and proper philosophy of Judo has been learned and understood.

Of course, my own introduction to Judo was nurtured by the family environment I which I was born and grew up. I was fortunate to be the son of Masutaro Otani, one of the great founders of the sport of Judo in Britain. My father came from a village about 30 KMs from Nagasaki. Situated on Kyushu, the southern island of Japan. The region was renowned for having produced some of the toughest Samurai. My father’s Japanese accent was apparently as difficult to understand as a broad tongued Scot is to a southerner. He was the third eldest son among eight brothers and sisters. His father was head of the family group. Under an edict from the emperor of Japan, the family was trying to adjust to becoming farmers after being of the Samurai class.

My father started Kendo, then compulsory at school, when only six years old but, because he was bullied by an older boy, he switched to Judo (which was the alternative choice) to protect himself. At the age of fifteen he overheard a fierce family row during which some relatives attacked my grandfather in a dispute over financial matters. Overcome by emotion, my father took up the family sword and chased the relatives from his father’s house. Then, in shame, he ran away to sea. He eventually landed in Liverpool in the 1920s and remained in England until his death in 1977.

The realization that my father had a special role in life did not come to me suddenly. From my earliest recollection be returned from a full day’s work and went straight out to Judo every evening. Every other weekend he would be away on a Judo course, and later my brother Billy and I would often accompany him.

Many different Judo people would come to our house and their reverence and deep respect for my father was apparent to me even as a young child. I recall my father reprimanding Judo people on many occasions for what seemed trivialities to me, but I realized later that he expected the best from everybody. I all, I never knew him to lie or be dishonest in any way or to put himself before others. His character was true and straight, displaying a wonderful kindness to everyone around him. I could never have wished for a finer example to try to follow in life. In 1957, at the age of thirteen, I decided to compete in Judo against senior judoka. My father was then fifty eight years old and, while I had often seen him in action before that time, it was too late for me to experience his techniques as it had been during his prime. Nevertheless, the greatness of his ability was still apparent. Brain Caffay is a senior grade (4^th Dan), and I greatly welcome his efforts in producing the book and feel sure it will make a real contribution to the promotion of the sport ad spirit of Judo.

Written by                                         Robin Otani (5th .. Dan)