What all grappling arts have in common: Yawara（柔）

     What do all grappling arts have in common? All grappling arts, whether it is wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu, or Judo is revolved around developing the technical ability to control your opponent by utilizing their strength against them. For simplicity, we can call this "Yawara." Yawara is the BEAUTY we find in observation and the JOY we feel when grappling. Proper application of the Yawara principles results in, for example, a smaller person being able to throw a larger person over their shoulders. Competitions that still have "Absolute" or "Open Weight" divisions, are able to personify this foundational concept in grappling. 

「柔よく剛を制す」

     This is a phrase we associate with Judo philosophy, and is a principle Kano Jigoro adhered to in his teachings, "Ju yoku go o sei su." Literally meaning, "flexibility will overpower the rigid." The phrase has many interpretations and applications, but we might get a little more insight by learning about the founder of Judo, Kano Jigoro. 

     The originator of Judo, Kano Jigoro, had more in mind with this phrase than just the physical application of the Yawara.  As he improved upon the concepts of Jyu-Jitsu, he established a spiritual path (道), and formed a new martial art, Judo (柔道). Within the phrase and the concepts of Yawara, Kano felt the ideas of "Seiryoku Zenryo" 「精力善良」and "Jita Kyoei"「自他共栄」identified the need for people to learn and understand how they interact with society and the people around them. He felt the Judo people practiced on a daily basis was also a training ground for those concepts to be learned and acquired. 

     All grappling arts, when taught correctly, have the fundamental concepts of Yawara to be implemented. Unfortunately, not all have the ability to "teach" the art. Along with teaching these external concepts, there is an even bigger need to teach and mold the internal concepts. As observers of grappling, we may find the inability to teach these concepts much more apparent than the technical. 

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills Grappling

"Jyu yoku go o sei su"

-Notes-

精力善用:  Fully use the abilities that you have and help direct society in a virtuous direction. 

自他共栄: As a result of expressing respect and gratitude towards one another a mutual feeling of trust is bred. As you do so, create a society where people want to help one another and mutually prosper as a result.