27 Best Kano Jigoro Quotes to Master Life Like Judo

1. “Apply just the right amount of force – never too much, never too little.”- Kano Jigoro

2. “The purpose of the study of judo is to perfect yourself and to contribute to society.”- Kano Jigoro

3. “There are people who are excitable by nature and allow themselves to become angry for the most trivial of reasons. Judo can help such people learn to control themselves. Through training, they quickly realize that anger is a waste of energy, that it has only negative effects on the self and others.”- Kano Jigoro

4. “Judo is the way to the most effective use of both physical and spiritual strength.”- Kano Jigoro

5. “Paradoxically, the man who has failed and one who is at the peak of success are in exactly the same position. Each must decide what he will do next, choose the course that will lead him to the future.”- Kano Jigoro

6. “Face your fear, empty yourself, trust your own voice, let go of control, have faith in outcomes, connect with a larger purpose, derive meaning from the struggle.”- Kano Jigoro

7. “In randori, one must search out the opponent’s weaknesses and be ready to attack with all the resources at his disposal the moment the opportunity presents itself, without violating the rules of judo.”- Kano Jigoro

8. “Judo teaches us to look for the best possible course of action, whatever the individual circumstances.”- Kano Jigoro

9. “The teaching of one virtuous person can influence many; that which has been learned well by one generation can be passed on to a hundred.”- Kano Jigoro

10. “Carefully observe oneself and one’s situation, carefully observe others, and carefully observe one’s environment. Consider fully, act decisively.”- Kano Jigoro

11. “Consider fully, act decisively.”- Kano Jigoro

12. “Before and after practicing Judo or engaging in a match, opponents bow to each other. Bowing is an expression of gratitude and respect. In effect, you are thanking your opponent for giving you the opportunity to improve your technique.”- Kano Jigoro

13. “Judo helps us to understand that worry is a waste of energy.”- Kano Jigoro

14. “Judo should be free as art and science from any external influences, political, national, racial, and financial or any other organized interest. And all things connected with it should be directed to its ultimate object, the benefit of Humanity.”- Kano Jigoro

15. “Judo is a study of techniques with which you may kill if you wish to kill, injure if you wish to injure, subdue if you wish to subdue, and, when attacked, defend yourself.”- Kano Jigoro

16. “Walk a single path, become neither cocky with victory nor broken with defeat.”- Kano Jigoro

17. “It is not important to be better than someone else, but to be better than yesterday.”- Kano Jigoro

18. “The pine fought the storm and broke. The willow yielded to the wind and snow and did not break. Practice jujutsu in just this way.”- Kano Jigoro

19. “For one thing, Judo in reality is not a mere sport or game. I regard it as a principle of life, art and science. In fact, it is a means for personal cultural attainment.”- Kano Jigoro

20. “In randori we learn employ the principle of maximum efficiency even when we could easily overpower an opponent.”- Kano Jigoro

21. “If there is effort, there is always accomplishment.”- Kano Jigoro

22. “In Randori we teach the pupil to act on the fundamental principles of Judo, no matter how physically inferior his opponent may seem to him, and even if by sheer strength he can easily overcome him; because if he acts contrary to principle his opponent will never be convinced of defeat, no matter what brute strength he may have used.”- Kano Jigoro

23. “Judo is the way to the most effective use of both physical and spiritual strength. By training you in attacks and defenses it refines your body and your soul and helps you make the spiritual essence of Judo a part of your very being. In this way you are able to perfect yourself and contribute something of value to the world. This is the final goal of Judo discipline.”- Kano Jigoro

24. “To ask may be but a moment’s shame, not to ask and remain ignorant is a lifelong shame.”- Kano Jigoro

25. “In an argument, you may silence your opponent by pressing an advantage of strength or of wealth, or of education. But you do not really convince him. Though he is no longer saying anything, in his heart he still keeps to his opinion, the only way to make him change that opinion is to speak quietly and reasonably. When he understands that you are not trying to defeat him, but only to find the truth, he will listen to you and perhaps accept what you tell him.”- Kano Jigoro

26. “It won’t do for far-thinking people to place importance on winning or losing.”- Kano Jigoro

27. “Nothing under the sun is greater than education. By educating one person and sending him into the society of his generation, we make a contribution extending a hundred generations to come.”- Kano Jigoro

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