Kōdōkan jūdō’s inauspicious ninth kata: the Joshi goshinhō: 'Self-defense methods for women': part 1

Background and study aim: The purpose of the present paper is to provide a comprehensive and critical review of Joshi goshinhō (“Self-defense methods for Women”), the now reclusive ‘ninth’ kata of Kōdōkan jūdō, once part of the standard women’s jūdō curriculum in Japan. Material and methods: To achieve this, we offer a careful critical analysis of the available literature and rare source material on this kata. Results: Recent overviews of Kōdōkan kata frequently omit Joshi goshinhō. This shift seems to have occurred since the 1990s despite no statement of obsoletion or removal from the Kōdōkan teaching curriculum being known. The creation of Joshi goshinhō was ordered by Nangō Jirō, a nephew of Kanō who led the Kōdōkan after Kanō Jigorō’s death in 1938. Joshi goshinhō was completed in 1943 and is usually attributed to a team of eight to ten people.. Conclusions: Joshi goshinhō is still an official kata of Kōdōkan despite it being often omitted from recent kata listings. A variety of factors such as lack of experience and hierarchical position raise doubts about the extent of contribution of some individuals most commonly associated with the creation of Joshi goshinhō. Likely, those who deserve most credit for the intellectual and practical work underlying Joshi goshinhō were: Noritomi Masako, Honda Ariya, Mifune Kyūzō, Sakamoto Fusatarō, and Samura Kaichirō. Joshi goshinhō would meet the increasing demands for self-defense from female jūdōka. Jūdōka have a right to a critical analytical and non-revisionist approach to jūdō’s history in its every aspect as an integral part of the pedagogical aims of jūdō.

Jaar van publicatie:2011

Toegankelijkheid:Closed