Reconstruction of Suijutsu by Kano Jigoro

Abstract

A study was conducted to clarify the features of suijutsu (Japanese traditional swimming) led by Kano Jigoro (1860-1938). In 1898, Kano organized suijutsu for the students at his private school, Zoshikai, and consequently suijutsu was named Zoshikai-suijutsu. Most of the swimming styles taught were derived from Nihon Yueijutsu written by Ota Sutezo (1825-1892), who had tried to integrate all the traditional swimming styles. Kano agreed with the idea of Nihon Yueijutsu, and tried to spread this swimming style by holding swimming athletic meetings and introducing a step-system like that in judo.
Kano also organized Koshi-eihou for the students of Tokyo Higher Normal School in 1903, when he was president of the school. This swimming style was composed not only of Nihon Yueijutsu, but also various traditional swimming sects, such as Shinden-ryu, Kankai-ryu, Kobori-ryu and Suifu-ryu. Nakano Jiro, who was a Shinden-ryu swimming teacher, selected the swimming styles for Koshi-eihou. Kano tried to reorganize suijutsu and to have it introduced into the school education system in Japan. All first-grade students were obliged to participate in swimming practice for two weeks to learn Koshi-eihou. As most of the students who graduated from Tokyo Higher Normal School became teachers at normal schools and middle schools, the swimming style of Koshi-eihou was introduced into various schools all over Japan.
The features of the reorganization of suijutsu led by Kano were as follows :
·While Kano tried to integrate all the traditional swimming styles, he organized Zoshikai-suijutsu and Koshi-eihou for the training of the young body and for cultivation of the mind.
·Koshi-eihou was organized at Tokyo Higher Normal School from the various traditional swimming sects, with the aim of being introduced into the school education system in Japan. Kano asked swimming teachers to devise a swimming style for Koshi-eihou.
·As Kano held swimming athletics meetings while practicing, the effect of the practice became evident.
·In the same way as for judo, Kano adopoted the step-system into suijutsu.