The athletic aspects of Judo have been enhanced by a number of new rules and systems that were introduced after World War II. One of them is the weight system, which, to some, stands as a threat to the traditional identity of Judo, which is often characterized as softness overcoming hardness. This controversial issue has been discussed in terms of values and attitudes toward competition.
The purpose of this study is to identify positively and systematically various aspects of values regarding the weight system. We collected opinions regarding the weight system as reported in the Judo Newsletter since 1952 and divided them into four categories for analysis and study: conservative, reformist, eclectic, and athletics-specific. The results are as follows:
1. The conservatives demonstrated opposition to the weight system, saying that it substantially contradicted ideologies that had existed since prewar times and which they believed were essential to Judo, such as “softness overcomes hardness”, “energy for good use,” and “mutual prosperity.”
2. The reformists' way of thinking could be characterized as American-style rationalism. They put great emphasis on physical strength, rejected the idea of softness overcoming hardness, and agreed with the weight system.
3. The eclectics demonstrated an understanding of the conservatives' belief in the ideas of “softness overcomes hardness”, “energy for good use,” and “mutual prosperity.” At the same time, they agreed with the weight system, which could give lightweights a chance to win. However, those who fit into this category often indicated that they faced a dilemma.
4. The athletics-specific types agreed with the weight system, saying that it was important to promote internationalization of Judo as an athletic sport. They also pointed out the importance of the weight system from the realistic and utilitarian points of view, saying that it could serve as a means to win matches against foreign Judo practitioners, who generally have more physical strength than Japanese practitioners.
5. The weight system was a very controversial issue from 1950 to the mid-1960s, when it was introduced in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. The internationalization and rationalization of Judo was promoted through the weight system, supported by the athletics-specific, reformist, and eclectic types. Although the weight system has taken root in Judo, the idea of “softness overcomes hardness,” supported by the conservatives, persists. For example, even today, the All-Japan Championships of Judo are open-weight. The value orientations towards competition regarding Judo, as reflected in the weight system issue, is in a fuzzy state, with those who support flexible adjustment with an emphasis on rationalization and internationalization, as well as those who object to changes and emphasize the importance of tradition.
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