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Monday, July 19, 2010

A Visit to Sensei


It was a cool Sunday morning when I decided to visit Sensei Kinjho at his home which is far from where I lived. 4 days after Sensei Pat's funeral somehow there was a need to refresh my spirit. I was not sure of finding Sensei Kinjho in his home as he is always busy but then I took my chances and went there together with my father. I was glad to meet him when we got to where he lived. The place was full of fruit-bearing trees and sensei was busy with supervising all the fruit-picking and arrangement of the fruits. To my amazement, I later noticed that sensei was wearing one of his ATLETA Judo t-shirts while working in his farm.


After a while, we sat together and gave each other an update of our activities. Most of the time of course, we talked about Judo. In fact, it seemed everything we talked about was Judo. We looked back at everything we have been through - and it was of course Judo.

The visit to sensei was timely. As Seijitsu Judo Dojo continues to grow there is a need for Judo wisdom to carry on the duties that come with the teaching of Judo. And Sensei Kinjho is the best source of that Judo wisdom.



Sempai and Kohai. A picture taken with Sensei Kinjho, 8th Dan (KODOKAN) during my visit last July 18, 2010 at his farm.



With Sueko, Sensei's daughter.



Looking at this throw reminds me of Sensei Kinjho's excellent nagewaza.

Seijitsu Judo Ryu Oath

  • "Without permission of the Authorities of Seijitsu Judo Dojo, I will not teach or divulge the Knowledge of the Art I shall be taught.

    I will not perform the Art in public for personal gain.

    I will lay no blame on anyone, except myself, in the event of accident, even if it should result in my death.

    I will conduct myself in such a way as never to discredit the traditions and honor of Seijitsu Judo Dojo.

    I will not abuse, or misuse, the Knowlege of Judo.

    I shall push and persevere."


Copied from the original Kodokan Oath and adapted by Seijitsu Judo Dojo; Judo - The Basic Technical Principles and Exercises by G. Koizumi (7th Dan), Founder of the Judo Movement in Great Britain and Europe, July 1958

About Judo


The Purpose of Judo Discipline

According to Jigoro Kano, the founder of Kodokan Judo:

  • "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 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."

Anyone who intends to follow the way of Judo must above all instill this teaching in his heart.

Judo in Action; Kazuzo Kudo, 9th Dan; Japan Publications Trading Company, Tokyo, Japan; January 1967

On Judo and the Changing Times

  • "As thoughts on any subject advance, there is the danger that people will tend to regard past ideas as no more than empty academic theory. Such an over-prejudiced attitude must not be condoned."

Tetsuya Sato and Isao Okano, Vital Judo, Japan Publications Inc., 1973

On the Value of Continuous Scholarly Study in Judo

  • "We live today and die tomorrow but the books we read tell us things of a thousand years."

Yamaga Sokō (September 21, 1622 - October 23, 1685) was a Japanese philosopher and strategist during the Tokugawa shogunate. He was a Confucian, and applied Confucius's idea of the "superior man" to the Samurai class of Japan. This became an important part of the Samurai way of life and code of conduct known as Bushido.

On Judo and its Lifelong Pursuit