One of the things that sets Judo apart from just being another type of wrestling is the moral code that lies at the heart of practice.
It is not something that is perhaps consciously taught; but it is part of the BJA grading syllabus for both junior and senior grades.
Its origins lie in both the Bushido code of the Samurai and in Japanese absorption of Western ideas of what makes a “gentleman” as Japan came out of isolation in the 1800s.
The International Judo Federation recently published a series of videos examining what the Judo values of Courage, Respect, Modesty, Sincerity, Friendship, Honour, Self-control and Politeness means in 2020 – they can be viewed here.
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