(Adapted from an essay by Trevor Leggett)
When we are young, many of us are encouraged to play games such as football or netball and we are told to try and win! But the main purpose is to encourage competitiveness and develop our fitness. It's not for most school children to become professional footballers or netball players. In the same way, for most of us, taking up judo is not for the purpose of becoming a national champion.
Dr Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo, regarded judo as a training for life. He thought judo was much better for this purpose than ball games which are not natural activities. But fighting is a natural activity and if that natural activity can be spiritualized and made rational, so that instead of making enemies, you are making friends, it will give you something valuable for life.
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