“Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart” Matthew 11:29

Many popular activities trace their origin to Japanese culture which is certainly true of jῡdō. This well-known martial arts sport was established as recently as 1882 by Jigorō Kanō, a Japanese educator and athlete. Often referred to as the “Father of Jῡdō,” Kanō incorporated various ancient self-defense techniques to create the present form of jῡdō which is now standardized throughout the world. He also coined the term jῡdō (柔道) for his new sport, which means “gentle way” because instead of employing weapons in combat, jῡdō is centered on using an opponent’s strength as a tactical advantage. The basic object of a jῡdō practitioner is to throw an opponent to the ground or subdue them through various grappling techniques. The inclusion of the Chinese character 道, normally translated as “way” or “road,” indicates a deeper philosophical nuance of the sport where the participant focuses not just on improvement in athletic skills but also on mental, emotional and moral growth. This holistic approach to training has obvious appeal to the Japanese psyche and accounts for the sport’s rapid growth and popularity in Japan. 

Jῡdō eventually became an Olympic sport in 1964. Japan immediately dominated, winning a total of 84 medals following the sport’s inclusion. At the most recent Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan amassed twelve medals in jῡdō, nine of them gold. Jῡdō athletes now traditionally wear a white uniform known as a jūdōgi which was also developed and standardized by Kanō.  

Although Japan still dominates the sport of jῡdō in competition on the world stage, the number of actual participants in the sport in Japan has declined precipitously in recent years to such a degree that France has taken the lead on an international level. Japanese children in particular have been dropping out at an alarming rate due to the excessive pressure to win, the frequency of injuries in the sport, and its extremely intense training regimen. Some fear that the sport known for being the “gentle way” of athletic competition has lost its way as the goal of winning at all costs has eclipsed the more subtle values envisioned by its founder.

At first glance it seems to be a contradiction in terms to label a sport that involves the defeat of an opponent as being a “gentle way.” But in comparison to some of the other martial arts that train their acolytes in the use of weapons and teach them to inflict pain, jῡdō does seem to offer a less violent alternative in its techniques and objectives. This description of the sport reminds us that “gentle” is a somewhat relative term and the key to understanding its intended meaning depends significantly on the context.

Jesus’ followers are also called to adopt a gentle way as we are instructed in Ephesians 4:2 to “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Obviously, such a challenging mandate has nothing to do with combat procedures but rather, points to a lifestyle that should characterize God’s people as they seek to flesh out His heavenly values within earthly relationships. Fortunately, we have a sterling example of what such spiritual combat looks like in Jesus Himself, who beckoned us to “learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.” (Matthew 11:29) There is truly a gentle way for us to master that honors God and accomplishes His eternal purposes.