Should we still teach Japanese in the dojo?

**Bondy8** · Posted On: 12/02/2012 10:41am

I hear to much nowadays "we're in Britain why teach Japanese" and I think this is so wrong, we need to keep the tradition going otherwise we will eventually forget about all the honour and discipline and respect that comes with ju-Jitsu do you agree!

**JPhoenix** · Posted On: 12/02/2012 11:47am

I like that everyone teaches in Japanese. Not because I think everyone will lose honour, discipline, and respect, but because I can go to any Karate school in the world and won't look like a total noob.

**Bondy8** · Posted On: 12/02/2012 1:04pm

It should not just be the Martial art that your learning but the language and the history behind it otherwise it will be lost, if you ask a student where there martial art comes from they should be able to tell you.
If you introduce history and the language to your syllabus it makes it more than just a fighting or self defence system.

**CrackFox** · Posted On: 12/02/2012 1:10pm

I think the problem with that view is that the history of most jujutsu styles goes back about 50 years to their foundation in English (or possibly German) speaking countries.

**judojeff** · Posted On: 12/02/2012 1:24pm

If all it takes to remove any ideas of morality from your martial art is to use a different language that's some weak sauce. Saying "hip throw" vs "O Goshi" doesn't magically turn it into a different throw or take away from Kanos ideas of judo as moral discipline.

**Devil** · Posted On: 12/02/2012 1:42pm

Originally Posted by Bondy8

It should not just be the Martial art that your learning but the language and the history behind it otherwise it will be lost, if you ask a student where there martial art comes from they should be able to tell you.
If you introduce history and the language to your syllabus it makes it more than just a fighting or self defence system.

The bottom line is that there is no link between language and martial effectiveness. There is also no link between language and honor and there is no link between language and discipline. And if history is your concern, it can be taught in any language.

If you enjoy teaching and/or learning using Japanese, there's nothing wrong with that. You're right, it does make your martial art more than a fighting system. It makes it a fighting system with additional vocabulary. But the use of Japanese or any other language adds nothing that's essential for a student to learn technique, discipline, character or history. Japanese is not a magic wand for martial arts excellence.

**Bondy8** · Posted On: 12/02/2012 1:58pm

I just think as I do traditional Ju-jitsu it's only respectful to learn the history and language as part of my syllabus.
I know that my style came from Liverpool but the martial art still came from Japan and we still use such weapons as the Katana and the Naganata which were used by the Samurai warriors and we still have to do traditional sword presentation.
I respect every Martial art and I really think trying more makes you a better Martial artist.

**Bondy8** · Posted On: 12/02/2012 2:07pm

Originally Posted by Devil

The bottom line is that there is no link between language and martial effectiveness. There is also no link between language and honor and there is no link between language and discipline. And if history is your concern, it can be taught in any language.

If you enjoy teaching and/or learning using Japanese, there's nothing wrong with that. You're right, it does make your martial art more than a fighting system. It makes it a fighting system with additional vocabulary. But the use of Japanese or any other language adds nothing that's essential for a student to learn technique, discipline,
character or history. Japanese is not a magic wand for martial arts excellence.

When I started Ju-Jitsu I really enjoyed not just doing the physical part but learning the history and language it made it more than just a martial art for me and I think if classes just focus on the physical we will eventually lose the History.

**Keej613** · Posted On: 12/02/2012 2:51pm

I like learning the "official" Japanese names of moves for the cultural / traditional aspect it brings to training. I understand that not everyone's into that so another reason I like learning the "official" names of moves is that it makes it easier to consistently transfer knowledge from one school or style to the next. For example, I've dropped into MMA / grappling / jiu-jitsu classes where someone has said Apply the scarf hold. ??? Y'know, that headlock pin. ??? Y'know, the number one hold down. ??? Y'know, kesa gatame. Oooooooooooooh! Right! No problem! Makes things easier this way.

**doofaloofa** · Posted On: 12/02/2012 2:57pm

I like the idea that using Japanese nomenclature to aid understanding between people from different backgrounds

In practice it does not always work that way

We had a French judoka train with us (an English speaking dojo)

His pronunciation of the nominally Japanese words was quite different on many occasions and required a demonstration of the technique in question

I also think expecting young children to learn Japanese nomenclature is unhelpfull and distracting