Kyuzo Mifune

Kyuzo Mifune (April 21, 1883- January 27, 1965) has been categorized as one of the greatest exponents of the art of judo after the founder, Jigoro Kano.

The Canon of Judo (1956, 1960)

 * The weed crushed and pressed by the heavy rock may slowly and gently grow up anew helped by the fresh air, sunshine, and sympathetic rain. On the other hand, the rock is often broken through exposure to nature and weathering. Life is a strong power to grow in tenderness; this fact may be considered as having a close relation with human life. At the same time tenderness has sometimes stronger power against stiffness or hardening due to extreme strain.


 * A good Judoka never anticipates his action in a match, but his mind is as clever as a polished mirror which enables him to foresee precisely anything to happen and he displays freedom of his physique to cope with any change. Such mental state and physical action are called sei or tranquility and do or action, sometimes they are called ju and go or tenderness and sturdiness, in and yo or negative and positive, etc.


 * Of course the strong are strong and the weak weak.


 * A chance to try your technique is in one instant never to be regained, so try it without hesitation.