Weaknesses

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Through judo training, we learn our bodies have limitations. We are weak in certain respects. These have to be corrected to some extent.

The Japanese say that every man has seven big faults of character. In judo we learn how to minimise our faults and how to develop beyond them. We must not try and avoid the faults, but cultivate a proper method of dealing with them. For instance, if I am righthanded and I am left to my own devices, I will simply use the right hand more and more. But a good teacher will make me use the left side, and then the co-ordination of the whole body will be improved about the centre line.

So it is to bring to life the left side which is relatively neglected. Judo should help us to do that, not only on the mat but in life.

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