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Maximum efficiency with minimum effort.

 
"Judo is the way of the highest or most efficient use of both physical and mental energy. Through training in the attack and defence techniques of Judo, the practitioner nurtures their physical and mental strength, and gradually embodies the essence of the Way of Judo. Thus, the ultimate objective of Judo discipline is to be utilized as a means to self-perfection, and thenceforth to make a positive contribution to society." Jigor
 
"Don't think about what to do after you become strong -- I have repeatedly stressed that the ultimate goal of Judo is to perfect the self, and to make a contribution to society. In the old days, Jujutsu practitioners focused their efforts on becoming strong, and did not give too much consideration to how they could put that strength to use. Similarly, Judo practitioners of today do not make sufficient efforts to understand the ultimate objective of Judo. Too much emphasis is placed on the process rather than the objective, and many only desire to become strong and be able to defeat their opponents. Of course, I am not negating the importance of wanting to become strong or skilled. However, it must be remembered that this is just part of the process for a greater objective... The worth of all people is dependent on how they spend their life making contributions."
 
Nothing under the sun is greater than education. By educating one person and sending him into the society of his generation, we make a contribution extending a hundred generations to come.
 
Jigoro Kano (Jigoro Kano , 28 October 1860 – 4 May 1938) was the founder of judo. Judo was the first Japanese martial art to gain widespread international recognition, and the first to become an official Olympic sport. New teaching methods credited to Kano included the use of black and white belts, and the establishment of dan ranking to show the relative ranking between members of a martial art style. Well-known mottoes attributed to Kano include "Maximum Efficiency with Minimum Effort" and Mutual Welfare and Benefit." Kano was a teacher by profession and his most important postings included serving as director of primary education for the Ministry of Education (Monbusho ) from 1898--1901, and as the president of Tokyo Higher Normal School from 1901 to 1920. He played an important role in getting both Judo and Kendo made part of the Japanese public school programs of 1910. Kano was also a pioneer of international sports. His accomplishments included being the first Asian member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) (serving from 1909 to 1938); officially representing Japan at most Olympic Games held between 1912 and 1936; and serving as a leading spokesman for Japan's bid for the 1940 Olympic Games. His official honors and decorations included the First Order of Merit and Grand Order of the Rising Sun and the Third Imperial Degree. He was inducted into the IJF Hall of Fame on 14 May 1999. In 1934, Kano quit giving public exhibitions. His failing health was compounded by kidney stones. However Kano continued attending important Kodokan events such as kagami-biraki (New Years' ceremonies) whenever he could and he continued participating in Olympics business. Kano died at sea in May 1938, while on board the NYK Line motor vessel MV Hikawa Maru. The Japanese merchant fleet of the 1930's ran by Tokyo time wherever they sailed in the world. The Japanese date of death was 4 May 1938 at 5:33 a.m. JST. The international date of Kano's death was 3 May 1938 at 8:33 p.m. UTC. The cause of death was officially listed as pneumonia but other sources listed food poisoning as the cause of his death. Judo did not die out with Kano. During the 1950s, Judo clubs sprang up all over the world and in 1964, Judo was introduced as an Olympic sport in the Tokyo Olympics and was reintroduced in 1972 at the Munich Olympics. Kano's posthumous reputation was therefore assured. His true legacy was his idealism. As Kano said in a speech he gave in 1934,