Listen to the masters (Koichi Tohei, Kyuzo Mifune, Jigoro Kano, Sun Tzu, Zhuge Liang). Men are rivals during competitions, but united and friends during practice and even more in daily life. Before and after practicing judo or engaging in a match, opponents bow to each other. Bowing is an expression of gratitude and respect. In effect, you are thanking your opponent for giving you the opportunity to improve your technique. Judo is the way to the most effective use of both physical and spiritual strength. By training you in attacks and defenses it refines your body and your soul and helps you make the spiritual essence of judo a part of your very being. In this way you are able to perfect yourself and contribute something of value to the world. This is the final goal of judo discipline. Spirit carries the mind and controls the body. It is not the accumulation of extraneous knowledge, but the realization of the self within, that constitutes true progress. Practice is not a matter of years and months. It is a matter of concentration. Against those skilled in attack, an enemy does not know where to defend; against the experts in defense, the enemy does not know where to attack. To win 100 victories in 100 battles is not the highest skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill. Those who are skilled in combat do not become angered, those who are skilled at winning do not become afraid. Thus the wise win before they fight, while the ignorant fight to win. He who can suppress a moment's anger may prevent many days' sorrow. Learn from the mistakes of others, you may not live long enough to make them all yourself. Greatness lies not in being strong, but in the right use of strength. There are two types of people in the world. Those that find excuses and those that find a way. Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself. It is not important to be better than someone else, but to be better than yesterday. Develop yourself to your full potential so that you and others may live harmoniously.
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