Abstract - Remembering Traditional Concepts: Judo’s Values and Pedagogy in France and Spain. Presented in Memory of Henri Birnbaum (1921–2004)
This paper presents some traditional concepts on judo values and teaching from Henri Birnbaum's point of view. Henri Birnbaum (Warsaw, January 6, 1921 - Barcelona, December 8, 2004) was a judo pioneer in Spain and also one of the first students of Mikonosuke Kawaishi (Himeji, 1899 - Paris, 1969). For the elaboration of this paper, the interview we did with Henri Birnbaum was rescued and analyzed in search of his educative concepts on judo. Other materials like interviews with some of his first students, newspapers and films were also employed. Starting from a wide view of his life history, which was deeply marked by the First and Second World Wars, then we describe his experience with Kawaishi and in Barcelona - where he taught judo in Spain. Birnbaum's discourse on judo educational values is solid and coherent, in accordance to his strong personality. Emerging concepts like judo as a way of life, courtesy and respect, discipline, spirit of initiative and fighting spirit, philosophy of teaching and learning process, and master-disciple and teacher-student relationship not only show some of the ideas and mentality of continental Europe judo pioneers but also allow us to reflect about how judo has evolved since the middle of the 20th century to modern times.