Judo: A Catalyst for Moral and Emotional Development in Youth – Insights from the Research of Slaviša Bradić, PhD

Špela Lampe

This year marks a decade since the successful integration of judo into the Croatian School Curriculum. It all began in 2008 with the introduction of the "Judo in Schools" project, pioneered by the Judo Club Rijeka under the guidance of Mr. Slaviša Bradić, PhD, a judo coach boasting over 35 years of experience. Mr. Bradić (pictured) played a vital role in securing official recognition for judo as a school sport in Croatia in 2013, representing a significant achievement in the integration of this sport into the country's education system. In 2015, the International Olympic Committee also awarded the Croatian Judo Federation for this project and acknowledged it as the best innovation.

Recognizing a gap in research on the use of judo in schools, Mr. Bradić undertook doctoral studies and research on Judo as a Method of Moral and Psychological Development at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom, where he received his PhD this July. His research aimed to prove the moral and psychological effects of judo on children through the "Judo in Schools" project in Croatia. The complete study includes in-depth research in the following chapters: 1. The Influence of Western Authorities in the Fields of Psychology, Philosophy, and Sociology on Jigoro Kano; 2. Morality through the history of martial arts to judo; 3. Development of self-control in judo; 4. Psychological mechanisms and conditions responsible for various forms of exercise and application of judo and 5. Emotional intelligence and emotional regulators.

This news article briefly presents the research, outlining the correlation between morality and judo, alongside emotions – a connection that has often been discussed but has not yet been definitively substantiated by strict scientific standards. 

Moral Education for Children through Jigoro Kano's Principles

Morality, in the broadest sense, is a manifestation of social consciousness – a set of unwritten rules, folk customs, habits and norms embodied in the life of a community. The emphasis of judo is on the development of the human personality in the segment of morality as the highest goal. Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo defined the principles of "Maximum efficiency" (seiryoku zen'yō) and "The mutual progress for oneself and others" (jita kyōei), stating that through the principle of maximum efficiency of using mental and physical energies should be taken into account in daily life in everything a person does.

Judo Joy: Fostering Emotional Intelligence and Holistic Growth in Children

Throughout childhood, children learn to set and achieve positive goals, show a sense of caring for others and establish positive relationships with the environment. This requires children to recognize emotionally powerful situations, such as anger and rage, and learn to manage and calm them with the help of emotion regulators, which Mr. Bradic focused on during his research. By integrating fun into the beginning stages of judo training, you can tap into children's innate enthusiasm and evoke a range of happy emotions. As they become adept at navigating the interactive aspects of sport through pleasurable experiences, these positive emotions can then be purposefully channelled into the pursuit of either sporting excellence and achievement or personal growth. Judo therefore goes beyond mere physical activity; and becomes a holistic approach to promoting technical competence and emotional well-being in young practitioners.

What Judo Has to Do with Moral and Psychological Development in 10-12 Year-Olds

The results of Mr. Bradić's research show that engaging in judo positively influences the emotional states and behavior of children. The practice of judo contributes to the enhancement of self-control and emotional regulation, resulting in a heightened level of discipline and the ability to adhere to specific rules and behavioral norms. Children participating in judo in the study demonstrated a generally elevated level of emotional competence compared to their non-judo-practicing peers. The findings revealed the most significant differences in the segments related to the naming and expression of emotions, as well as in the management and regulation of emotions. This confirms that judo has a beneficial impact on emotional mechanisms and behavior by promoting self-control, thereby fostering increased levels of discipline and adherence to rules.

"I hope that my research will contribute to the implementation of judo in school curriculum worldwide by promoting best practices for integrating judo into regular physical education classes or developing special judo programs." Slaviša Bradić, PhD

Research's Impact: Visible Changes in Society

The tangible impact of this research on society is evident in the initiation of numerous European Union-funded projects aimed at promoting judo values. Specifically, the Judo Moral Code project gained great popularity throughout Croatia during the global pandemic. It played a vital role in disseminating various educational materials for children, including publications, educational comics, documentaries, and reports that promoted the judo moral code. Furthermore, the research serves as a catalyst for the development of several scientific articles that significantly contribute to the understanding of the field.

Explore the comprehensive research of Slaviša Bradić, PhD

Finally, an invitation to delve into the extensive research of Slaviša Bradić, PhD. The complete doctoral dissertation is available on the University of Hertfordshire Research Archive portal at http://hdl.handle.net/2299/27290. Mr. Bradić is also available for consultations via e-mail s.bradic@judo.hr.

About the author of the PhD work:

Mr. Slaviša Bradić is a highly accomplished 7th DAN judo master based in the picturesque dojo by the sea in Rijeka, Croatia. He is an IJF Academy expert; Director of the Military and Police Commission, and a Member of the Kata Commission at the International Judo Federation (IJF). Additionally, he holds the position of Head Kata Commissioner at the European Judo Union (EJU), demonstrating his dedication to the sport. In Croatia, he also serves as the Head of Belt grading and Kata Commission in the Croatian Judo Federation and as the General Secretary of the Rijeka Sports Association.

Reference:

Bradić, S. (2023). Judo as a Method of Moral and Psychological Development.