Organisational and Cultural Change in Post-War British Judo

Abstract

Since the Second World War, Judo in Britain has undergone a major transfor mation. This article seeks to examine the nature of changes in two orders of social phenomena, the macro-institutional, and the micro-social. It is argued that major changes in the organisation of Judo have been reflected in fundamental changes in the core training culture (major clubs) within which Judo is practised. In particular, the growth in scale, westernisation, international competition and the application of rational scientific approaaches to training, have led to a more individualistic, and less cohesive and morally distinctive core training culture. The individual player's experience of Judo has, in consequence, changed radically and so, therefore has the influence of Judo participation on the construction of identities. The article has drawn on conclusions reached in research that is now well advanced.