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Federal judge in Seattle rejects challenge to mandatory bowing in judo
AP
| 1/11/02
Posted on 01/11/2002 8:08:17 AM PST by Native American Female Vet
Federal judge in Seattle rejects challenge to mandatory bowing in judo
By Associated Press, 1/11/2002 11:31
SEATTLE (AP) Requiring judo contestants to bow before a picture of the founder of the Japanese martial art does not violate freedom of religion, a federal judge ruled.
In a 13-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik said three Seattle-area residents could be required to observe the ritual while participating in competitions.
James and Leilani Akiyama, 17 and 14, and Jay Drangeid, 40, all of Bellevue, had fought the rule, saying it amounted to a religious ritual being imposed on them. A 1997 injunction has allowed the three to compete in U.S. judo matches without performing the ritual.
''Virtually any restriction or regulation imposed by a public accommodation could impinge upon a person's religious beliefs,'' Lasnik wrote in dismissing the injunction Thursday.
Jim Bregman, president of the Colorado-based U.S. Judo Association, one of several organizing groups for the sport, praised the ruling.
''It's clear the bow in judo is simply a respectful act, like a handshake in wrestling,'' Bregman said. John Holm, the Akiyamas' stepfather and operator of a judo training center, said they might appeal the decision.
''We have a half-dozen Muslim kids who want to compete in the state championships coming up January 26 and they can't compete because of their religious beliefs,'' Holm said.
Competitors in judo, which has its roots in Shintoism, bow several times during competitions, usually to a portrait of Jigoro Kano, the Japanese founder of the sport. Bowing is mandatory in international competitions.
TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
To: IowaHawk; Orual; aculeus
I ain't pointin' any finger . . .
2
posted on
01/11/2002 8:12:13 AM PST
by
dighton
To: Native American Female Vet
All the stupid bowing and insistence on using Japanese keeps me away from martial arts.
To: Native American Female Vet
The legal team that brought this suit should have their tickets pulled for wasting the court's time. This is stupid beyond words.
To: Native American Female Vet
In the Oriental martial arts, bowing to a picture of the system's founder or current leading master is NOT a religious act. It's hard to tell from this story if the teacher explained it well enough, or if the students are dense or just enjoy being difficult.
It's just plain stupid to see something like this even being discussed in a courtroom.
5
posted on
01/11/2002 8:21:06 AM PST
by
alpowolf
To: Native American Female Vet
Additionally, the participants in the suit should be fined and have their belts voided for failing to act with honor.
To: Native American Female Vet
This happens when you start handing out black belts to eight year olds. When I was involved in Karate (many years ago), you got your black belt because you could do the moves and because you were honorable and ethical and were a grown up.
To: dighton; aculeus
Looks like a very courteous thing to do and has nothing whatsoever to do with religion. (Add appropriate expression of frustration with dolts).
8
posted on
01/11/2002 8:25:42 AM PST
by
Orual
To: dighton ; Orual ; IowaHawk
Bowing is good. I bow to an image of Bill Gates before booting up, to one of Henry Ford before entering my car, to one of Thomas Crapper before ....
9
posted on
01/11/2002 8:33:36 AM PST
by
aculeus
Comment #10 Removed by Moderator
To: Native American Female Vet
''We have a half-dozen Muslim kids who want to compete in the state championships coming up January 26 and they can't compete because of their religious beliefs,'' Holm said. Good. Screw 'em. That's all we need are a bunch of martial arts proficient Muslims running around the U.S.
11
posted on
01/11/2002 8:53:50 AM PST
by
Maceman
To: alpowolf
In the Oriental martial arts, bowing to a picture of the system's founder or current leading master is NOT a religious act. I understand that, it's just that being immersed in Japanese culture gets very tiring after a while. It all just seems so silly.
To: hopespringseternal
I have been a judo player for over 35 years and am also very serious about my christianity. I have no problem bowing to the picture of Jigoro Kano. It is, in fact, just a tradition and is akin to shaking hands. I have no problem at all with using Japanese language as part of the training and competitive practices. I only get irritated when people try to pawn off the whole 'ki' thing as being fundamental to the sport. It is funny that the only ones that really try and do that are the goofy new age types that aren't very good judo players.
To: hopespringseternal
Why don't you try Tae Kwon Do?
To: TexanToTheCore
I thought this was from The Onion at first. Imagine that, a Japanese custom required during the performance of Judo. Some people need to get a fricken life.
15
posted on
01/11/2002 10:02:25 AM PST
by
ohioman
To: SoCal Pubbie
Why don't you try Tae Kwon Do? Tae Kwon Do seems to fall into two types: The more traditional stuff, and the guys who want to sell you a blackbelt for $5k.
I once had a really great Tae Kwon Do instructor. We bowed, but we used English. He was tough, but everyone learned a lot. Not a whole lot of traditional mumbo-jumbo, but everyone was serious about learning anyway.
Unfortunately he was a scumbag outside the gym and ended up in prison for killing someone over drugs.
All in all, I think I like aikido and Jujitsu better -- but most of the guys teaching it seem pretty wierded out.
To: hopespringseternal
The purpose of my post was to point out that not all Asian martial arts are Japanese.
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