The most important practice according to Laozi is cultivating "De" 德.

It's that important, that the Laozi is called Dao *De* Jing.

Laozi and Zhuangzi were shaping their philosophy with negatives and disaffirmation to the other schools of thought like Confucianism, Legalism and Mohism. Zhuangzi and Laozi think, that those schools are misleading man and society by morals and doctrines (Confucianists), by strict and rigid Laws and Power (Legalists) or by meritocracy and universal love (Mohists) and Logics and Linquistic (Ming Jia) - separating Man from Dao 道 (universal principle, natural order / course of the Universe) and De 德 (profound Virtue, quality) and a simple (pu) and natural (ziran) life.

They are going for many "wu"無 - most famous "wu wei" (not doing) but there are also many more "wu" like

- wu ming (not naming)

- bu shi fei (no this and that)

- wu zhi /wu xue (no knowledge / no doctrine)

- wu yi (no self, no selfishness)

- wu yu (no desire)

- wu qing (no emotions)

- wu you (not having / being)

- wu zheng (no quarrel)

- wu yong (no use, useless)

- wu xin (no heart-mind)

Some folks are understanding those "wu" as absolutes (which they are not and never can be) and also don't connect the "wu" to Dao and De. They forget, that "wu wei" isn't just "effortless doing" or "doing just enough" but has to be in line with / according to Dao and De. That's why it is called "wu wei er wu bu wei" = "doing nothing but nothing is left undone".

Those "wu" are *no absolutes* but reminders and finger pointers and of course practice. They are "means" of practice to empty the heart-mind (xu xin /wu xin) and not at the core of Daoism.

At the core of Daoism there are Dao and De:

- to have a clear and calm heart-mind (qing jing xin)

- being natural 自然 (ziran) and simple 樸 (pu)

- to have De (deep / profound virtue, quality, skill, mastery, efficiency, potency)

[like the butcher, the swimmer, the artisan, the gardener and the "true / genuine man" (Zhen Ren) in Zhuangzi 6 and the Sheng Ren (wise man) in Laozi]

Summary:

Wu wei isn't that important as a daoist practice. It is just one of many "wu".

Focus on practicing De 德

Note:

What is "Virtue" 德 ( de) from a Daoist Point of View? : r/taoism

Abstract:

Textual evidence points at a rather late date of the occurence of meditation in China. In addition, Chinese meditation appeared suddenly, i. e. without any apparent previous development, and in an already sophisticated form. On the other hand, India had witnessed long living and continuous meditative traditions. This may be taken as a possible indication pointing to a Chinese adaptation of an originally foreign concept.

Maybe Angelo Parisi was the only *real* ambidextrous high level Champion.

Judo Tribute: Angelo Parisi (Highlights)

He took a double Lapel or Armpit Grip which allowed him to execute his favourite techniques to the left and to the right very quickly without changing grips.

Do you know any other Judoka who competed at the highest level and could throw to the right and to the left with the same efficiency and skill in contest?

Edit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/judo/comments/1eklz07/updated_height_and_weight_in_judo_an_analysis_of/

Thanks u/Ambatus

Great work - as always!

A lot of great comments and explanations!

Abstract

Judo, in its sporting form, includes different weight categories for competition, and the discussion about the most common height for each category is of interest. Based on available data for the Paris 2024 Olympics we determine the mean height for each category, as well as the possible relationship with ranking. The preliminary results do not seem to indicate any strong relation between height and competitive success that can be applied to all weight categories, but additional venues for investigation based on the dataset exist.

The old Sensei and Judoka of the present (+70 )

won't be able to tell you stories - in about 20 years - about the Judo of the 50's and 60's and 70's.

Those were very important years for the development of both european and american Judo

and! they are a bond to the old times of Pre World War II Judo.

Those old Sensei and Judoka had teachers who learned their Judo in the 20's and 30's.

Ask the old Sensei and Judoka born before 1956 about their Judo stories of the 50's and 60's and 70's!

Maybe you also have some stories to tell about the Judo and the Sensei and Judoka of the past.

Thanks!

Some Judoka were extremly successful but really stiff and rigid and sometimes they were japanese Judoka like Hashimoto. For Europeans I think of Adamian from Russia.

Which Judoka do you have in Mind: Stiff and rigid but also highly successful?

And what does stiff and rigid really mean? Strong grips and having a rigid game plan with two or three techniques? Can't be moving stiff - you would lose very quickly.

Collection of Hal Sharp's films shot in the 1950's. Includes 47 senseis with many of the old masters.

Bio

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Sharp

Black Belt article 1965

My answer to this question:

Ethics = "the question to which values, virtues, rules or laws man should orientate his actions, align and live by".

Laozi Daoism has Dao and De. Laozi writes verse for verse about what is good and what is bad, what has Dao and De and what not, what you should do and what to avoid.

The Daodejing is written to the Nobility, the Court Officials, the Scholars and the Officers as an advice how to govern and to lead a country. The ideal ruler is the Sheng Ren 勝任 (Sage, wise man).

The Sage should lead the country

- according to / in line with / in the way of Dao 道,

- he should have De 德 (profound Virtue, quality, skill, mastery, proficency and efficiency)

- being natural (ziran) and simple (pu),

- having a clear and calm heart-mind / spirit.

If you take the Laozi as an advice for the present it still has many fingerpointers and reminders for everyday Life.

From an Ethic Theory point of view (Philosophy) the Ethics in Laozi / Daodejing is not done by moral reasoning but more by analogy through Poetry and Metaphors like the Water or the Valley, the Root or the Vessel or the empty hub. If you interprete Laozi in a form of modern Ethic Theory most of Laozi would be Virtue Ethics but also Consequentialism and Utilitarianism. Definitely far apart from Deontology and Discourse Ethics.

Note

What is "Virtue" 德 ( de) from a Daoist Point of View? : r/taoism

What is / has De 德 and what does De 德? - according to the Laozi / Dao De Jing : r/taoism

What is the "Wise Man / Sage" 圣人 (sheng ren) and what does and doesn't the "Wise Man / Sage" ?- According to the Laozi / Dao De Jing : r/taoism

Dào-dé Norm Pivots (Chad Hansen)

Daoism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Norms, Mores & Morality (Chad Hansen)

Daoism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Over and over again folks writing about "The Dao is everything".

The Laozi / Daodejing doesn't state so.

According to the Laozi the Dao

- gives birth (sheng) to the One (42)

- is formed out of chaos, born before Heaven and Earth, quiet and still, pure and deep, independend, does not change, Mother of Heaven and Earth, it is the Great, it models itself on that which is so on its own (25)

- is shapeless and formless, hidden and obscure (21)

etc etc

What is the Dao and what does the Dao? - according to the Laozi / Dao De Jing : r/taoism

but no where in the Laozi / Daodejing it is said "the Dao is everything"

It is more that the Dao is the Mother of all things, the Valley, the Root.

.

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Note:

Remarks by u/Selderij

"The Dao is everything" - not according to the Laozi : r/taoism

Comments by P_S_Lumapac

"The Dao is everything" - not according to the Laozi : r/taoism

It's easy to say, what "wu wei" is *not* (as a full definition):

- wu wei is not "doing nothing"

- wu wei is not "to go with the flow"

- wu wei is not "effortless doing"

- wu wei is not "doing just enough"

- wu wei is not "being natural / like nature"

.

By "going with the flow" and "effortless doing" and "doing just enough" -

*edit* (tried to insert examples which are fitting better)

you could be a perfect killer

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By "being natural / like nature" -

*edit*

The Stronger eats the Weaker

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Quite against Daoism - isn't it?

So there has to be a content / goal / practice what "wu wei" is about.

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What is "wu wei" 無為 from a daoist view?

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"Wu wei" is not doing (and doing) [therefore nothing is left undone]

wu wei 無為 [er wu bu wei 而無不為 ]

*in line with / according to / in the way of

Dao 道 (universal principle / natural course of the universe)

&

De 德 (profound virtue, power, skill, quality, proficiency and efficiency, potency).

Note:

Why are there so many "Wu" 無 (no, not, nothing) in Daoism - and beyond "Wu" : r/taoism

What is "Virtue" 德 ( de) from a Daoist Point of View? : r/taoism

Warning:

Turn the sound off if you are not a Heavy Metal Fan.

Judo Career

https://judoinside.com/judoka/331/Alexei_Budolin/judo-career

Why do I say best?

Budolin hat all of the leg grabs from Kata guruma to Ankle Picks and Double Legs and those in many variations also as Pick ups. Great control to the very end of the throw.

On a personal note: Also a great guy, Judo trainer and coach!

"De" 德 (profound virtue, power, skill, quality, proficiency and efficiency, potency) in Laozi / Dao De Jing

The character De 德 appears 44 times in Laozi.

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What is / has De 德 ?

[Using the Henricks translation (sinological proper, few interpretations, readable)]

(21) The character of great virtue follows alone from the Way.

(23) One who [devotes himself to] Virtue is one with that Virtue; o the one who is one with Virtue, the Way also gives Virtue;

(28)  When you're the valley of the country, Your constant virtue is complete. And when your constant virtue is complete, You'll return to the state of uncarved wood.

(28) And when you're the model for the country, Your constant virtue will not go astray. And when your constant virtue does not go astray, You'll return to the condition which has no limit.

(38) The highest virtue is not virtuous; therefore it truly has virtue. The lowest virtue never loses sight of its virtue; therefore it has no true virtue.

(38) The highest virtue takes no action, yet it has no reason for acting this way;

(41) The highest virtue [is empty] like a valley;

(41) Vast virtue appears to be insufficient;

(41) Firm virtue appears thin and weak;

(59)  Early submission—this is called to repeatedly accumulate Virtue

(65) To constantly understand the principle - This is called Profound Virtue. Profound Virtue is deep, is far-reaching, And together with things it returns. Thus we arrive at the Great Accord.

(68) Therefore, one who is good at being a warrior doesn't make a show of his might; One who is good in battle doesn't get angry; One who is good at defeating the enemy doesn't engage him. And one who is good at using men places himself below them. This is called the virtue of not competing;

What does De 德 ?

(10) Give birth to them and nourish them. Give birth to them but don't try to own them; Help them to grow but don't rule them. This is called Profound Virtue.

(51) The Way gives birth to them [and Virtue] nourishes them, matures them, completes them, rests them, rears them, supports them, and protects them. It gives birth to them but doesn't try to own them; It acts on their behalf but doesn't make them dependent; It matures them but doesn't rule them. This we call Profound Virtue

(54) When you cultivate it in your person, your virtue will then be genuine; When you cultivate it in your family, your virtue will then be overflow; When you cultivate it in your village, your virtue will then be long lasting; When you cultivate it in your state, your virtue will then be abundant; And when you cultivate it throughout the world, your virtue will then be widespread.

(55) One who embraces the fullness of Virtue, Can be compared to a newborn babe.  

(55) His bones and muscles are weak and pliant, yet his grasp is firm; He does not yet know the meeting of male and female, yet his organ is aroused - This is because his essence is at its height.

(59) If you repeatedly accumulate Virtue, then there is nothing you can't overcome.

Note:

De 德 in daoist context has many meanings.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_(Chinese)

Therefore going for "Virtue" to translate 德 is o.k. but not always at the point. Mair has "integrity" , Waley "Power", Wilhelm "LEBEN", Ziporyn? "virtuosity" , Lin Yutang has "character".

I translate De 德 in Laozi according to the context because sometimes De is about Virtue, sometimes about quality, sometimes it is Potency and sometimes also Power.

What is "Virtue" 德 ( de) from a Daoist Point of View? : r/taoism

That's part of "Dao & De & Sheng Ren" - the three most prominent characters of the Laozi

What is the Dao and what does the Dao? - according to the Laozi / Dao De Jing : r/taoism

What is the "Wise Man / Sage" 圣人 (sheng ren) and what does and doesn't the "Wise Man / Sage" ?- According to the Laozi / Dao De Jing : r/taoism

https://judoinside.com/judoka/6559/Keiji_Suzuki/judo-career

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%88%B4%E6%9C%A8%E6%A1%82%E6%B2%BB

The Lǎozǐ 老子 (Lǎo-tzǔ), more commonly referred to with its honorific title of Dàodé jīng 道德 經 (Tào-té chīng; Scripture on the Dao and Inner Power), is one of the earliest texts and most important scriptures of the Daoist tradition. Although traditionally attributed to the legendary Lǎozǐ 老子 (Lǎo-tzǔ; “Master Lao”/“Old Master”), the text is actually a multi-vocal anthology containing historical and textual material dating from at least the fourth to second centuries BCE.

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A. SOME RELIABLE TRANSLATIONS

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B. SOME IMPORTANT SECONDARY STUDIES AND COMMENTARIES