The Japanese martial art form, Judo, is the embodiment of the first line of Chapter Twenty-two. Literally in Japanese, “ju” (gentleness) plus “do” or Tao in Chinese (Way). Thus Judo is the Way of Gentleness; “Yield and overcome.” The philosophy behind the martial art form is essentially Taoism applied to the motion of two contending human bodies. In the competitive form, the practitioner uses the force of one’s opponent to defeat him or her.
For Lao Tsu, this principle is essential to The Way. By yielding we overcome; by bending we become straight. Here once again we are presented with The Way in the form of suppleness, gentleness, and softness.
