About Judo
Some quick facts about Judo:- Judo is the most widely practiced martial art on earth.
- Judo is the second most-practiced sport worldwide, behind soccer.
- Judo is the safest contact sport for children under 13 (American College of Sports Medicine).
- First introduced in 1964 into the Olympics, Judo was the first Martial Art in the Olympic Games.
Who Started Judo?
Judo was started by Professor Jigoro Kano. Today, the governing body of the sport
lies in the hands of The International Judo Federation.
What is Judo and what does "Judo" mean?
Judo is a Japanese word meaning "Gentle Way." It is a Martial Art where balance,
leverage, and movement are used in the execution of throws, pins, chokes and other
skills. Deriving from Jiu-Jitsu, Judo is based on technique and timing, rather than
brute strength to overcome an opponent in order to achieve "mutual harmony."
When was Judo started?
Judo was founded in 1882, in Tokyo, Japan.
Where is Judo practiced?
Originating in Japan, Professor Kano opened the first Judo school with the founding
of Kodokan ("school for studying the way"). Since then, Judo is practiced in dojos
worldwide. Being the second most popular sport in the world (second only to soccer),
it is possible to find dojos in just about every corner of the world. It's headquarters
and homeland still remain in Japan.
Why was Judo invented?
Having studied Jiu-Jitsu for many years, Professor Kano wanted a safer, more approachable
martial art - one who's intent was not offense, but rather self-defense and fitness.
As a result, he removed the dangerous techniques from Jiu-Jitsu, established rules,
and thus Judo was born.