What is Judo?

Judo (meaning “The Gentle Way”) was established in 1882 in Japan as a modern sport by Professor Jigoro Kano (1860- 1938) who was well aware of modern pedagogic and physical ideals. The formula of techniques of various jujitsu schools, which have been Japanese combative arts and systematised for hundreds of years were selected, refined, created and finally established as modern combative sports. Professor Kano devoted his life to the education and popularisation of judo and laid the foundation of the present day judo. Since 1909, he contributed 30 years to the Olympic movement as collaborator of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games. Judo, the only Olympic sport that originated in Asia, is unique and has a history of international character as an established sport, and it greatly owes to the personality and efforts of the founder, Jigoro Kano.

Judo has by now developed into a modern Olympic sport. The origin and development of judo as a combative sport demonstrates the superiority of techniques over strength. Thus, the modern judo was developed, respecting its technical system and combative method. In judo various creations of techniques are possible and, at the same time, necessary by means of “Standing” and “Ground”. Also coordination of the opponent. These points have established judo as a modern and dynamic sport, possessing a strong fascination.

During a judo contest, competitors try to throw each other using different techniques to obtain maximum points, therefore winning the bout.

A contest can also be won by means of a hold-down, this is where the competitor after throwing his opponent holds them down on their back for a period of up-to 20 seconds or by submission of your opponent when armlocks or strangles are applied (over 14 years only).

Judo is also used in self-defence, all the techniques that are taught can be used to defend yourself against attackers, examples of these are shown periodically at lessons.

Below is a video explaining the judo basics that was created for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games by the International Judo Federation – http://ijf.org.