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| © Korean Olympic Committee |
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| General Information |
Judo is a Japanese martial art developed from jujutsu which is characterised by holding, chocking, hitting, and kicking skills (Kodokan Judo Institute, s.d.). In judo, there are 68 nage-waza (throwing) and 32 katame-waza (grappling) techniques (Kodokan Judo Institute, s.d.). Judo has gained tremendous international popularity more than any other Japanese martial art (Web Japan, s.d.).In a bout, judo players win or score points through ippon and waza-ari. An ippon is given when an opponent’s back touches the ground or immobilised for at least 25 seconds. This results in an immediate victory. An waza-ari is the second highest score for lesser throws than ippon or for shorter time of immobilisation. Two waza-ari are counted as one ippon. |
| History/Development |
In 1882, a young jujutsu practitioner Jigoro Kano founded judo, his own style of the art, and opened a training centre named Kodokan that means “a school for studying the way or path” (Kodokan Judo Institute, s.d.). Karo established judo with the principle, “maximum efficient use of mental and physical energy” (Kano, s.d.). He thought this principle could practically apply to “mutual prosperity for self and others”, which he considered as the goal of practising judo. Kano made the competition rules and the Kodokan held its first competition in 1884. Kano became the first Asian member of the International Olympic Committee in 1909. Jigoro Kano and his students travelled around the world to promote judo and performed a demonstration at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1932. Judo became a demonstration sport at the 1940 Tokyo Olympic Games, which were not held eventually due to the outbreak of the Second World War (Kodokan Judo Institute, s.d.). |
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(Policies/institutions) |
The International Judo Federation (IJF) founded in 1952 and the first World Judo Championships were held in 1956 in Tokyo. Judo was then introduced to the 1964 Olympic Games in Japan for the first time, and has been an official sport in each Olympics ever since 1972 (International Judo Federation, s.d.). Today, there are approximately 5 million judo practitioners throughout the world (Web Japan, s.d.). The IJF has representatives from more than 200 countries and regions as of 2020 (Kodokan Judo Institute, s.d.). |
| Relevant Organisations |
- International Judo Federation
- Kodokan Judo Institute |
| Additional Materials |
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| References |
- Kodokan Judo Institute. (s.d.). “History of Kodokan Judo”, Kodokan Judo Institute
- International Judo Federation. (s.d.). “KANO Jigoro (1860-1938)”, International Judo Federation.
- Web Japan. (s.d.). “Martial Arts: from Ancient Tradition to Modern Sport”, Web Japan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. | | |
