The Art, Science and Sport of Judo

Judo is a beautiful, tough and highly practical martial art, which combined many of the jujutsu schools or “ryu” studied for centuries in feudal Japan.  Founded in 1882 by Professor Jigoro Kano, judo was developed and codified to seek out the underlying fundamentals and techniques of the various schools while preserving them as a system of physical education and martial arts for the Japanese society and eventually the rest of the world.  Since that time, judo has expanded around the globe and has been an Olympic sport since 1964.  Soldiers, police officers and athletes worldwide have benefitted from its practice as a real, hands-on, no nonsense art form.  Judo techniques are divided into three main categories – throwing, grappling and striking.  Striking techniques, while not practiced in the sport aspect of judo, remain as important skills in the self-defense component of the art.   Judo practitioners or “judoka” learn great balance and movement while attempting to take their opponents to the ground with efficient throwing techniques while maintaining a position of advantage.  Ground fighting or grappling skills are also paramount to being a successful judoka.  Far more than a solely physical activity, judo has a moral code and the ultimate goal of the study is to produce great people.  Jigoro Kano said it best when he stated, “I have repeatedly stressed that the ultimate goal of judo is to perfect the self and to make a contribution to society.”